Sectional Conflict and the Causes of the Civil War

Question 1

What was the Wilmot Provisio?

Answer 1

Congressman David Wilmot proposed a bill that outlawed slavery in all territories acquired from Mexico.

Question 2

Southerners believed, in regards to slavery in the newly acquired territories from Mexico that

Answer 2

Congress had no right to prohibit any type of property.

Question 3

Antislavery northerners believed, in regards to slavery in the newly acquired territories from Mexico that

Answer 3

Congres had the right to make what laws it saw fit for the territories

Question 4

President James Polk favored this compromise in regards to slavery in the newly acquired territories from Mexico

Answer 4

An extension of the 36*30 line of the Missouri Compromise

Question 5

The other compromise solution in regards to slavery in the newly acquired territories from Mexico was

Answer 5

To grant squatter sovereignty which meant residents of each state would decide for themselves.

Question 6

Who was Zachary Taylor?

Answer 6

A war general from the Mexican War who had no experience in politics, but gained popularity because he took no position on slavery in the territories.

Question 7

What made the question of slavery in the western territories more immediate in 1848?

Answer 7

Gold was discovered in California and its population swelled from 14k to 100k. Since few slaveholders risked going west, California sought admission as a free state.

Question 8

What was the compromise of 1850?

Answer 8

Admitted Cali as a free state, NM and UT as TBD territories, Texas-Mexico border, outlawing slave trade in D.C. and tightened Fugitive Slave laws

Question 9

How did Stephen Douglas promote the passing of the 1850 compromise?

Answer 9

He broke the compromise into its component parts to pass it through Congress. Most of the country received it with joy.

Question 10

Describe Franklin Pierce’s Young America stance

Answer 10

Turned attention to railroads, cotton and commerce, opened trade to Japan, opened trade to Canada.

Question 11

Why was Franklin Pierce called doughface

Answer 11

A northern man with southern principles.

Question 12

Describe the economic growth of the mid-19th century

Answer 12

Railroads created a nationwide market and linked the midwest to the northeast rather than the south, the factory system and machinery.

Question 13

What two issues intensified the slavery debate after the compromise of 1850

Answer 13

The fugitive slave law brought the debate to everyone’s doorstep by denying trial by jury and requiring all U.S. citizens to aid. it polarized people. Secondly, Uncle Tom’s Cabin became very popular and turned people actively against slavery.

Question 14

Describe the Kansas-Nebraska Act

Answer 14

It called for an explicit repeal of the Missouri Compromise and allowed the new territories to decide by popular vote. North and South competed to send the most. Full scale guerrilla warfare erupted.

Question 15

What unified the new Republican Party?

Answer 15

Firm belief that slavery should be banned and confined.

Question 16

What was the Dred Scott vs. Sanford case?

Answer 16

Supreme court case involving runaway slave suing for his freedom because of living with owner in North. Buchanan urged the court not to rule the case as ineligible. The court ruled in favor of slavery, resulting in increased northern agitation.

Question 17

What was the Lecompton constitution?

Answer 17

Constitution allowing slavery in Kansas. Finally repealed by voters who chose to remain a free territory rather than slave state.

Question 18

What was the panic of 1857?

Answer 18

Severe depression lasting three years because of over-speculation, faulty banking and decreased european investment.

Question 19

What was the significance of the Lincoln-Douglas debates?

Answer 19

Douglas believed in popular sovereignty and refused to declare slavery as immoral. Lincoln said it was immoral. Debates gave Lincoln national merit.

Question 20

What was John Brown’s Raid?

Answer 20

Attempting to incite a slave uprising at Harpers Ferry in WV, John Brown was arrested and hanged. In the north, a martyr. Southerners were fearful that Northerners approved of Brown and also of a slave revolt.

Question 21

What two things feared Southerners after John Brown’s Raid?

Answer 21

Slaves would revolt and that white who did not own slaves would turn on them.

Question 22

What was Hinton Rowan’s Helper’s Book

Answer 22

He argued that slavery was economically harmful to the south.

Question 23

What was Abraham Lincoln’s platform in the 1860 election?

Answer 23

something for all northerners - provisions for a transcontinental railroad and the containment of slavery

Question 24

Describe the Secession Crisis

Answer 24

On December 20, 1860 South Carolina Seceded and by February 6 more had gone that way.

Question 25

What was President Buchanan’s response to the secession?

Answer 25

In a lame duck session and believing it was unconstitutional for the federal government to do anything to stop states from leaving.

Question 26

What was the compromise proposed to the secession in Congress?

Answer 26

Prohibiting the meddling of the feds in the slavery issue and extending the Missouri Compromise to the Pacific.