APUSH Chapter 18 Flashcards

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Questions and Answers

Who was chosen as the Democratic leader at the Baltimore National Convention?

Henry Clay

Zachary Taylor

Martin Van Buren

Lewis Cass (correct)

What is Popular Sovereignty?

The concept that a state's people should vote whether to be a slave state or free.

Who was Zachary Taylor?

A military leader in the Mexican-American War and the 12th president of the United States.

What did the Free Soil Party oppose?

Slavery in newly acquired territories Signup and view all the answers

Who won the Election of 1848?

Zachary Taylor Signup and view all the answers

What significant event began on January 24, 1848?

The Gold Rush. Signup and view all the answers

What was the California Constitution's stance on slavery?

It prohibited slavery. Signup and view all the answers

Who was Harriet Tubman?

An American abolitionist and conductor on the Underground Railroad. Signup and view all the answers

What were Southern grievances before 1850?

All of the above Signup and view all the answers

Who was Henry Clay?

A distinguished senator from Kentucky and a strong supporter of the American System. Signup and view all the answers

What was John C. Calhoun known for?

Leader of the Fugitive Slave Law and a strong pro-slavery advocate. Signup and view all the answers

What was the significance of the Seventh of March Speech?

It called for support of the Compromise of 1850. Signup and view all the answers

Who was Millard Fillmore?

The successor of Zachary Taylor and helped pass the Compromise of 1850. Signup and view all the answers

What did the Fugitive Slave Law of 1850 entail?

It provided for the return of escaped slaves. Signup and view all the answers

Franklin Pierce was the Democratic candidate for President in _____?

1852 Signup and view all the answers

What was the Ostend Manifesto?

A declaration stating the U.S. would justify seizing Cuba if Spain did not sell it. Signup and view all the answers

What was the Treaty of Wanghia?

The first diplomatic agreement between China and America. Signup and view all the answers

Who was Matthew C. Perry?

An American diplomat who opened Japan for trade. Signup and view all the answers

What did the New Republican Party oppose?

The Kansas-Nebraska Act. Signup and view all the answers

The _____ line divided free and slave states.

Mason-Dixon Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Key Figures and Concepts in APUSH Chapter 18

General Lewis Cass: Democratic leader and veteran of the War of 1812; known for advocating Popular Sovereignty regarding the extension of slavery.
Popular Sovereignty: Principle allowing states' residents to vote on whether to permit slavery, reflecting democratic ideals but fueling sectional tensions.
Zachary Taylor: Whig general from the Mexican-American War; became the 12th president but died in office in 1850, succeeded by Millard Fillmore.
Free Soil Party: Established to oppose slavery in new territories; supported by those favoring the Wilmot Proviso and federal support for internal improvements and homesteads.
Election of 1848: Featured Zachary Taylor (Whig winner), Martin Van Buren (Free Soil advocate), and Lewis Cass (Democrat); Taylor's presidency ended abruptly with his death.
Gold Rush of 1848: Triggered by gold discovery at Sutter's Mill; led to an influx of ~300,000 people to California, significantly impacting Westward expansion.
California Constitution (1849): Urged by Taylor; established California as a free state, intensifying national debates over slavery.
Harriet Tubman: Former slave who became a leading figure in the Underground Railroad, guiding over 300 enslaved individuals to freedom.
Southern Grievances: Concerns included potential imbalance of slave vs. free states with California's admission, issues regarding Texas land, and enforcement of the Fugitive Slave Laws.
Henry Clay: Influential senator known as "The Great Compromiser"; proposed the Compromise of 1850 but passed away before its enactment.
John C. Calhoun: Advocated for strong enforcement of the Fugitive Slave Law; argued for the necessity of slavery in Southern society.
Daniel Webster: Whig politician who supported the Compromise of 1850, despite losing favor with his constituents for his perceived betrayal.
Seventh of March Speech: Webster's call for support of the Compromise of 1850, serving as a pivot point in his political career.
William H. Seward: Opponent of expanding slavery; articulated a "higher law" philosophy and noted for the "irrepressible conflict" concept between North and South.
Millard Fillmore: Assumed presidency after Taylor's death and facilitated the passage of the Compromise of 1850, aligning Northern Whigs.
Nashville Assembly: A meeting of Southern extremists advocating pro-slavery policies and against compromise measures in 1850.
Fugitive Slave Law of 1850: Aimed to recover runaway slaves; increased tensions between North and South by enforcing strict penalties.
Personal Liberty Laws: Northern laws created to counter the Fugitive Slave Acts, granting trials to escaped slaves.
Franklin Pierce: Democrat elected in 1852; known for the Kansas-Nebraska Act and the Gadsden Purchase, which facilitated Southern expansionism.
Winfield Scott: Respected military general and presidential candidate; created the Anaconda Plan for the Civil War.
Election of 1852: Resulted in Franklin Pierce's victory amidst the Whig Party's division, leading to the party's decline and rising sectionalism.
Gadsden Purchase: Acquisition of land from Mexico intended for a southern transcontinental railroad; emphasized the push for expansion.
Stephen A. Douglas: Key architect of the Kansas-Nebraska Act, promoting popular sovereignty and stoking the slavery debate.
Kansas-Nebraska Bill: Originated in 1854, allowing the formation of Kansas and Nebraska territories with slavery determined by popular vote.
Missouri Compromise: Instrumental agreement maintaining the balance of slave and free states; prohibited slavery north of 36˚ 30' in the Louisiana Territory.
New Republican Party: Emerged from opposition to the Kansas-Nebraska Act; uniting various factions against pro-slavery policies.
Mason-Dixon Line: Originally a surveying line, it became a symbolic boundary dividing free and slave states during the pre-Civil War era.

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Test your knowledge on key figures and concepts from APUSH Chapter 18. This quiz covers important terms like General Lewis Cass, Popular Sovereignty, and Zachary Taylor, which are crucial to understanding the antebellum period and debates over slavery. Use these flashcards to reinforce your understanding of American history.