US History: Road to the Civil War

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Questions and Answers

What does the expression "King Cotton" refer to?

It was an expression used by Southern authors and orators before the Civil War to signify the economic dominance of the Southern cotton industry and the North's dependence on it.

Owning slaves for southern whites and southern farmers was sort of a _____ symbol.

status

Who were the 'mountain whites' in the antebellum South?

They were a population subset living in the Appalachian mountain valleys, largely isolated from the slave system. They practiced subsistence farming, generally did not own slaves, had little desire to, and often sided with the North during the Civil War.

What was the economic significance of cotton before the Civil War?

The entire Southern economy was based on cotton. Northern textile factories relied on Southern cotton, and the West/Midwest produced grain to feed both the North and South, creating an interconnected, yet sectionally distinct, economy. Signup and view all the answers

The plantation system was _____ because the price of cotton could drop and the south is completely reliant on the north to manufacture the finished goods.

unstable Signup and view all the answers

Describe the status of free blacks in the South before the Civil War.

There were about a quarter-million free blacks, many successful property or business owners (some even owned slaves). However, they lacked the rights of white citizens, could not hold certain jobs, and could not testify against whites in court. Signup and view all the answers

Describe the status of free blacks in the North before the Civil War.

Free blacks in the North faced discrimination; they often could not vote, and most black children were barred from attending public schools. Signup and view all the answers

In what year did the international slave trade legally end in the United States?

1808 Signup and view all the answers

The _____ declared that in 1808 international slave trade would end.

constitution Signup and view all the answers

Despite the end of the international slave trade, the slave population still grew because of __________.

natural reproduction Signup and view all the answers

What was the West Africa Squadron?

It was a British Royal Navy force established to enforce the abolition of the slave trade (enacted by Britain in 1807). It intercepted numerous slave ships and freed thousands of Africans. Signup and view all the answers

Planters viewed slaves as an _____.

investment Signup and view all the answers

Describe the general conditions of slaves in the antebellum South.

Conditions varied depending on the location and master. Disobedience often resulted in physical punishment. Field slaves typically worked from dawn to dusk under an overseer. Their quality of life was precarious and subject to the whims of their owners. Signup and view all the answers

What were 'Breakers'?

Breakers were slave drivers known for using brutal methods, particularly the whip (lash), to crush the spirits and resistance of strong-willed enslaved people. Signup and view all the answers

Many slaves had become _____ during the 2nd Great Awakening, but they find a blend between Christianity and their african roots for their own religion.

christianized Signup and view all the answers

What was the 'Black Belt'?

It was a region in the Deep South characterized by the highest concentration of enslaved people. This area became prominent in the 19th century as cotton farming expanded southward and westward. Signup and view all the answers

What is 'Responsorial' preaching?

It's a call-and-response style of preaching practiced by enslaved Africans in the South, which blended Christian and African traditions. Signup and view all the answers

What was Nat Turner's Rebellion?

Led by Nat Turner in 1831, it was a slave uprising in Virginia. Believing he received a sign from God, Turner and followers attacked slaveholding families, killing about 60 white people. The rebellion was suppressed, and Turner and others were executed. Signup and view all the answers

What was the significance of the Amistad incident?

Enslaved Africans seized control of the Spanish ship Amistad off Cuba. After landing in Long Island, their case went to the Supreme Court. Argued by John Quincy Adams, the Court ruled they were illegally enslaved and should be freed, securing their eventual release. Signup and view all the answers

What does 'Abolition' refer to?

It refers to the movement to end slavery. Signup and view all the answers

What was the goal of the American Colonization Society?

Reflecting early abolitionist ideas, the society focused on transporting freed Black people back to Africa. It established the colony of Liberia for this purpose. Signup and view all the answers

What was Liberia?

It was a West African nation founded in 1822 by the American Colonization Society as a place for freed American blacks to settle. By the 1860s, about 15,000 had relocated there. Signup and view all the answers

What was 'The Liberator'?

It was an influential abolitionist newspaper published by William Lloyd Garrison, arguing strongly for the immediate emancipation of all enslaved people. Signup and view all the answers

In the context of the abolition movement, what did 'Emancipation' mean?

