Chapter 14 - How Americans Thought About Slavery - 1800-1860

Question 1

What was abolitionism?

Answer 1

The crusade to abolish slavery in the United States.

Question 2

Prior to 1830, how many people were abolitionists?

Answer 2

Few.

Question 3

After 1830, why did the abolitionism swing begin to change?

Answer 3

Because abolitionists were able to inject morality into the discussion.

Question 4

When was the slave trade outlawed?

Answer 4

1808.

Question 5

Where did the Missouri Compromise place the line for slavery?

Answer 5

The 36-30 line of latitude.

Question 6

What did Americans overwhelmingly believe about the Constitution before 1830?

Answer 6

That the Constitution required them to protect slavery in the states where it already existed.

Question 7

Why was there very little abolitionism before 1830?

Answer 7

1) They didn’t believe slavery in the Southern States was under federal control.
2) The Thought of Thousands of Free Slaves Immigrating to the North. (Intermarrying and equality were not yet embraced.)

Question 8

What were the most active anti-slavery men saying in regards to slavery?

Answer 8

The slaves should be freed and returned to Africa.

Question 9

What was Liberia Established For?

Answer 9

Manumitted and Freed African Slaves.

Question 10

What was the organization that supported the shipment of free black africans back to Africa?

Answer 10

The American Colonization Society.

Question 11

Did Free Blacks Want To Resettle in Africa?

Answer 11

No

Question 12

How many had resettled by 1830?

Answer 12

Less than 2,000.

Question 13

In 1860 how many blacks had migrated to Liberia?

Answer 13

Only 15,000 Blacks.

Question 14

What four events radicalized the anti-slavery movement?

Answer 14

1) The Publication “Walkers Appeal to the Colored Citizens of the World”
2) The Liberator Magazine Published By William Lloyd Garrison.
3) The Nat Turner Revolt
4) Britain Abolishing Slavery in 1833.

Question 15

What was so controversial about the pamphlet published by David Walker?

Answer 15

It openly encouraged violent slave rebellions in the South.

Question 16

What did the Liberator and Garrison do to merit such attention?

Answer 16

It was the first abolitionist newspaper To demand an immediate end to slavery.

Question 17

How many attacks were launched against abolitionists between 1833 and 1838?

Answer 17

Over 100.

Question 18

Where was anti-abolitionist sentiment strongest in the North?

Answer 18

Cities and the Ohio River Valley of the Old Northwest.

Question 19

What movement were Garrison and Walker tap into?

Answer 19

The Second Great Awakening.

Question 20

When did the Nat Turner rebellion occur?

Answer 20

1831.

Question 21

How many whites were killed during the rebellion?

Answer 21

55.

Question 22

Who did the Southerners blame for the Nat Turner slave revolt?

Answer 22

Northern Abolitionists.

Question 23

What did Northern Abolitionists Glean from the Nat Turner Revolt?

Answer 23

That slavery was bad. How could something so “good for slaves” result in slaves risking their lives to escape it. It convinced Northerners that slavery was as bad as they thought.

Question 24

Why did British abolition of slavery impact the United States?

Answer 24

It was associated with a religious reform project and the same was. imitated by American Evangelicals who sought to make abolitionism a Christian Duty.

Question 25

Were a majority of the north abolitionists?

Answer 25

No.

Question 26

What two former slave speakers were especially effective?

Answer 26

Sojourner Truth and Frederick Douglass.

Question 27

How did Jackson seek to silence the small but vocal abolitionist groups that formed?

Answer 27

By truing to prohibit them from using the postal service.

Question 28

What rule prevented Congress from hearing on the slavery issue?

Answer 28

A gag-rule that tabled all petitions and bills about slavery.

Question 29

What two Christian denominations did abolitionism split?

Answer 29

1) Methodists.

2) Baptists.

Question 30

What gender of people were especially prominent in the abolitionist movement?

Answer 30

Women

Question 31

Who wrote an anti-slavery book in 1833 arguing that African Americans should be granted full civil rights?

Answer 31

Lydia Maria Child.

Question 32

What was Seneca Falls?

Answer 32

The First Women’s Rights Convention

Question 33

Who led the Seneca Falls Convention?

Answer 33

Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia Mott.

Question 34

What year was the Seneca Falls Convention Held?

Answer 34

1848

Question 35

Did the fractionalization among abolitionists caused by debate over the role of women help or hurt the movement?

Answer 35

It Helped Because Americans Could Support Whatever Abolition Organization Best Supports Their Views.

Question 36

What book was published at the Zenith of the Abolitionists Movement?

Answer 36

Uncle Tom’s Cabin

Question 37

Who is the Author of Uncle Tom’s Cabin?

Answer 37

Harriet Beecher Stowe.

Question 38

Did abolitionists believe in full social and political equality for blacks?

Answer 38

No.

Question 39

What were the five most common abolitionist arguments?

Answer 39

1) Slavery is contrary to the notion of universal brotherhood and the Imago Dei
2) Slavery undermines the foundational principles of freedom and liberty.
3) Slavery is Economically Unsound and Inefficient. No Incentive for Slaves to Work Besides Fear.
4) Slaveowners are morally degraded by slavery
5) Slavery jeopardizes the peace and safety of the nation. More revolts are inevitable.

Question 40

What were the Five Major Pro-Slavery Arguments

Answer 40

1) Slavery is natural, biblical, moral, and profitable.
2) Slavery is Paternalistic and Benign. Southern slaves are better of the immigrants of the North.
3) Emancipating Slaves Would Harm Everyone
4) The Constitution implicitly legalizes slavery.
5) Southerns did not express the same moral reservations the founders sought towards to justice and peace.

Question 41

What are the four most important clarifications regarding abolitionists?

Answer 41

1) Abolitions never comprised a majority of white northerners.
2) Abolitionists did not champion full equality for blacks
3) Abolitionists did not change anti-black prejudice in the North.
4) There is a Difference Between Unionists and Abolition

Question 42

What are the Five Major Policy Positions Held By U.S. Policy Makers in the late 1850’s?

Answer 42

1) SCOTUS Dred Scott - Slaves Cannot be Citizens, States can’t grant national citizenship, and all anti-slavery legislation is Unconstitutional
2) William Seward - Slavery is cancerous and espoused a free market instead, regarded sectional war as impermissible, and obeyed a higher law than the Constitution.
3) Abe Lincoln - Wanted to contain slavery, even thought it was immoral, wanted to protect it in slave states, saw it as their duty to uphold the Constitution’s tacit legalization of slavery
4) Stephen Douglas - Sidestep the Slavery Issue with Popular sovereignty, say nothing negative about slavery, avoid alienating the South and war.
5) Popular Sovereignty and a federal slave code.