SEEDS: Causes of the Civil War
Slavery — the fundamental cause
Economic differences — industrial North vs. plantation South
Expansion — every new territory forced the slavery question
Dred Scott Decision (1857) — outraged the North
Secession — South left after Lincoln's election 1860
The Three Amendments: 13, 14, 15
Think of them in order: 13 = Free (slavery abolished) | 14 = Citizenship | 15 = Vote
"Free Citizens Vote" — the sequence of rights built one upon another.
Key Dates Sequence
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 1803 | Louisiana Purchase — US doubles in size |
| 1830 | Indian Removal Act — Trail of Tears follows (1838-39) |
| 1848 | Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo — US reaches Pacific |
| 1861-65 | Civil War — 620,000 dead |
| 1863 | Emancipation Proclamation + Gettysburg Address |
| 1865-70 | 13th, 14th, 15th Amendments |
| 1869 | Transcontinental railroad completed |
| 1876 | Battle of Little Bighorn |
| 1890 | Wounded Knee — frontier declared closed |
This memory aid covers Memory Aids within The Making of America, 1789-1900 for GCSE History. Revise The Making of America, 1789-1900 in Component Group 4 — Period Studies for GCSE History with 14 exam-style questions and 18 flashcards. This is a high-frequency topic, so it is worth revising until the explanation feels precise and repeatable. It is section 13 of 16 in this topic. Use it for quick recall, then test yourself straight afterwards so the memory aid becomes usable in an answer.
Practice questions for The Making of America, 1789-1900
Describe two features of the Louisiana Purchase of 1803.
Describe two features of the Indian Removal Act of 1830.