Historical Analysis Quiz: WPA Slave Narratives

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Questions and Answers

What motivated white society's resistance against immigrants in California?

Support for immigrant rights

Interest in cooperative labor

A desire to promote cultural diversity

Fear of losing job opportunities (correct)

What was Manifest Destiny according to John O'Sullivan?

An economic strategy focused on trade with Europe

A belief that expansion should only happen through diplomacy

A call for immediate cessation of westward expansion

A justified divine plan for U.S. expansion across the continent (correct)

How did Texas' cotton plantations primarily contribute to the region's economy?

By relying on the indigenous population for labor

By focusing on small-scale farming and local markets

By employing free labor from immigrants

Through the use of enslaved labor from African Americans (correct)

What effect did the debates over slavery have on the emergence of the Republican Party?

They polarized views on slavery, facilitating a new political alignment Signup and view all the answers

What were the consequences of vigilante violence against immigrants in California?

Exacerbation of tensions and a form of genocide Signup and view all the answers

In what way did economic opportunities in the West contribute to the Civil War?

By intensifying racial tensions over access to these opportunities Signup and view all the answers

What measures were taken against immigrants in Oregon during westward expansion?

Heavy taxes aimed at driving them out Signup and view all the answers

What was one effect of Texas' annexation under Polk on the region's demographics?

The expulsion of many Tejanos from their lands Signup and view all the answers

What was a significant policy implemented by the United States to acquire territory in the 1830s and 1840s?

The Indian Removal Act Signup and view all the answers

Which economic opportunity arose as a direct result of the U.S. expansion into California?

The California gold rush Signup and view all the answers

What was a primary expectation placed on enslaved individuals by their owners?

To meet consistent labor standards regardless of age or sex Signup and view all the answers

How did Harriet Jacobs describe the treatment of enslaved women by their masters?

Face both sexual exploitation and emotional degradation Signup and view all the answers

What attitude did the wife of a slave master typically have towards enslaved women, according to Harriet Jacobs?

She displayed jealousy and animosity toward them Signup and view all the answers

Which U.S. president was notable for his expansionist policies in the 1840s?

James K. Polk Signup and view all the answers

What was a major factor that limited economic opportunities in newly acquired territories?

Exclusivity of opportunities for white settlers only Signup and view all the answers

What was one consequence of the Mexican-American War in terms of territorial expansion?

Acquisition of significant southwestern territories Signup and view all the answers

What was the primary purpose of the Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854?

To grant residents the ability to vote on the legality of slavery Signup and view all the answers

What event is often referred to as Bleeding Kansas?

A series of violent confrontations over slavery in Kansas Signup and view all the answers

What was the outcome of the Dred Scott Decision in 1857?

It ruled that enslaved people had no claim to US citizenship Signup and view all the answers

What was John Brown's objective during his raid on Harpers Ferry in 1859?

To attack and seize a federal armory Signup and view all the answers

Which strategy did General Grant employ in his campaign against General Lee during the Civil War?

Attrition warfare Signup and view all the answers

What significant change did the Emancipation Proclamation implement in 1863?

It freed slaves in Confederate states while maintaining slavery in border states Signup and view all the answers

What key elements were included in the Compromise of 1850?

Admission of California as a free state and enforcement of a Fugitive Slave Law Signup and view all the answers

What was one of the main causes of tension related to immigration in California during this period?

The rapid economic growth due to gold mining Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Schedule (Test on THURSDAY)

Sunday: Review all questions (1-10), No school
Monday: Read all primary sources and descriptions, Class (45 minutes)
Tuesday: Review Historical Q's and Important Events/Names, Class (1 hour, 25 minutes)
Wednesday: Review all aspects of the test, study with a friend out loud, No class
Thursday: Review all material, Test

Questions to Expect (Answer from memory, then correct with notes)

Question 1: Analyze WPA Slave Narrative interviews (5.0a & 5.0b) to draw conclusions about slavery, and how to analyze historical sources.
- The interviews highlight stark differences in how former enslaved people discussed slavery with white versus black interviewers.
- White interviewers often elicited responses that portrayed slave owners as benevolent, protecting the interviewee's perspective.
- Black interviewers elicited more personal accounts and direct criticisms of the harsh treatment.
- Historical sources can be biased depending on the interviewer and the interviewee's context (e.g., recent enslavement), impacting the portrayal of events.
Question 2: Ways slave owners controlled and exploited enslaved people, and ways enslaved people resisted control.
- Slave owners used various methods to control enslaved people, including separating families, strict oversight, and harsh punishment.
- Enslaved people resisted through maintaining family bonds, despite separation, and individual acts of defiance.
- Examples from primary sources (5.0a, 5.0b, 5.1a - 5.1d, 5.1e) illustrate specific instances of control and resistance.
Question 3: How the United States acquired new territory in the 1830s and 1840s, and economic opportunities for white people in these territories.
- The U.S. acquired territory through the Louisiana Purchase, the Mexican-American War, and the 1830 Indian Removal Act.
- Economic opportunities such as farming and various industries presented themselves in the westward expansion territories.
- Resources from these territories largely benefited white people.
Question 4: Manifest Destiny, John O' Sullivan's confidence about the U.S.’s ability to control the West, and the reasons for the Civil War.
- Manifest Destiny was the belief that U.S. expansion was both justified and inevitable.
- O'Sullivan asserted that the U.S. was divinely destined to expand westward.
- Westward expansion and the debates over slavery's expansion contributed to the Civil War.
Question 5: How did Westward Expansion and debates over slavery contribute to the Civil War
- Westward expansion led to disagreements about whether new territories and states would be free or slave.
- This disagreement intensified tensions that eventually led to the Civil War.
Question 6: Political circumstances that led to the rise of the Republican Party.
Question 7: Why did Lincoln's victory in the 1860 election lead to Southern secession?
Question 8: Why did the North win the Civil War? Why did the South lose?
Question 9: Examples of resistance against the war effort in the North and South.
- During the Civil War both the North and South experienced resistance to the wartime efforts of each side from differing groups.
Question 10: How did the Civil War lead to the emancipation of enslaved people?
- The Civil War eventually led to the emancipation of enslaved people through the Emancipation Proclamation and the Union victory.

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Description

Prepare to delve into the WPA Slave Narrative interviews and their significance in understanding the varied perspectives on slavery. This quiz will focus on how different interviewers influenced the narratives shared by formerly enslaved individuals. Engage with historical sources to uncover deeper insights.