Review Episode 3: Civil War & Reconstruction (1844–1877)

This special AP Test review episode of APUSH for ALL explores the era from 1844 to 1877, focusing on expansion, Civil War, and Reconstruction. Manifest Destiny fueled U.S. territorial growth and reignited debates over slavery, with key moments including the Mexican-American War, Compromise of 1850, and Kansas-Nebraska Act. The Civil War, triggered by secession after Lincoln’s election, saw major battles like Antietam and Gettysburg. Reconstruction brought constitutional amendments and efforts to aid freedpeople, but resistance, racism, and waning Northern support ended reforms by 1877. The hosts stress causation, continuity, and comparison as key exam themes, especially on slavery, civil rights, and federal power.