Chapter 13: The Politics of Separation (1850-1861)

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Questions and Answers

What was the main purpose of the Wilmot Proviso?

To promote the slave trade in the North

To permanently ban slavery in lands acquired from Mexico (correct)

To establish a new state dedicated to slavery

To allow slavery in all territories acquired from Mexico

Which of the following components was NOT part of the Compromise of 1850?

Adopt a more effective fugitive slave act

Admit California as a free state

Establish new slave states in the North (correct)

Abolish the slave trade in Washington DC

What was one major consequence of the Fugitive Slave Act?

It created widespread sectional tension (correct)

It facilitated the abolition of slavery

It united the Northern and Southern states

It established a formal border between Texas and New Mexico

Which political figure is incorrectly matched with their position in the context of the Compromise of 1850?

Millard Fillmore - opposed the Compromise Signup and view all the answers

What was a significant outcome of John Calhoun's death for the proslavery movement?

It diminished the Southern influence in Congress Signup and view all the answers

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

To allow settlers to vote on the issue of slavery Signup and view all the answers

What was the outcome of the Dred Scott v. Sandford case?

Congress was prohibited from banning slavery in federal territories Signup and view all the answers

Who became a prominent voice for abolitionists after debates with Stephen Douglas?

Abraham Lincoln Signup and view all the answers

What was the reaction of pro-slavery advocates to the 'Sack of Lawrence'?

They intensified their efforts to establish Kansas as a slave state Signup and view all the answers

What did Harriet Beecher Stowe's 'Uncle Tom’s Cabin' portray?

The life of a fictional slave and the horrors faced Signup and view all the answers

What was a significant result of John Brown's actions at Harper's Ferry?

It created panic among slaveholders in the South Signup and view all the answers

Which historical event did the Kansas-Nebraska Act directly influence?

The formation of the Republican Party Signup and view all the answers

What power was given to judges under the laws regarding runaway slaves?

Ability to return runaways for a financial incentive Signup and view all the answers

What was a key theme of Charles Sumner's speech, 'The Crimes Against Kansas'?

Condemnation of pro-slavery advocacy Signup and view all the answers

During what crisis did the Supreme Court make the Dred Scott decision?

Bleeding Kansas Signup and view all the answers

What was the outcome of the second election held in Kansas?

Kansas was declared a free territory Signup and view all the answers

What was Abraham Lincoln's position on slavery as expressed during the Lincoln-Douglas debates?

He opposed the extension of slavery into new territories Signup and view all the answers

What action was taken against individuals who protected runaway slaves?

They could face a $1,000 fine and jail time Signup and view all the answers

What motivated Douglas to propose the Kansas-Nebraska Act?

Need for a railroad connecting northern and southern states Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

The Politics of Separation (1850-1861)

Southern Fears: Newly acquired territories sparked fears of free soil, solidifying through the Wilmot Proviso (banning slavery in newly acquired Mexican land).
Compromise of 1850: Aimed to settle complex slavery issues; included admitting California as a free state, popular sovereignty for other territories, a border between Texas and New Mexico, and a strengthened Fugitive Slave Act.
Key Figures: John Calhoun, Henry Clay, Daniel Webster, Stephen Douglas, Abraham Lincoln, William Seward, and Jefferson Davis played crucial roles in shaping the debate.
Fugitive Slave Act: Highly controversial, forcing the North to assist in capturing runaway slaves. Judges rewarded for return, and punished for release.
Uncle Tom's Cabin: Harriet Beecher Stowe's book increased public awareness of slavery's horrors.
Kansas-Nebraska Act: Created to facilitate a transcontinental railroad, it introduced popular sovereignty, leading to the rise of the Republican Party and further division.
Popular Sovereignty: The principle that residents of newly acquired territories should decide the issue of slavery for themselves.

Bleeding Kansas and Dred Scott v. Sandford

Kansas-Nebraska Act's Impact: Kansas became a battleground with violence between pro-slavery and anti-slavery forces, contributing to the nickname "Bleeding Kansas."
Sack of Lawrence: A pro-slavery mob attacked anti-slavery settlements, leading to further violence and bloodshed.
John Brown's Actions: Prominent abolitionist and instigator of violence, including the Pottawatomie Creek massacre.
Charles Sumner and Andrew Butler Debates: Violence spilled over in Congress with passionate speeches on slavery and its implications.
Dred Scott v. Sandford (1857): The Supreme Court ruled that Dred Scott remained a slave, and that Congress could not prohibit slavery in federal territories. Significant blow to the anti-slavery movement.

The Economy, Panic of 1857, and Lincoln-Douglas Debates

Economic Downturn: A major economic depression (Panic of 1857) further increased sectional tensions.
Lincoln-Douglas Debates (1858): A series of debates between Lincoln and Douglas during Douglas's run for Senate. Lincoln's opposition to the expansion of slavery. despite not being an abolitionist, solidified a path for him to greater political recognition.

John Brown, the Election of 1860, and Secession

John Brown's Raid (1859): Brown's attack on Harper's Ferry fueled Southern fears of a slave rebellion, further solidifying sectional divisions.
Election of 1860: Lincoln's victory despite not winning a single Southern state, signaled a shift in political power towards the North.
Secession: Southern states, fearing oppression and decline, began to secede from the Union, culminating with South Carolina's secession in December 1860.

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Description

Explore the intricate politics surrounding slavery from 1850 to 1861. This quiz delves into key events such as the Compromise of 1850, the Fugitive Slave Act, and the effects of 'Uncle Tom's Cabin'. Test your knowledge on influential figures and legislative actions that intensified the sectional conflict leading to the Civil War.