It meant the immediate freeing of all slaves without any compensation paid to their owners. Signup and view all the answers

Who founded the American Anti-Slavery Association?

William Lloyd Garrison founded the American Anti-Slavery Association. Signup and view all the answers

What was 'The North Star'?

It was an influential anti-slavery newspaper created and edited by Frederick Douglass. Signup and view all the answers

Southerners tried to defend slavery using the _____, and referred to passages that said servants should obey their masters (not referring to slavery).

Bible Signup and view all the answers

What did the Mason-Dixon Line come to symbolize?

Originally a boundary line between several colonies (Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania, Virginia), it came to symbolize the cultural and political divide between the North and South, particularly concerning slavery. Signup and view all the answers

What were Slave Codes?

Slave codes were laws enacted in Southern states that controlled the lives of enslaved African Americans and denied them basic rights, reinforcing their status as property. Signup and view all the answers

What was the "Happy slave" myth?

It was a proslavery narrative arguing that enslaved people were content because they were provided with basic necessities like food, shelter, and work, and were well-cared for by benevolent masters. Signup and view all the answers

What was the Gag Resolution?

It was a rule passed in the House of Representatives in 1836 that automatically tabled (prevented discussion or debate on) antislavery petitions. It was eventually overturned in 1844. Signup and view all the answers

Define 'Popular sovereignty' in the context of the slavery debate.

It was the principle that the settlers residing in a U.S. territory should have the right to decide by voting whether or not slavery would be permitted there. Signup and view all the answers

What were the main positions of the Free-Soil Party?

The Free-Soil Party opposed the expansion of slavery into any new U.S. territories. They supported the Wilmot Proviso, advocated for internal improvements, and promoted free government homesteads for settlers. They eventually merged into the Republican Party. Signup and view all the answers

What discovery initiated the California Gold Rush in 1848?

Gold was discovered at Sutter's Mill in California. Signup and view all the answers

Describe the 'typical miner' during the California Gold Rush.

Typically, miners were young, unmarried men, many seeking to escape their pasts or the law. Mining towns were often characterized by high crime rates. While some found small amounts of gold, most did not strike it rich. Signup and view all the answers

Besides the miners themselves, who else often benefited economically from the Gold Rush?

People who provided essential services to the miners, such as those running boarding houses, laundries, or selling tools and supplies, as well as mine owners, often profited significantly. Signup and view all the answers

Who were the 'Forty-niners'?

This was the nickname given to the prospectors who migrated to California during the Gold Rush, starting primarily in 1849. Signup and view all the answers

Why did California seek statehood so rapidly after the Gold Rush began?

The massive population increase caused by the Gold Rush led to lawlessness and crime. Californians recognized the need for an established government and legal system for protection and organization, prompting them to apply for statehood. Signup and view all the answers

In California's constitution, they write that they will enter as a _____.

free state Signup and view all the answers

What were the five main components of the Compromise of 1850?

<ol> <li>California admitted as a free state. 2. Slave trade (but not slavery itself) banned in Washington D.C. 3. A stronger Fugitive Slave Act was passed. 4. Popular sovereignty would determine slavery status in the Mexican Cession territories (Utah and New Mexico). 5. Texas gave up claims to New Mexico territory in exchange for $10 million from the federal government to pay off debt to Mexico.</li> </ol> Signup and view all the answers

Describe the Underground Railroad.

It was a network of secret routes and safe houses used by enslaved African Americans to escape to free states and Canada. 'Conductors' guided fugitive slaves, who traveled mainly at night using the North Star, hiding in 'stations' (safe houses) during the day. Signup and view all the answers

What was the purpose of Daniel Webster's Seventh of March Speech?

Webster urged Northerners to support the Compromise of 1850, including the controversial Fugitive Slave Act, to preserve the Union. He argued that climate and geography would prevent slavery's expansion into new territories anyway. Signup and view all the answers

What were key features of the New Fugitive Slave Act of 1850?

Nicknamed the 'Bloodhound Bill,' it denied alleged fugitives the right to testify on their own behalf or have a jury trial. Federal commissioners handling cases received $10 if they ruled the person was a slave and $5 if they ruled they were free. It also required citizens to assist in capturing runaways. Signup and view all the answers

What were 'Personal liberty laws'?

