US History - Compromise and Slavery Issues

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Questions and Answers

What was the main purpose of the Missouri Compromise?

To prohibit slavery in all federal territories north of a specific line above Missouri.

What role did popular sovereignty play in the Compromise of 1850?

It allowed residents of New Mexico and Utah territories to decide whether to permit slavery when applying for statehood.

What was the significance of the Fugitive Slave Act?

It mandated that escaped slaves must be returned to their owners, even if found in free states.

How did Personal Liberty Laws affect the Fugitive Slave Act?

They nullified the Fugitive Slave Act by allowing northern states to protect escaped slaves against slave catchers. Signup and view all the answers

What event is referred to as 'Bleeding Kansas'?

A series of violent confrontations in Kansas between pro-slavery and anti-slavery settlers. Signup and view all the answers

What was John Brown's objective during his raid at Harper’s Ferry?

His aim was to initiate a slave revolt by seizing the federal arsenal and distributing arms to enslaved people. Signup and view all the answers

What was President James Buchanan's approach to the issue of slavery?

He promised to stop the agitation surrounding slavery but largely failed to take effective action. Signup and view all the answers

What was Henry Clay's role in the compromises regarding slavery?

He was instrumental in proposing the Compromise of 1850, earning him the nickname 'The Great Pacifier.' Signup and view all the answers

What role did Stephen Douglas play in the context of popular sovereignty and his relationship with Abraham Lincoln?

Stephen Douglas was a proponent of popular sovereignty, believing that states should decide on slavery. He defeated Lincoln in the 1858 Senate race but lost to him in the presidential election of 1860. Signup and view all the answers

What significant publication did William Lloyd Garrison create, and what was its impact on the abolitionist movement?

William Lloyd Garrison published 'The Liberator,' an abolitionist newsletter that campaigned against slavery. It played a crucial role in organizing the American Anti-Slavery Society and raising awareness about the issue. Signup and view all the answers

How did Dred Scott's case influence public opinion about slavery and legal rights for enslaved people?

Dred Scott's case highlighted the injustices faced by enslaved individuals, as the Supreme Court ruled he could not sue for freedom due to being considered property. This decision angered many and deepened divisions over slavery. Signup and view all the answers

What was the significance of Bleeding Kansas in the context of the Kansas-Nebraska Act and sectional tensions?

Bleeding Kansas was a violent conflict arising from the Kansas-Nebraska Act, demonstrating that popular sovereignty was unworkable. The violence initiated by Border Ruffians underscored the intense division over slavery. Signup and view all the answers

What were the intentions behind John Brown's raid on Harpers Ferry, and what was the outcome?

John Brown intended to seize weapons at Harpers Ferry to initiate a slave uprising against slavery. However, the raid failed, and Brown and his followers were executed. Signup and view all the answers

Why was the Crittenden Compromise significant, and what was its intended purpose?

The Crittenden Compromise aimed to resolve sectional conflicts by allowing slavery in the western territories below the Missouri Compromise line. Its failure contributed to the secession of southern states from the Union. Signup and view all the answers

Describe the role of the Know-Nothing Party in the political landscape of the time.

The Know-Nothing Party emerged as a nativist political group focused on anti-immigrant and anti-Catholic sentiments. It aimed to influence politics by promoting native-born Americans and restricting immigration. Signup and view all the answers

How did David Walker’s 'The Appeal' contribute to the abolitionist movement and challenge societal norms?

David Walker's 'The Appeal' called upon African Americans, particularly those in the South, to rise up against slavery. It criticized the hypocrisy of the Founding Fathers, advocating for resistance to oppression. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Missouri Compromise

Prohibited slavery in all federal territories north of 36°30′ parallel, with the exception of Missouri.
Temporarily resolved the slavery debate.

Compromise of 1850

Admitted California as a free state.
Allowed popular sovereignty in New Mexico and Utah territories.
Outlawed slave trade in Washington D.C.
Enacted a stricter Fugitive Slave Act.
Texas relinquished claims to New Mexico in exchange for $10 million.

Fugitive Slave Act

Required the return of escaped slaves to their owners, even in free states.
Ineffective due to lack of public support and enforcement challenges.

Personal Liberty Laws

Passed by northern states to nullify the Fugitive Slave Act.
Allowed the arrest of slave catchers for kidnapping if they attempted to apprehend slaves in the North.

Kansas-Nebraska Act

Divided the Kansas and Nebraska territories, granting them popular sovereignty.
Enabled residents to decide whether to join the Union as free or slave states.
Repealed the Missouri Compromise.

John Brown

An abolitionist known for his violent actions against slavery.
Led a raid on Harper's Ferry, Virginia to seize an arsenal for an anti-slavery rebellion.
Failed in his attempt and was captured and executed.

James Buchanan

15th President of the U.S.
Promised to address slavery but essentially did nothing to resolve the issue.

Henry Clay

A Kentucky senator known as "The Great Pacifier" for his ability to resolve conflicts.
Proposed the Compromise of 1850.

John Calhoun

A South Carolina senator and staunch supporter of slavery.
Warned of Southern secession if slavery was threatened.
Opposed the Compromise of 1850.

Jefferson Davis

Mississippi senator who successfully pushed for resolutions to limit federal control over slavery.
Later became the president of the Confederate States of America.

Stephen Douglas

Illinois senator who advocated for popular sovereignty.
Supported the Kansas-Nebraska Act.
Lost to Abraham Lincoln in the presidential election of 1860.

William Lloyd Garrison

An abolitionist who published the anti-slavery newspaper "The Liberator."
Organized the American Anti-Slavery Society.

Abraham Lincoln

16th President of the U.S.
Opposed the expansion of slavery.
Elected in 1860, triggering the Southern secession.
Issued the Emancipation Proclamation, freeing enslaved people in Confederate-held territories.

Dred Scott

A slave who sued for his freedom after living in a free state.
Lost his case in the Supreme Court, which ruled that slaves were property, not citizens, and could not sue for their freedom.

Daniel Webster

Massachusetts senator who supported the Compromise of 1850.
Advocate for national unity between the North and South.

David Walker

A Black abolitionist who wrote "The Appeal" which called for slave revolts.
Argued the Founding Fathers were hypocritical for supporting slavery.

Bleeding Kansas

A series of violent confrontations between pro-slavery and anti-slavery groups in Kansas.
Proved that popular sovereignty was not a viable solution to the slavery issue.

Harper's Ferry

An arsenal in Virginia that John Brown raided to seize weapons for a slave rebellion.
The raid failed, resulting in Brown's capture and execution.

Border Ruffians

Pro-slavery activists from Missouri.
Illegally crossed the Kansas border to vote and influence the territory's status as a slave state.
Involved in violent confrontations with anti-slavery groups.

Crittenden Compromise

Proposed amendments to the Constitution that would have extended slavery further West.
Failed to gain support and is seen as a last-ditch effort to prevent Southern secession.

Know-Nothings

A nativist political party that opposed the expansion of slavery and strongly advocated for limiting immigration.
Gained a significant following in the 1850s.

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Description

Explore key legislative compromises related to slavery in U.S. history, including the Missouri Compromise and the Compromise of 1850. This quiz will test your understanding of the impacts these laws had on the issue of slavery and state sovereignty in the 19th century.