How did westward expansion intensify sectional conflict?
Revisit this after every topic.
AP U.S. History · Unit 5
Period 5: 1844–1877
Trace territorial expansion, escalating sectional conflict, the Civil War, emancipation, and the contested reconstruction of the Union.
- Time period
- 1844–1877
- Learning path
- 12 topics
- Exam weighting
- 10%–17%
Your topic pathway
Explore all 12 topics
Follow the official sequence from Topic 5.1 through Topic 5.12, then open any topic to see its objectives and study-resource availability.
- Topic 5.1Contextualizing Period 5Build a clear APUSH understanding of Contextualizing Period 5, including its historical context, major developments, and significance within Period 5: 1844–1877.12 min overviewNotesPracticeFlashcardsExplore topic
- Topic 5.2Manifest DestinyBuild a clear APUSH understanding of Manifest Destiny, including its historical context, major developments, and significance within Period 5: 1844–1877.12 min overviewNotesPracticeFlashcardsExplore topic
- Topic 5.3The Mexican–American WarBuild a clear APUSH understanding of The Mexican–American War, including its historical context, major developments, and significance within Period 5: 1844–1877.12 min overviewNotesPracticeFlashcardsExplore topic
- Topic 5.4The Compromise of 1850Build a clear APUSH understanding of The Compromise of 1850, including its historical context, major developments, and significance within Period 5: 1844–1877.12 min overviewNotesPracticeFlashcardsExplore topic
- Topic 5.5Sectional Conflict: Regional DifferencesBuild a clear APUSH understanding of Sectional Conflict: Regional Differences, including its historical context, major developments, and significance within Period 5: 1844–1877.12 min overviewNotesPracticeFlashcardsExplore topic
- Topic 5.6Failure of CompromiseBuild a clear APUSH understanding of Failure of Compromise, including its historical context, major developments, and significance within Period 5: 1844–1877.12 min overviewNotesPracticeFlashcardsExplore topic
- Topic 5.7Election of 1860 and SecessionBuild a clear APUSH understanding of Election of 1860 and Secession, including its historical context, major developments, and significance within Period 5: 1844–1877.12 min overviewNotesPracticeFlashcardsExplore topic
- Topic 5.8Military Conflict in the Civil WarBuild a clear APUSH understanding of Military Conflict in the Civil War, including its historical context, major developments, and significance within Period 5: 1844–1877.12 min overviewNotesPracticeFlashcardsExplore topic
- Topic 5.9Government Policies During the Civil WarBuild a clear APUSH understanding of Government Policies During the Civil War, including its historical context, major developments, and significance within Period 5: 1844–1877.12 min overviewNotesPracticeFlashcardsExplore topic
- Topic 5.10ReconstructionBuild a clear APUSH understanding of Reconstruction, including its historical context, major developments, and significance within Period 5: 1844–1877.12 min overviewNotesPracticeFlashcardsExplore topic
- Topic 5.11Failure of ReconstructionBuild a clear APUSH understanding of Failure of Reconstruction, including its historical context, major developments, and significance within Period 5: 1844–1877.12 min overviewNotesPracticeFlashcardsExplore topic
- Topic 5.12Comparison in Period 5Build a clear APUSH understanding of Comparison in Period 5, including its historical context, major developments, and significance within Period 5: 1844–1877.12 min overviewNotesPracticeFlashcardsExplore topic
Think like a historian
Questions to carry through the unit
Why did political compromise fail by 1860?
Revisit this after every topic.
How did the Civil War and Reconstruction redefine freedom and federal power?
Revisit this after every topic.