These were laws passed by several Northern states in response to the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850. They aimed to counteract the federal law by guaranteeing jury trials for alleged fugitives or prohibiting the use of local jails by federal officials. Signup and view all the answers

What did the Clayton-Bulwer Treaty (1850) stipulate?

Signed by Great Britain and the United States, it stated that neither nation would seek exclusive control over or fortify any future canal route across the Isthmus of Panama. They agreed to jointly protect the neutrality of Central America. Signup and view all the answers

What was the Ostend Manifesto?

It was a confidential dispatch in 1854, drafted by American diplomats in Europe, suggesting the U.S. should offer to buy Cuba from Spain, and if Spain refused, take it by force. When leaked, it caused outrage in the North, where it was seen as a Southern plot to expand slavery, and the proposal was dropped. Signup and view all the answers

Why was a Transcontinental Railroad deemed necessary, and why was its proposed route contentious?

A railroad was needed to connect the vast new western territories acquired by the U.S. more efficiently and cheaply than existing methods. Both the North and South wanted the eastern terminus and route in their section due to the expected economic benefits. The South argued for its route due to organized territories, fewer mountains, and better weather. Signup and view all the answers

What was the significance of the Gadsden Purchase (1853)?

The U.S. purchased a small strip of land from Mexico (now part of Arizona and New Mexico). This acquisition provided a favorable southern route for a transcontinental railroad and finalized the southern border of the contiguous United States. Signup and view all the answers

How did Northerners, particularly Stephen Douglas, react to the potential southern route for the transcontinental railroad?

Northerners were unhappy and wanted the railroad routed through the North. Senator Stephen Douglas, who had investments in land along a potential northern route, proposed organizing the northern territories (Nebraska) to make a northern route feasible. This led to his proposal of the Kansas-Nebraska Act. Signup and view all the answers

What did the Kansas-Nebraska Act (1854) propose, and what major compromise did it repeal?

Proposed by Stephen Douglas, the act split the Nebraska Territory into two territories: Kansas and Nebraska. It stipulated that the issue of slavery in each territory would be decided by popular sovereignty (voting by residents). Crucially, it repealed the Missouri Compromise of 1820, which had banned slavery north of the 36°30′ parallel in the Louisiana Purchase territory. Signup and view all the answers

What groups formed the Republican Party, and what was their main stance on slavery in the territories?

The Republican Party was formed in the mid-1850s by a coalition of former Whigs, Free-Soilers, and anti-slavery Democrats who opposed the Kansas-Nebraska Act. Their central platform opposed the extension of slavery into any new U.S. territories, largely based on the principle of 'Free Soil'. Signup and view all the answers

What was the impact of Harriet Beecher Stowe's novel "Uncle Tom's Cabin"?

Published in 1852, "Uncle Tom's Cabin" became a massive bestseller in the U.S. and abroad. By vividly depicting the brutalities of slavery, such as family separation and physical abuse, it personalized the issue for many readers, significantly boosted abolitionist sentiment, and fueled sectional tensions. Signup and view all the answers

What was the main argument of Hinton R. Helper's book "The Impending Crisis of the South"?

Written by a white Southerner, the book argued, using statistics, that slavery actually harmed non-slaveholding white Southerners economically and hindered the South's overall progress compared to the North. Signup and view all the answers

What was the purpose of the New England Emigrant Aid Company?

It was an organization formed to finance the transportation of anti-slavery settlers to Kansas Territory to ensure it would become a free state through popular sovereignty. Signup and view all the answers

Why did both pro-slavery and anti-slavery settlers move to Kansas in the mid-1850s?

They moved to Kansas specifically to influence the vote on whether the territory would permit or prohibit slavery under the principle of popular sovereignty established by the Kansas-Nebraska Act. Signup and view all the answers

__________ ends up having both a pro slavery government and an anti slavery government set up.

Kansas Signup and view all the answers

What happened during the Pottawatomie Massacre (May 1856)?

