Mexican American War and Compromise of 1850

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Questions and Answers

What event prompted the Mexican-American War?

The rejection of the US offer to purchase Mexico.

The imposition of the Fugitive Slave Act.

The discovery of gold in California.

The annexation of Texas by the US. (correct)

What did Mexico cede to the United States as a result of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo?

Florida and New Mexico

Arizona and Louisiana

55 percent of its territory (correct)

California and Texas only

Which US president was in office during the Mexican-American War?

Zachary Taylor

James Polk (correct)

James Buchanan

Abraham Lincoln

What was the purpose of the Gadsden Purchase in 1854?

To acquire territory for the expansion of slavery Signup and view all the answers

What amount did the United States agree to pay for the northern third of Mexico?

$15 million Signup and view all the answers

What was the primary role of the Fugitive Slave Act in relation to runaways?

It mandated that the public assist in the capture of runaways. Signup and view all the answers

What types of communities did abolitionist activists work to create in response to the Fugitive Slave Act?

Sanctuary cities and safe spaces Signup and view all the answers

How did Harriet Tubman's experiences contribute to her mystique as a leader?

She had mystical experiences tied to her epilepsy. Signup and view all the answers

What was the main impact of the Fugitive Slave Act on the Underground Railroad?

It dismantled the interracial networks of antislavery advocates. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is true regarding Harriet Tubman's birth and family background?

Her father was enslaved but later manumitted. Signup and view all the answers

How did the Black and abolitionist communities react to the Fugitive Slave Act?

They were outraged and protested against the law. Signup and view all the answers

What condition did Harriet Tubman suffer from that influenced her life and perception?

Temporal lobe epilepsy. Signup and view all the answers

What nickname was Harriet Tubman often referred to, highlighting her role in guiding people to freedom?

The Black Joan of Arc Signup and view all the answers

Who introduced the resolutions that became the Compromise of 1850?

Henry Clay Signup and view all the answers

What was one key component of the Compromise of 1850 regarding California?

California was admitted as a free state. Signup and view all the answers

What did the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 require from law enforcement in free states?

It required law enforcement to support the capture of enslaved people. Signup and view all the answers

What was the purpose of the Wilmot Proviso during the discussions of the Compromise of 1850?

To outlaw slavery in the new territories. Signup and view all the answers

Which significant political event followed the Compromise of 1850 related to California?

The election of John C. Frémont as the first presidential nominee of the Republican Party. Signup and view all the answers

How did the Compromise of 1850 reflect the sectional tensions in the United States?

It highlighted the growing divide and sectional politics. Signup and view all the answers

Which law was strengthened by the Compromise of 1850 to enforce the return of self-emancipated Black people?

The Fugitive Slave Law of 1793 Signup and view all the answers

What was prohibited regarding the trade of enslaved Black people as a result of the Compromise of 1850?

The trade in enslaved Black people was banned in the District of Columbia. Signup and view all the answers

What was the main purpose of the Freedmen’s Bureau established in March 1865?

To support newly freed Black people and poor whites Signup and view all the answers

What significant action did President Andrew Johnson take regarding Special Field Order 15?

He dismantled it through the Freedmen’s Bureau Signup and view all the answers

Which event marks the beginning of Presidential Reconstruction?

The assassination of Abraham Lincoln Signup and view all the answers

What were Black Codes primarily designed to do during the Reconstruction era?

Reinforce racial segregation and control over Black labor Signup and view all the answers

Who was the head of the Freedmen’s Bureau after its establishment?

O.O. Howard Signup and view all the answers

Which amendment abolished slavery in the United States?

13th Amendment Signup and view all the answers

What characterized the Radical Reconstruction period?

It was marked by the leadership of radical members of Congress Signup and view all the answers

What was one of Andrew Johnson's notable political affiliations?

War Democrat Signup and view all the answers

What was one of Harriet Tubman's notable accomplishments during her time on the Underground Railroad?

She never lost a passenger throughout her work. Signup and view all the answers

Who referred to Harriet Tubman as 'Moses'?

The Black communities for her role in emancipation. Signup and view all the answers

What risk did Harriet Tubman face in her efforts to rescue her parents?

Legal repercussions under the Fugitive Slave Law. Signup and view all the answers

What was the total reward offered for Harriet Tubman's capture?

$12,000 Signup and view all the answers

What was the primary goal of Benjamin Drew's work, 'A North-Side View of Slavery'?

To collect and disseminate testimonials of formerly enslaved individuals. Signup and view all the answers

How did Samuel Cartwright's work contribute to the pro-slavery argument?

