The Compromise of 1850

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Questions and Answers

Which of the following was a provision of the Compromise of 1850 that favored the North?

No slave trade was allowed in Washington D.C. (correct)

California was admitted to the Union as a slave state.

The Fugitive Slave Act was abolished.

Utah and New Mexico were granted popular sovereignty. (correct)

What was the main issue that led to the writing of Uncle Tom's Cabin?

The author wanted to expose the harsh realities of slavery in the South. (correct)

The author was opposed to the Mexican-American War.

The author was concerned about the treatment of slaves in the North.

The author was a strong supporter of the Kansas-Nebraska Act.

Which of the following best describes the outcome of the Kansas-Nebraska Act?

The act led to the immediate abolition of slavery in the United States.

The act resulted in the establishment of two new free states in the Union.

The act was widely popular among both Northerners and Southerners.

The act led to mini wars breaking out in Kansas for two years. (correct)

What was the main purpose of the Gadsden Purchase?

To build a transcontinental railroad. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following candidates in the 1856 election was opposed to the expansion of slavery?

Fremont Signup and view all the answers

What was the main goal of the Free Soil Party in the 1848 election?

To limit the expansion of slavery into new territories. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following was a consequence of the Fugitive Slave Act?

Northerners made up stories and sent bounty hunters to capture escaped slaves. Signup and view all the answers

What was the main reason why Southerners wanted to ban Uncle Tom's Cabin?

The book made them look bad and they were losing money. Signup and view all the answers

What was the primary argument made by Dred Scott in his court case?

He was a free man because he was brought to Minnesota, a free state. Signup and view all the answers

What was the main difference between Lincoln's and Douglas' views on slavery?

Lincoln wanted to limit slavery, while Douglas wanted popular sovereignty. Signup and view all the answers

What was the result of John Brown's raid on Harper's Ferry?

He was caught and hanged, becoming a martyr for the abolitionist movement. Signup and view all the answers

What was the primary reason for the South's secession from the Union?

The South's desire to protect its natural rights, which were not being protected by the Constitution. Signup and view all the answers

What was the significance of the Wilmot Proviso?

It was a proposal to limit the spread of slavery in new territories. Signup and view all the answers

What was the primary outcome of the Dred Scott Decision?

The Supreme Court ruled that slavery was a reserved power for the states. Signup and view all the answers

What was the main ideological difference between the North and the South?

The North believed in limiting slavery, while the South believed in protecting their natural rights. Signup and view all the answers

What was the significance of the Lincoln-Douglas Debates?

They were a series of debates between Lincoln and Douglas that put Lincoln in the national spotlight and helped him win the presidency. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Compromise of 1850

California admitted as a free state, favoring the North
No slave trade in Washington D.C., but slavery remains legal
Federally enforced Fugitive Slave Act, requiring slaves to be returned to their owners, even in free states
Utah and New Mexico territories granted popular sovereignty, favoring the North

Election of 1848

Lewis Cass (Democrat) advocated for popular sovereignty
Zachary Taylor (Whig) avoided the topic of slavery and won the election, but died soon after, and VP Fillmore took over
Martin Van Buren (Free Soil Party) opposed the expansion of slavery into new states

Uncle Tom's Cabin

Written by Harriet Beecher Stowe in 1852, from the perspective of a slave family
Southerners wanted to ban the book as it made them look bad and hurt their economy
Stowe's second book, "A Key to Uncle Tom's Cabin" (1854), provided more credibility to her claims

"Bleeding" Kansas

Kansas-Nebraska Act (1854) allowed popular sovereignty in the two states
Abolitionists and pro-slavery settlers moved to Kansas to influence the vote
Mini wars broke out in Kansas for two years, with the federal government failing to intervene

Gadsden Purchase

The US purchased desert land from Mexico for $10 million in 1853, with the intention of building a transcontinental railroad
The railroad was never built in this area

Election of 1856

John Fremont (Republican) opposed the expansion of slavery
Millard Fillmore (American Party) opposed immigration and won the election
James Buchanan (Democrat) advocated for popular sovereignty, but his view on slavery was irrelevant due to Congress' power

Dred Scott Decision

Dred Scott, a slave, claimed to be a free man after being brought to Minnesota, but the court ruled against him
The court decided that only federal citizens have the right to be in federal court, and that slavery cannot be limited by Congress

Lincoln & Douglas Debates

Abraham Lincoln (Republican) opposed the expansion of slavery, while Stephen Douglas (Democrat) advocated for popular sovereignty
Lincoln won the series of debates, but Douglas won the election, putting Lincoln in the national spotlight

John Brown

John Brown was a radical abolitionist who believed he was ordered by God to end slavery
He planned to start a slave rebellion in Virginia, but was caught and arrested at Harper's Ferry in 1859
Brown was hanged, becoming a martyr for the abolitionist movement

Civil War

The South threatened to secede if Lincoln won the 1860 election, which he did
The Republicans' stance on limiting slavery's expansion violated the Constitution, according to the Dred Scott decision
The South felt that their natural rights weren't being protected, leading to the formation of the Confederacy
The North opposed secession to maintain the Constitution and Manifest Destiny

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Description

Understand the key elements of the Compromise of 1850, including the status of California, the Fugitive Slave Act, and the application of popular sovereignty in Utah and New Mexico.