Civil War and Reconstruction- Sectional Conflict: Regional Difference Flashcards
How did the influx of immigrants during the 1840s and 1850s impact the demographic and economic makeup of the North? (3)
The influx of immigrants, particularly Irish and German Catholics, dramatically increased the population in Northern cities.
Immigrants filled labor gaps in factories, contributing to the industrialization of the North.
Their settlement in ethnic neighborhoods also helped create a more diverse cultural landscape in Northern cities, making the North more urbanized and reliant on industrial labor compared to the rural South.
How did nativism manifest in the mid-19th century, and what were its main components?
Nativism was the belief that native-born Americans needed to protect their culture and jobs from immigrants, particularly those from Catholic countries like Ireland and Germany.
It manifested through hostility, prejudice, and attempts to limit immigrants’ rights.
Nativists feared that immigrants would undermine American values, jobs, and political systems.
What were the key beliefs and policies of the American (Know-Nothing) Party, and how did they reflect anti-immigrant sentiment in the United States?
The Know-Nothing Party, or American Party, advocated for strict immigration controls, longer waiting periods for citizenship, and restrictions on immigrants’ political rights.
Their platform reflected widespread nativist fears about cultural and religious differences, particularly against Catholic immigrants.
They sought to preserve Protestant, Anglo-Saxon American traditions and feared that immigrants, especially Catholics, would dilute these values.
What racial tensions emerged in the newly acquired western territories, particularly in California, during the mid-19th century?
Racial tensions in the West arose from the diverse populations competing for resources and opportunities.
In California, Mexican Americans and Californios (Spanish speaking residents) faced discrimination despite protections from the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, which ended the Mexican-American War.
Chinese immigrants also experienced severe discrimination as they arrived during the Gold Rush, facing hostility and exclusion from many sectors of the economy.
How did competition for jobs and resources contribute to racial and ethnic tensions in the western territories?
As more settlers moved westward, competition for land, mining opportunities, and jobs intensified.
Non-white groups, particularly Mexican Americans, Chinese immigrants, and Native Americans, were often seen as threats to white settlers’ economic prospects.
This led to racial prejudice, discrimination, and violence, as white Americans sought to dominate economic opportunities and land ownership in the region.
What role did land disputes in the West play in the sectional conflict between the North and South?
Land disputes in the West exacerbated sectional tensions as both North and South sought to expand their economic systems into new territories.
The South wanted to expand slavery into the West to maintain its agricultural economy, while the North sought free soil for free labor.
This dispute over the expansion of slavery into new territories contributed to the broader conflict that would eventually lead to the Civil War.
How did the economic systems of the North and South differ by the mid-19th century? (3)
By the mid-19th century, the North’s economy was industrialized, relying on free labor, wage systems, and manufacturing.
In contrast, the South’s economy was agrarian, centered on the plantation system and heavily dependent on enslaved labor to produce cash crops like cotton.
This economic divide made political compromise between the regions increasingly difficult.
In what ways did the Free Soil Movement reflect Northern opposition to the expansion of slavery into new territories? (3)
The Free Soil Movement opposed the expansion of slavery into the western territories primarily for economic reasons.
Northerners believed that slavery would prevent non-slaveholding whites from having economic opportunities in the new territories, as it would dominate the labor market.
The Free Soil Movement sought to ensure that new lands would be open to free labor, allowing for a more equitable economic system based on wage labor rather than slavery.
What economic arguments did Northern critics of slavery use to justify its restriction in new territories? (3)
Northern critics of slavery argued that it undermined the free labor market.
They believed that the expansion of slavery into new territories would prevent free workers from settling and working on the land.
This, in turn, would limit economic opportunities for non-slaveholding whites and keep wages low in the West.
What were the key goals and methods of the abolitionist movement in the North? (3)
The key goal of the abolitionist movement was to end slavery in the United States.
Abolitionists used a variety of methods, including publishing newspapers like The Liberator by William Lloyd Garrison, giving speeches, participating in the Underground Railroad, and advocating for legislative changes.
Some abolitionists also resorted to violence, such as John Brown, to achieve their goal.
How did William Lloyd Garrison contribute to the abolitionist cause, and what was the significance of his newspaper, The Liberator? (2)
William Lloyd Garrison was a prominent abolitionist who used his newspaper, The Liberator, to call for the immediate and uncompensated emancipation of enslaved people.
His fiery rhetoric and uncompromising stance helped to galvanize the abolitionist movement and drew national attention to the moral urgency of ending slavery.
What impact did Frederick Douglass have on the abolitionist movement, and how did his writings and speeches influence public opinion? (3)
Frederick Douglass, an escaped slave, became one of the most influential abolitionists in the country.
His writings, including his autobiography and his powerful speeches, highlighted the brutality of slavery and the intelligence and humanity of enslaved people.
Douglass became a key figure in both the abolitionist movement and the broader struggle for civil rights.
What role did the Underground Railroad play in helping enslaved people escape to freedom? (2)
The Underground Railroad was a network of secret routes and safe houses that helped enslaved people escape from the South to freedom in the North or Canada.
Abolitionists, both black and white, organized the effort and provided critical assistance in getting enslaved people to freedom, often risking their own safety in the process.
What were Personal Liberty Laws, and how did they reflect Northern resistance to the Fugitive Slave Act? (3)
Personal Liberty Laws were state laws passed in the North to counter the Fugitive Slave Act, which required the return of escaped enslaved people to their owners.
These laws protected escaped slaves by providing legal assistance, preventing their capture, and allowing trials to determine their status.
They reflected Northern resistance to the enforcement of pro-slavery laws.
What were the primary arguments used by Southerners to defend slavery during the mid-19th century? (5)
Southerners defended slavery through several arguments, including racial theories that claimed Africans were inferior, religious justifications based on the Bible, and the paternalistic idea that slavery “civilized” enslaved people. They also argued that the Constitution protected slavery and was a positive good for society, as articulated by John C. Calhoun.
What was John C. Calhoun’s argument that slavery was a “positive good,” and how did this ideology shape Southern political thought?
John C. Calhoun argued that slavery was a “positive good” because it provided a stable and orderly society for both whites and blacks.
He believed that slavery was beneficial for enslaved people by “civilizing” them and for Southern society by ensuring economic prosperity.
This argument shaped Southern political thought by reinforcing the idea that slavery was essential to the South’s social and economic order.
How did Southerners argue that the Constitution protected slavery as a property right?
Southerners argued that the Constitution protected slavery as a property right under the Fifth Amendment, which prohibited the government from depriving individuals of their property without due process.
They maintained that enslaved people were considered property, and any attempts to limit or abolish slavery violated this constitutional right.
How did Southern states respond to abolitionist sentiments in the North, and what laws were enacted to prevent the spread of anti-slavery ideas? (3)
Southern states responded to abolitionist sentiments by censoring materials and passing laws to prevent the dissemination of anti-slavery ideas.
They enacted laws making it illegal to teach enslaved people to read and restricting the circulation of abolitionist newspapers and pamphlets.
They also took legal action against individuals and organizations that promoted abolitionism.