He introduced the concept of 'drapetomania' to characterize the desire for freedom. Signup and view all the answers

During which event did Harriet Tubman publicly speak about her experiences as a conductor on the Underground Railroad?

A women's suffrage meeting in Rochester, NY. Signup and view all the answers

What was Harriet Beecher Stowe's purpose in writing 'Uncle Tom's Cabin'?

To provide a fictional account that highlighted the horrors of slavery. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

### Mexican American War

In 1845, Texas joined the United States.
The United States attempted to purchase New Mexico and California from Mexico but was unsuccessful.
The Mexican-American War took place between 1846 and 1848.
In 1848, the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo ended the war.
Mexico ceded 55% of its territory, including parts of Arizona, California, New Mexico, Texas, Colorado, Nevada, and Utah, to the United States.
In 1854, the Gadsden Purchase added more territory to the US.
The US paid Mexico $15 million for the land and assumed up to $3.25 million in claims by its citizens against the Mexican government.

### Compromise of 1850

The Compromise of 1850 was a collection of five laws passed in September 1850 specifically to address the issue of slavery.
The Compromise was prompted by California’s request for admission to the Union as a free state.
Kentucky Senator Henry Clay introduced the resolutions that formed the Compromise of 1850.
The Compromise included:
- California was admitted as a free state.
- The slave trade was banned in the District of Columbia.
- A stronger version of the Fugitive Slave Law was enacted.
- The status of Utah Territory and New Mexico Territory was determined by popular sovereignty.

Compromise of 1850 - The Fugitive Slave Act

The Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 required law enforcement and citizens in free states to capture and return runaway slaves.
The act penalized those who aided runaway slaves.
The act attempted to dismantle the network of abolitionist activists in the Underground Railroad.

### Harriet Tubman

Harriet Tubman, born Araminta “Minty” Ross, was born into slavery around 1822 in Dorchester County, Maryland.
She was enslaved by several families, including the Pattisons, the Thompsons, the Stewarts, and the Brodesses.
Tubman suffered from temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) after being knocked unconscious by a white enslaver, resulting in seizures and visions.
She connected these episodes to her relationship with God and spirituality.
Tubman married John Tubman, a free Black man, in 1844.
She rescued her parents and other enslaved people from Maryland and brought them to Canada through the Underground Railroad.
Tubman was known as “Moses,” a reference to the biblical figure who led the Israelites out of slavery.
Enslavers offered a $12,000 reward for Tubman’s capture.
Tubman said, “I was conductor of the Underground Railroad for eight years, and I can say what most conductors can't say – I never ran my train off the track and I never lost a passenger.”

### Harriet Tubman - Brief Historiography

Benjamin Drew’s ‘A North-Side View of Slavery’ (1855) includes Tubman’s narrative.
Drew’s work countered pro-slavery narratives, like George Fitzhugh’s ‘Sociology for the South’ and Nehemiah Adams’ ‘A Southside View of Slavery.

### Reconstruction

Reconstruction lasted from 1865 to 1877.
The period can be divided into three phases:
- Presidential Reconstruction (1865-1867)
- Radical Reconstruction (1867-1873)
- Liberal Reconstruction (1873-1877)

Presidential Reconstruction 1865-1867

In January 1865, William T. Sherman issued Special Field Order No. 15, which confiscated land along the South Carolina and Florida coasts.
The Freedmen’s Bureau was established in March 1865 to help formerly enslaved Black people and poor whites in the South.
Lincoln was assassinated in April 1865 and Andrew Johnson became president.
Johnson dismantled the Special Field Order through the Freedmen’s Bureau.

### Reconstruction 1863 - 1877

Reconstruction was the period of national rebuilding after the Civil War.
It involved the reintegration of the Southern states into the Union and the process of extending citizenship and rights to Black Americans.

### Presidential Reconstruction 1865-1867

Johnson became president in 1865 after Lincoln’s assassination.
Johnson’s reconstruction plan prioritized the restoration of Southern states without requiring substantial changes to their social or political systems.

### Presidential Reconstruction 1865 -1867

- The 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments were passed.

The 13th Amendment abolished slavery.
The 14th Amendment granted citizenship to all persons born or naturalized in the United States. - The 15th Amendment prohibited states from denying or abridging the right to vote on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude.

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Description

This quiz covers key events of the Mexican-American War, including the annexation of Texas and the 1848 Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. It also explores the Compromise of 1850, a collection of laws addressing the issue of slavery and its impact on California's statehood. Test your knowledge of these significant historical events.