Dive into AP US History Period 5 (1844–1877) with this comprehensive review of America's explosive era of expansion, sectional conflict, Civil War, and Reconstruction. Unpack the forces of territorial growth, slavery debates, and national transformation that reshaped the United States. Perfect for AP exam prep, this episode provides key context, themes, and mnemonic devices to master Unit 5.

• Contextualizing Period 5: Territorial expansion, sectionalism, and the slavery question
• Mexican-American War (1846–1848) and Wilmot Proviso
• Sectionalism: North vs. South economies, cultures, and politics
• Key events like Compromise of 1850, Kansas-Nebraska Act, party realignments
• Civil War and Reconstruction: 13th, 14th, 15th Amendments
• Manifest Destiny: Ideology of divine e ...