In response to the pro-slavery sack of Lawrence, Kansas, and fueled by rumors (false) of anti-slavery deaths, abolitionist John Brown and his followers attacked the pro-slavery settlement at Pottawatomie Creek. They dragged five men from their homes and brutally murdered them. Signup and view all the answers

Why was Kansas Territory given the nickname 'Bleeding Kansas'?

It earned the nickname due to the period of intense, violent conflict between pro-slavery and anti-slavery factions who fought for control of the territory between roughly 1854 and 1859. Signup and view all the answers

Describe the 'Caning of Sumner' incident (May 1856).

Massachusetts Senator Charles Sumner delivered an fiery anti-slavery speech titled "The Crime Against Kansas," in which he verbally attacked pro-slavery advocates, including South Carolina Senator Andrew Butler. Butler's cousin, Representative Preston Brooks, later confronted Sumner at his Senate desk and beat him severely with a cane, rendering him unconscious. Signup and view all the answers

What was the central question in the Dred Scott v. Sandford case?

Dred Scott, a slave, had been taken by his master from the slave state of Missouri into free territory (Illinois and Wisconsin). The central question was whether residing in a free state or territory made Scott legally free. Signup and view all the answers

Summarize the three main points of Chief Justice Roger Taney's decision in the Dred Scott case (1857).

<ol> <li>Black people (enslaved or free) were not considered citizens under the Constitution and therefore had no rights, including the right to sue in federal court. 2. The Missouri Compromise, which banned slavery in certain territories, was unconstitutional because Congress lacked the power to prohibit slavery in the territories. 3. Scott's time in free territory did not make him free because slaves were considered private property protected by the Fifth Amendment.</li> </ol> Signup and view all the answers

What were the main causes of the Panic of 1857?

Key causes included: 1. Over-speculation in land, particularly related to anticipated railroad routes. 2. Inflation caused by the influx of California gold. 3. A decline in grain exports to Europe after the end of the Crimean War, leading to falling grain prices and hardship for Midwestern farmers. Signup and view all the answers

The Panic of 1857 impacted the _____ the most.

North Signup and view all the answers

What did the Homestead Act propose, and why was it initially vetoed?

The Homestead Act proposed offering settlers up to 160 acres of public land for a very low price (or free after improvements). It was initially passed by Congress but vetoed by President Buchanan, largely to appease Southern interests who feared it would fill western territories with anti-slavery small farmers. Signup and view all the answers

Northerners blamed the __________ for the economy going belly up during the Panic of 1857.

Tariff of 1857 Signup and view all the answers

What did the Tariff of 1857 do?

Responding to a federal budget surplus and pressure from Southern farmers (who generally opposed high tariffs), the Tariff of 1857 lowered duties on imported goods to their lowest levels since 1816. Signup and view all the answers

What were the Lincoln-Douglas Debates?

They were a series of seven debates held across Illinois in 1858 between Republican Abraham Lincoln and incumbent Democrat Stephen Douglas during the campaign for the state's U.S. Senate seat. Key moments included Lincoln posing the 'Freeport Question' and Douglas's response, known as the 'Freeport Doctrine'. Signup and view all the answers

What was the 'Freeport Question'?

During the Lincoln-Douglas debates, Abraham Lincoln asked Stephen Douglas whether the people of a territory could lawfully exclude slavery prior to statehood, despite the Dred Scott decision which seemed to say they could not. Signup and view all the answers

What was the 'Freeport Doctrine'?

It was Stephen Douglas's response to Lincoln's Freeport Question. Douglas argued that slavery could not exist in a territory unless supported by local police regulations (slave codes). Therefore, even if the Dred Scott decision protected slavery in theory, territorial legislatures could effectively exclude it by simply not passing the laws necessary to sustain it. Signup and view all the answers

Describe John Brown's Raid on Harpers Ferry (October 1859).

Abolitionist John Brown led a small group in seizing the federal arsenal at Harpers Ferry, Virginia (now West Virginia). His plan was to arm enslaved people and incite a massive slave rebellion. However, no slaves joined, the raid was quickly suppressed by U.S. Marines (led by Robert E. Lee), and several raiders, including two of Brown's sons, were killed. Brown was captured, tried for treason and murder, and hanged. Signup and view all the answers

How did Northerners and Southerners react differently to John Brown's raid?

