Podcast
Questions and Answers
What was the primary purpose of the Missouri Compromise of 1820?
What was the primary purpose of the Missouri Compromise of 1820?
To maintain the balance between free and slave states by admitting Missouri as a slave state and Maine as a free state.
How did the Compromise of 1850 address the issue of slavery in California?
How did the Compromise of 1850 address the issue of slavery in California?
California was admitted as a free state while the Fugitive Slave Act was strengthened.
What impact did the Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854 have on the Missouri Compromise?
What impact did the Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854 have on the Missouri Compromise?
It repealed the Missouri Compromise and allowed Kansas and Nebraska to decide on the issue of slavery through popular sovereignty.
What was the main stance of the Free Soil Party?
What was the main stance of the Free Soil Party?
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What was the significance of the Dred Scott decision in 1857?
What was the significance of the Dred Scott decision in 1857?
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How did John Brown's raid on Harpers Ferry in 1859 affect sectional tensions?
How did John Brown's raid on Harpers Ferry in 1859 affect sectional tensions?
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What were some of the key strengths of the Union during the Civil War?
What were some of the key strengths of the Union during the Civil War?
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What did Jim Crow Laws entail in the post-Reconstruction South?
What did Jim Crow Laws entail in the post-Reconstruction South?
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What were two major weaknesses of the Union during the Civil War?
What were two major weaknesses of the Union during the Civil War?
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How did the Emancipation Proclamation change the purpose of the Civil War?
How did the Emancipation Proclamation change the purpose of the Civil War?
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What was the primary difference between Lincoln's Plan and the Radical Republicans' Plan for Reconstruction?
What was the primary difference between Lincoln's Plan and the Radical Republicans' Plan for Reconstruction?
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How did Andrew Johnson's actions affect his relationship with the Radical Republicans?
How did Andrew Johnson's actions affect his relationship with the Radical Republicans?
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What was the outcome of the 1876 presidential election and its significance?
What was the outcome of the 1876 presidential election and its significance?
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What role did the Dawes Act play in the lives of Native Americans?
What role did the Dawes Act play in the lives of Native Americans?
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What strategies did industrialists use to suppress organized labor?
What strategies did industrialists use to suppress organized labor?
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What is the main idea of Carnegie's Gospel of Wealth?
What is the main idea of Carnegie's Gospel of Wealth?
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How did the concept of Social Darwinism justify economic hierarchies?
How did the concept of Social Darwinism justify economic hierarchies?
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What did farmers and debtors favor regarding currency, and why?
What did farmers and debtors favor regarding currency, and why?
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What was one of the major political reforms achieved by progressives that directly affected the legislative process?
What was one of the major political reforms achieved by progressives that directly affected the legislative process?
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Which legislation aimed to break up monopolies and reduce corporate power?
Which legislation aimed to break up monopolies and reduce corporate power?
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What was the goal of muckrakers during the Progressive Era?
What was the goal of muckrakers during the Progressive Era?
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What was a significant social reform achieved during the Progressive Era?
What was a significant social reform achieved during the Progressive Era?
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How did Teddy Roosevelt’s Square Deal influence domestic policy?
How did Teddy Roosevelt’s Square Deal influence domestic policy?
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What was a significant cause of the Spanish-American War?
What was a significant cause of the Spanish-American War?
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Which amendment declared that the U.S. would not annex Cuba after the Spanish-American War?
Which amendment declared that the U.S. would not annex Cuba after the Spanish-American War?
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What was one of the goals of the Progressive Movement?
What was one of the goals of the Progressive Movement?
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What territory was ceded to the U.S. as a result of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo?
What territory was ceded to the U.S. as a result of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo?
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What was Roosevelt's role during the Spanish-American War?
What was Roosevelt's role during the Spanish-American War?
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Which statement correctly describes the Platt Amendment?
Which statement correctly describes the Platt Amendment?
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How did American sugar planters contribute to the annexation of Hawaii?
How did American sugar planters contribute to the annexation of Hawaii?
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What did Alfred Thayer Mahan emphasize in his pro-imperialism arguments?
What did Alfred Thayer Mahan emphasize in his pro-imperialism arguments?
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Study Notes
Civil War & Reconstruction
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Compromises on Slavery: The Missouri Compromise (1820) balanced slave and free states, prohibiting slavery north of 36°30′ latitude except Missouri. The Compromise of 1850 admitted California as free, strengthened the Fugitive Slave Act, and allowed popular sovereignty in Utah and New Mexico. The Kansas-Nebraska Act (1854) repealed the Missouri Compromise, leading to "Bleeding Kansas."
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Key Terms: The Free Soil Party opposed the expansion of slavery. The Wilmot Proviso proposed banning slavery in Mexican territories. The Crittenden Compromise aimed to protect slavery, failing to stop secession. Jim Crow Laws enforced racial segregation in the post-Reconstruction South.
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Timeline of Major Events: Events like the Fugitive Slave Act, the Dred Scott decision (1857), John Brown's raid (1859), Lincoln's election (1860), the attack on Fort Sumter (1861), the Civil War ending (1865), and Lincoln's assassination marked a period of escalating tensions, culminating with the Spanish-American War and the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo (1848), defining new national borders.
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Union and Confederacy Strengths/Weaknesses: The Union had a larger population, industrial capacity, railroads, and finances, while the Confederacy had strong military leadership, home-field advantage, and morale. The Union's weaknesses included early leadership and unfamiliarity with the South. The Confederacy's weaknesses were a smaller population, a weaker economy, limited industrialization, and reliance on cotton exports.
