16.1: The Search for Compromise

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Questions and Answers

What was the main legal argument used by Chief Justice Taney in the Dred Scott v. Sanford case?

Enslaved individuals can petition for their freedom in court.

The rights of enslaved individuals are protected by the Constitution.

Scott was considered property regardless of his residence. (correct)

States have the right to regulate their own slavery policies.

Which of the following events directly followed the election of Abraham Lincoln in 1860?

The federal government intervened in local elections.

South Carolina seceded from the Union. (correct)

The signing of the Emancipation Proclamation.

Abolition of slavery in the northern states.

What was John Brown's objective in leading the raid at Harpers Ferry?

To negotiate for the rights of enslaved people.

To create a new abolitionist political party.

To establish a safe haven for runaway slaves.

To capture a federal arsenal and incite a slave revolt. (correct)

Which argument did Southern states use to justify their secession from the Union?

They argued the national government had broken the contract of voluntary union. Signup and view all the answers

What was the immediate consequence of the Confederate attack on Fort Sumter?

The start of the Civil War. Signup and view all the answers

What was the main stipulation of the Missouri Compromise regarding the status of states based on their geographic location?

States north of the 36º 30’ line would be free states. Signup and view all the answers

What was the purpose of the Wilmot Proviso?

To propose a ban on slavery in new territories gained from Mexico. Signup and view all the answers

What did the Compromise of 1850 entail regarding California's statehood?

California would be a free state while allowing other territories no limits on slavery. Signup and view all the answers

What was one outcome of the Fugitive Slave Act included in the Compromise of 1850?

It led to significant resistance from many Northerners. Signup and view all the answers

How did the Kansas-Nebraska Act impact the status of slavery in the territories?

It allowed the territories to decide on the status of slavery through popular sovereignty. Signup and view all the answers

What was the primary consequence of the tensions caused by slavery in Kansas?

A series of violent conflicts known as 'Bleeding Kansas'. Signup and view all the answers

What political party emerged in response to the divisions over slavery in new territories?

Republican Party. Signup and view all the answers

Who won the presidential election in 1856 and was a member of the Democratic Party?

James Buchanan. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

The Search for Compromise

The issue of slavery sparked long-standing debates and conflicts in the United States.
The Missouri Compromise established a boundary at the 36º 30’ line, designating states north as free and south as slave-holding.
The Wilmot Proviso aimed to ban slavery in territories acquired from Mexico, igniting Southern opposition desiring slavery in California and New Mexico.
California's statehood application threatened the balance of power between free and slave states, with Southern states threatening secession.
The Compromise of 1850, proposed by Senator Henry Clay, included California as a free state while leaving new territories open to slavery and enforcing stronger fugitive laws.
The Fugitive Slave Act penalized anyone aiding escaped slaves, leading to Northern resistance through jury nullifications and Underground Railroad support.
Franklin Pierce’s presidency (1853) aimed to enforce the Fugitive Slave Act.
The Kansas-Nebraska Act allowed Kansas and Nebraska to decide the slavery issue locally, contradicting the Missouri Compromise and sparking violent conflicts termed “Bleeding Kansas.”

Challenges to Slavery

The Republican Party emerged in opposition to slavery in new territories.
James Buchanan, a Democrat, won the 1856 presidential election amidst deepening divisions over slavery.
The Dred Scott v. Sanford case determined that enslaved Scott remained property regardless of the state, asserting constitutional protection for slavery and inciting outrage among anti-slavery advocates.
Abraham Lincoln's debates with Stephen A. Douglas in 1858 elevated his national profile despite losing the Senate race.
Abolitionist John Brown's raid on Harpers Ferry aimed to incite a slave revolt, threatening national stability.

Secession and War

Abraham Lincoln was elected president in 1860, hoping to prevent Southern secession and the Civil War.
South Carolina seceded from the Union on December 20, 1860, followed by several other Southern states forming the Confederate States of America.
The Confederacy elected Jefferson Davis as its president, framing the secession in terms of states' rights and perceived contract violations by the federal government.
Conflict erupted on April 12, 1861, when Confederate forces attacked Fort Sumter, marking the beginning of the Civil War as additional Southern states joined the Confederacy.

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Description

This quiz explores the complex history of slavery debates in America, focusing on key agreements like the Missouri Compromise and the Wilmot Proviso. Analyze how these compromises attempted to address the contentious issue of slavery as the nation expanded into new territories. Test your understanding of these pivotal moments in pre-Civil War America.