Many Northerners and abolitionists admired Brown's anti-slavery motives and mourned his execution, viewing him as a martyr (like Henry David Thoreau comparing him to Christ), even if they disagreed with his violent methods. Southerners were horrified and saw the raid as proof of Northern aggression and intention to destroy the Southern way of life through slave insurrection, increasing fears and calls for secession. Signup and view all the answers

The main reason southerners don't like stephen douglass is because of his views on the ______________.

Lecompton Constitution Signup and view all the answers

What was the main goal of the Constitutional Union Party in the 1860 election?

Composed mainly of former Whigs and Know-Nothings, its primary interest was preserving the Union and avoiding the slavery issue. Their platform simply urged support for the Constitution, the Union, and the enforcement of laws. Signup and view all the answers

Define 'Secession'.

Secession is the act of formally withdrawing from a federation or body, especially a political state. In the U.S. context, it refers to the withdrawal of Southern states from the Union. Signup and view all the answers

Where was the Confederate States of America formed, and who was elected its president?

The Confederate States of America (CSA) was formed in Montgomery, Alabama, in February 1861 by the first seven seceding states. Jefferson Davis was elected as its provisional president. Signup and view all the answers

Why was President James Buchanan referred to as a 'lame duck' concerning secession?

During the period between Lincoln's election (November 1860) and inauguration (March 1861), several Southern states seceded. Buchanan, the outgoing president ('lame duck'), condemned secession as illegal but believed the federal government lacked the constitutional power to forcibly prevent it, taking little decisive action. Signup and view all the answers

What did the Crittenden Amendments propose, and what was their fate?

Proposed by Kentucky Senator John Crittenden, these amendments were a last-ditch effort to prevent secession and civil war. They aimed to appease the South by constitutionally guaranteeing slavery south of the 36°30′ line (the old Missouri Compromise line) in all current and future territories, while prohibiting it north of the line. President-elect Lincoln rejected the proposal because it violated the core Republican principle of preventing slavery's expansion. Signup and view all the answers

Identify the main candidates and the winner of the Presidential Election of 1848.

The Democrats nominated Lewis Cass, the Whigs nominated General Zachary Taylor, and the Free-Soil Party nominated former President Martin Van Buren. Zachary Taylor won the election. Signup and view all the answers

List some key problems Zachary Taylor faced during his brief presidency.

Major issues included debates over the enforcement of the Fugitive Slave Act of 1793 (with the South demanding stronger enforcement and threatening secession), a border dispute between Texas and the New Mexico territory, and the question of California's admission to the Union (specifically whether it would be free or slave). Signup and view all the answers

Identify the main candidates and the winner of the Presidential Election of 1852.

The Democrats nominated Franklin Pierce, the Whigs nominated General Winfield Scott, and the Free Soil Party nominated John P. Hale. Franklin Pierce won a landslide victory. Signup and view all the answers

Identify the main candidates and the winner of the Presidential Election of 1856.

The Democrats nominated James Buchanan, the newly formed Republican Party nominated John C. Frémont, and the American (Know-Nothing) Party nominated former President Millard Fillmore. James Buchanan won the election. Signup and view all the answers

What was the significance of the Illinois Senate Election of 1858?

This election featured incumbent Democrat Stephen Douglas against Republican challenger Abraham Lincoln. While Douglas won the Senate seat, the series of highly publicized Lincoln-Douglas Debates during the campaign brought Lincoln national attention and helped establish him as a leading voice of the Republican Party. Signup and view all the answers

Identify the main candidates and the winner of the Presidential Election of 1860.

The Democratic Party split: Northern Democrats nominated Stephen Douglas, Southern Democrats nominated John C. Breckinridge. The Republican Party nominated Abraham Lincoln. The Constitutional Union Party nominated John Bell. Abraham Lincoln won the election despite not winning a majority of the popular vote. Signup and view all the answers

The south threatens to secede from the union if ____________ is elected.

Lincoln Signup and view all the answers

__________ was the first state to secede.

South Carolina Signup and view all the answers

Lincoln was inaugurated in __________.