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Emancipation Proclamation (1863): Freed slaves in Confederate states not under Union control. Switched the war's goal to include abolishing slavery, encouraging African Americans to join the Union Army, and undermining the Confederacy's labor force.
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Lincoln's Decision-Making: Lincoln had to balance preserving the Union with addressing abolitionist pressures. He suspended habeas corpus for dissent and issued the Emancipation Proclamation strategically.
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Reconstruction Plans: Lincoln's plan was lenient, requiring 10% voter loyalty. Radical Republicans favored harsh measures, focusing on freedmen's rights and military occupation. Johnson's plan was lenient toward ex-Confederates, opposing civil rights.
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Johnson-Radical Republican Conflict: Johnson's vetoes of Reconstruction legislation and his leniency toward the South angered Radical Republicans. This led to impeachment proceedings, though he survived by one vote.
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1876 Presidential Election: Disputed election between Hayes and Tilden. The Compromise of 1877 resolved it, with Hayes winning, federal troops leaving the South, and Reconstruction ending.
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Republican Congress Laws: The Homestead Act (1862) granted Western land for farming. Reconstruction Acts segmented the South into military districts, requiring 14th Amendment ratification. The Civil Rights Act of 1866 granted citizenship and equal rights to African Americans. The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo (1848), defined new national borders, ending the Mexican-American War, and adding significant land areas to the United States.
Gilded Age
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Westward Expansion on Native Americans: The Dawes Act (1887) divided tribal land, damaging communal ownership. The Carlisle School aimed to assimilate Native children.
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Farmer Hardships: Sharecropping/tenant farming created debt cycles. High railroad costs and falling crop prices worsened farmer struggles.
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Industrialist Labor Control Strategies: Strikebreakers (Pinkerton Agents), blacklisting union organizers, using antitrust laws against worker's unions.
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Carnegie's Gospel of Wealth: Encouraged wealthy philanthropy, believing they should invest their fortunes publicly for social good.
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Social Darwinism: Applied "survival of the fittest" to justify economic and social inequalities. Opposed government aid to the poor.
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Key Terms: Laissez-faire represents minimal government interference in business. Political machines (e.g., Tammany Hall) wielded corrupt local political control. The Grange advocated railroad and grain storage fee regulation.
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Bimetallism Debate: Farmers favored bimetallism (using both gold and silver as currency) to increase money supply and inflation. Bankers supported the gold standard for stability.
Imperialism, Progressive Era, and World War I
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Causes of the Spanish-American War: American sympathy for Cuban independence, sensationalist "yellow journalism" inflamed public opinion, the sinking of the USS Maine in Havana Harbor (blamed wrongly on Spain), and U.S. economic interests in Cuba and desire for a stronger global presence.
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Teddy Roosevelt's Involvement: Roosevelt resigned as Assistant Secretary of the Navy to form the Rough Riders, a volunteer cavalry regiment. He led the Rough Riders in a key victory at the Battle of San Juan Hill, boosting his public image.
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Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo: Ended the Mexican-American War (1848). Mexico ceded vast territories (California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, and Wyoming) to the U.S., for $15 million. The Rio Grande became the border between the U.S. and Mexico.
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Annexation of Hawaii: American sugar planters and businessmen overthrew Queen Liliʻuokalani in 1893. The U.S. formally annexed Hawaii in 1898 during the Spanish-American War, due to its strategic location in the Pacific.
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Platt vs. Teller Amendment: Teller Amendment (1898): The US would not annex Cuba after the Spanish-American War. Platt Amendment (1901): Limited Cuba’s sovereignty allowing U.S. intervention and granting naval bases (e.g., Guantanamo Bay).
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Roosevelt Corollary: An extension of the Monroe Doctrine asserting the U.S.'s right to intervene in Latin American countries to maintain stability and prevent European interference, used to justify military interventions.
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Pro- and Anti-Imperialism Arguments: Pro-imperialists (like Beveridge and Mahan) touted economic benefits, new markets, and spreading democracy and civilization. Anti-imperialists (like Bryan and Schurz) criticized imperialism as a betrayal of American ideals and self-determination, warning about moral and financial costs.
Progressive Era
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Goals of the Progressive Movement: Address problems caused by industrialization, urbanization, and corruption; expand democracy (women's suffrage and direct election of senators); protect workers and consumers; and break up monopolies.
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Major Progressive Reforms: 17th Amendment (direct election of senators), initiatives, referendums, and recalls to empower voters; Sherman/Clayton Antitrust Acts to curb monopolies; limits on child labor and minimum wage; 19th Amendment (women's suffrage); Pure Food and Drug Act (1906) and Meat Inspection Act for public health.
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Role of Muckrakers: Investigative journalists who exposed corruption and abuses (e.g., Upton Sinclair's The Jungle on meatpacking, Ida Tarbell's expose on Standard Oil, and Jacob Riis's How the Other Half Lives on tenement housing).
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Teddy Roosevelt's Domestic Policies (Square Deal): Focused on fairness for workers, consumers, and businesses; broke up monopolies (e.g., Northern Securities Company); regulated industries (Hepburn Act on railroads, Pure Food and Drug Act); and promoted conservation.
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Description
Test your knowledge on the Civil War and Reconstruction era. This quiz covers key compromises on slavery, important events, and significant policies that shaped this turbulent period in American history. From the Missouri Compromise to the Jim Crow Laws, see how well you understand these critical moments.
