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Questions and Answers
What significant aspect was declared in Article One, Section Nine of the Confederate Constitution?
What significant aspect was declared in Article One, Section Nine of the Confederate Constitution?
Who was chosen as the president of the Confederate States of America?
Who was chosen as the president of the Confederate States of America?
What was one of the main outcomes of the Civil War?
What was one of the main outcomes of the Civil War?
What political principle allowed for the decision on slavery in new territories?
What political principle allowed for the decision on slavery in new territories?
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Which of the following states joined the Confederacy by 1861?
Which of the following states joined the Confederacy by 1861?
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What did Lincoln state regarding his intentions towards slavery in the states where it existed?
What did Lincoln state regarding his intentions towards slavery in the states where it existed?
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What sparked the increased tensions leading to secession in the South?
What sparked the increased tensions leading to secession in the South?
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What position did Lincoln take regarding secession during his inaugural address?
What position did Lincoln take regarding secession during his inaugural address?
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Which of the following was a significant conflict indicative of rising tensions over slavery?
Which of the following was a significant conflict indicative of rising tensions over slavery?
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Which key issue did the debate over statehood for Missouri and Texas revolve around?
Which key issue did the debate over statehood for Missouri and Texas revolve around?
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What was the primary concern of the Confederacy regarding new territories?
What was the primary concern of the Confederacy regarding new territories?
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Which of these statements accurately reflects public sentiment in the South as Lincoln took office?
Which of these statements accurately reflects public sentiment in the South as Lincoln took office?
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Who was a prominent leader of the abolitionist movement?
Who was a prominent leader of the abolitionist movement?
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What principle did the Compromise of 1850 attempt to apply to new territories?
What principle did the Compromise of 1850 attempt to apply to new territories?
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What did the Southern delegates fail to achieve during their conference with Lincoln?
What did the Southern delegates fail to achieve during their conference with Lincoln?
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What was a key factor that did NOT directly lead to the Civil War?
What was a key factor that did NOT directly lead to the Civil War?
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What was the primary issue Congress faced in relation to the Mexican Cession in 1850?
What was the primary issue Congress faced in relation to the Mexican Cession in 1850?
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Which issue did antislavery advocates hope to address regarding the District of Columbia?
Which issue did antislavery advocates hope to address regarding the District of Columbia?
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What was the primary impact of the Fugitive Slave Act on Northern society?
What was the primary impact of the Fugitive Slave Act on Northern society?
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Who was the Democratic candidate in the 1848 presidential election who supported popular sovereignty?
Who was the Democratic candidate in the 1848 presidential election who supported popular sovereignty?
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How did the Fugitive Slave Act incentivize federal commissioners?
How did the Fugitive Slave Act incentivize federal commissioners?
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What was the reaction of most Southerners to the Compromise of 1850?
What was the reaction of most Southerners to the Compromise of 1850?
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What did the Free-Soil Party primarily attract within its voter base?
What did the Free-Soil Party primarily attract within its voter base?
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What was a significant consequence of the Fugitive Slave Act for free Black individuals in the North?
What was a significant consequence of the Fugitive Slave Act for free Black individuals in the North?
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Which state was considered the 'crown jewel' of the Mexican Cession after the discovery of gold?
Which state was considered the 'crown jewel' of the Mexican Cession after the discovery of gold?
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What characterized the conventions held by Southerners after the Compromise of 1850?
What characterized the conventions held by Southerners after the Compromise of 1850?
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What was the stance of the Whigs and Democrats in the North during the 1848 election?
What was the stance of the Whigs and Democrats in the North during the 1848 election?
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What was unique about the proceedings overseen by federal commissioners under the Fugitive Slave Act?
What was unique about the proceedings overseen by federal commissioners under the Fugitive Slave Act?
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Why was Zachary Taylor appealing to southern voters during the election?
Why was Zachary Taylor appealing to southern voters during the election?
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What main controversy involved the territorial border between Texas and New Mexico?
What main controversy involved the territorial border between Texas and New Mexico?
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How did abolitionist societies respond to the Fugitive Slave Act?
How did abolitionist societies respond to the Fugitive Slave Act?
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What was the general perception of the Compromise of 1850 among Americans?
What was the general perception of the Compromise of 1850 among Americans?
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What was the main purpose of the Corwin amendment introduced in February 1861?
What was the main purpose of the Corwin amendment introduced in February 1861?
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What event is considered the flashpoint in the conflict between the Confederacy and the federal government?
What event is considered the flashpoint in the conflict between the Confederacy and the federal government?
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Which of the following states ratified the Corwin amendment in 1861?
Which of the following states ratified the Corwin amendment in 1861?
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What pressure did Jefferson Davis face regarding Fort Sumter?
What pressure did Jefferson Davis face regarding Fort Sumter?
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What strategy did Lincoln employ regarding the resupply of Union forces at Fort Sumter?
What strategy did Lincoln employ regarding the resupply of Union forces at Fort Sumter?
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What was a significant outcome of the Confederate takeover of Fort Sumter?
What was a significant outcome of the Confederate takeover of Fort Sumter?
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Who supported the Corwin amendment before Lincoln's inauguration?
Who supported the Corwin amendment before Lincoln's inauguration?
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What challenge did the Union garrison at Fort Sumter face as its supplies dwindled?
What challenge did the Union garrison at Fort Sumter face as its supplies dwindled?
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What incident amplified the sense of a conspiracy of southern power among northern abolitionists?
What incident amplified the sense of a conspiracy of southern power among northern abolitionists?
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Which element in Uncle Tom's Cabin emphasizes the idea that slavery destroys families?
Which element in Uncle Tom's Cabin emphasizes the idea that slavery destroys families?