March 1861 Signup and view all the answers

Who was Nat Turner?

Nat Turner was an enslaved African American in Virginia who was sold multiple times. He became a preacher, believed God spoke to him through visions, and led a significant slave rebellion in 1831. Signup and view all the answers

Who was Hinton Helper and what did he write?

Hinton Helper was a white Southerner critical of slavery. He wrote the book "The Impending Crisis of the South" (1857), which used statistics to argue that slavery harmed the economic prospects of non-slaveholding whites. Signup and view all the answers

What was George Fitzhugh's justification for slavery?

George Fitzhugh was a prominent American social theorist who defended slavery by arguing that Black people were inherently childlike and dependent, and thus required the paternalistic guidance and protection of slavery. Signup and view all the answers

Who was William Lloyd Garrison and what were his key contributions to the abolitionist movement?

Garrison was a prominent abolitionist from Massachusetts. He started the influential anti-slavery newspaper "The Liberator," advocated for immediate and uncompensated emancipation, criticized churches for not condemning slavery, and founded the American Anti-Slavery Society (New England Chapter in 1833). Signup and view all the answers

Who was David Walker and what was his stance on ending slavery?

David Walker was an African American abolitionist (a former slave) who held a more militant view. In his 1829 pamphlet "Appeal to the Colored Citizens of the World," he urged African Americans to actively fight back against white oppression and slavery. Signup and view all the answers

Who was Sojourner Truth?

Sojourner Truth was an African American woman born into slavery who gained her freedom. She became a prominent advocate for both the abolition of slavery and women's rights. Signup and view all the answers

What role did John Quincy Adams play regarding the Gag Resolution?

Former President John Quincy Adams, then serving in the House of Representatives, persistently fought against the Gag Resolution (which prevented discussion of anti-slavery petitions) as a violation of free speech and the right to petition. He played a key role in its eventual repeal in 1844. Signup and view all the answers

Who was Lewis Cass and what concept is he primarily associated with?

Lewis Cass was the Democratic nominee for President in 1848 and a veteran of the War of 1812. He is often referred to as the "father of popular sovereignty," the idea that settlers in a territory should decide whether to allow slavery. Signup and view all the answers

Who was Zachary Taylor in the context of the 1848 election?

Zachary Taylor was the Whig nominee for President in 1848 and a popular general from the Mexican-American War. He had no prior political experience and, despite being a slave owner himself, did not take a clear public position on the expansion of slavery during the campaign. Signup and view all the answers

Which party did Martin Van Buren represent in the 1848 election?

Martin Van Buren, a former Democratic president, ran as the candidate for the newly formed Free-Soil Party in the 1848 election. Signup and view all the answers

Which major compromise did Millard Fillmore sign into law?

Millard Fillmore, who became president after Zachary Taylor's death, signed the Compromise of 1850 into law. Signup and view all the answers

Who was Frederick Douglass and what were his major contributions?

Frederick Douglass was a former slave who escaped to freedom and became one of the most prominent African American abolitionists, orators, and writers of the 19th century. He published the abolitionist newspaper "The North Star" and wrote the influential autobiography "Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass." Signup and view all the answers

Who was Harriet Tubman and what was her nickname?

Harriet Tubman was an escaped slave who became the most famous "conductor" on the Underground Railroad. She repeatedly risked her freedom and life to guide hundreds of enslaved people to freedom in the North and Canada. Her nickname was "Moses." Signup and view all the answers

Who wrote "Uncle Tom's Cabin" and what motivated her?

Harriet Beecher Stowe wrote "Uncle Tom's Cabin." Growing up in the North, she was profoundly affected after witnessing a slave auction in Kentucky. She stated she aimed to show Northerners the cruelty of slavery, believing God inspired her to write the book. Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

King Cotton

Term used to describe the economic dominance of Southern cotton before the Civil War.

Status Symbol (Slavery)

Owning slaves was a symbol of status and wealth for southern whites and farmers.

Mountain Whites

Southerners living in the Appalachian valleys, isolated from the slave system, who sided with the North during the Civil War.

Significance of Cotton

Southern economy based on cotton; textile factories in the North depended on it; Midwest supplied grain to both regions.