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What did Harriet Beecher Stowe aim to highlight through her portrayal of White citizens in Uncle Tom's Cabin?
What did Harriet Beecher Stowe aim to highlight through her portrayal of White citizens in Uncle Tom's Cabin?
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What was one of the significant outcomes of Stowe's Uncle Tom's Cabin?
What was one of the significant outcomes of Stowe's Uncle Tom's Cabin?
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How did Uncle Tom's Cabin contribute to shaping public opinion about slavery?
How did Uncle Tom's Cabin contribute to shaping public opinion about slavery?
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What was a key factor in the success of Uncle Tom's Cabin?
What was a key factor in the success of Uncle Tom's Cabin?
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Which group of people believed it was their moral obligation to influence public opinion regarding slavery?
Which group of people believed it was their moral obligation to influence public opinion regarding slavery?
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Which character in Uncle Tom's Cabin represents the brutality of the slave trade?
Which character in Uncle Tom's Cabin represents the brutality of the slave trade?
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Study Notes
Brokering the Compromise of 1850
- The acquisition of Western territories from Mexico (Mexican Cession) led to intense debates in Congress about slavery's role.
- Complicating the issue were the slave trade in Washington D.C., the fugitive slave laws, the status of California, and the border dispute between Texas and New Mexico.
- California, a key territory, was potentially a free state due to the lack of settled slavery, and its discovery of gold.
- The status of the Mexican Cession territories created significant conflict as they potentially expanded either slavery or free states. This conflict was made worse by disagreements over how to handle the other issues, complicating an already tense issue.
- A map (Figure 14.3) details land ownership in 1849-1850 before the compromise, showing slave and free states, and territories.
Presidential Election of 1848
- The 1848 election failed to resolve the issues surrounding the Mexican Cession.
- Both the Whig and Democratic parties avoided direct discussion of slavery.
- Democrats favored popular sovereignty (allowing the territories to decide their own fate regarding slavery).
- Whigs nominated General Taylor (a slaveholder), whose approach to the issue was one of inaction.
- The Free-Soil Party nominated Martin Van Buren, a former president, and attracted support from northern Democrats and abolitionists, who opposed the expansion of slavery.
Clay's Compromising Resolutions
- Henry Clay, a seasoned veteran of political conflicts, offered resolutions to address the issues surrounding slavery's expansion.
- This was presented as a single omnibus bill, addressing the conflicting issues together in one bill.
- Key components included: admission of California as a free state; resolving the Texas-New Mexico border dispute; and establishing federal laws for the return of fugitive slaves.
Calhoun's Response
- John C. Calhoun, a prominent Southern Senator, opposed Clay's proposals.
- Calhoun viewed the North as the cause of the conflict over slavery, blaming the North for not supporting the interests of the South.
- Calhoun advocated for a constitutional amendment specifying a dual presidency—one for the North and one for the South, as well as a federal law to return escaped enslaved people to their owners.
Webster's Speech
- Daniel Webster, a Massachusetts Senator, delivered a speech advocating for national unity.
- Webster urged southerners to drop the issue of disunion and northerners to cease antagonizing the South with the Wilmot Proviso.
Webster's Continued Efforts to Seek Compromise
- Webster advocated for a new law to return escaped enslaved people to owners.
- His efforts to find common ground and promote national unity earned criticism from abolitionists.
The Fugitive Slave Act
- This act, a component of the Compromise of 1850, aroused considerable opposition.
- Southerners gained federal funding to capture and return escaped enslaved people to the South.
- Northerners were obligated to help catch and deliver runaways.
- This act prompted widespread anger and resistance from northern abolitionists.
Fugitive Slave Act's Consequences
- Financial incentive for slave-catchers led to increased kidnappings of free black people.
- Commissioners had no juries and the accused had no ability to testify.
Harriet Tubman
- Harriet Tubman, a freedom-seeker herself, aided other enslaved people.
- Tubman became a famous conductor on the Underground Railroad.
Uncle Tom's Cabin
- Harriet Beecher Stowe's anti-slavery novel, powerfully depicted the cruelty of slavery.
- Its impact helped to move public opinion in favor of abolition.
The Kansas-Nebraska Act
- The 1854 Kansas-Nebraska Act, proposed by Stephen Douglas, was a further addition to escalating tension over slavery.
- Douglas intended to make the territories of Kansas and Nebraska through popular sovereignty.
- This act created territories from the land and allowed them to decide whether or not to allow slavery, overturning the Missouri Compromise.
Bleeding Kansas
- Intense violence erupted in Kansas between pro- and anti-slavery settlers.
- This event further divided the nation and increased sectional tensions.
The Dred Scott Decision
- The 1857 Dred Scott decision further intensified the conflict.
- The court declared that Black people weren't citizens and that Congress lacked any power to prevent the spread of slavery in the territories.
The Lincoln-Douglas Debates
- The 1858 Lincoln-Douglas debates brought the issue of slavery into the forefront of national discussion.
- The debates increased Lincoln's national profile and sharpened the lines in the American political system.
- The debates were intense and covered conflicting views on slavery and its expansion into the territories.
Lincoln's Election and Secession
- Lincoln's election in 1860 triggered the secession of several Southern states.
- The secession of the states led to the formation of the Confederate States of America.
- This event dramatically escalated tension that culminated in the Civil War.
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Description
This quiz explores the contentious debates surrounding the Compromise of 1850, including the impact of the Mexican Cession and the status of slavery in new territories. Key issues such as the status of California, slave trade in D.C., and fugitive slave laws are examined. Review important historical maps and election results that reflect the tensions of this pivotal moment in American history.
