US History: The Union in Crisis
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US History: The Union in Crisis

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Questions and Answers

What was the main topic of the Lincoln-Douglas Debates?

  • Foreign relations with Europe
  • The expansion of slavery (correct)
  • Economic policies in the North
  • State rights versus federal authority
  • What did John Brown's Raid at Harpers Ferry aim to achieve?

  • Negotiating peace with Southern states
  • Inspiring a slave rebellion (correct)
  • Establishment of a new government
  • Territorial expansion for abolitionists
  • What was a significant outcome of the 1860 election of Abraham Lincoln?

  • The end of the Civil War
  • Increased Southern support for the Union
  • The unification of the Democratic Party
  • Triggering the first wave of secession (correct)
  • What characterized the constitution of the Confederate States of America?

    <p>Guarantee of slavery and state sovereignty</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following compromises aimed at preventing the collapse of the Union ultimately failed?

    <p>Crittenden Compromise</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was a primary economic difference between the North and South leading up to the Civil War?

    <p>The North developed an industrial economy, while the South remained dependent on agriculture and slavery.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the purpose of the Wilmot Proviso introduced in 1846?

    <p>To ban slavery in new territories acquired from Mexico.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What significant outcome did the Compromise of 1850 achieve?

    <p>It admitted California as a free state and included the Fugitive Slave Act.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What did the Dred Scott decision establish regarding African Americans?

    <p>They were not citizens and Congress had no authority to ban slavery in the territories.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which party was formed in 1848 in opposition to the expansion of slavery?

    <p>The Free-Soil Party.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    The Union in Crisis

    • Division and Tensions:
      • The North developed an industrial economy, while the South remained dependent on agriculture and slavery.
      • This economic divergence fueled escalating tensions between the North and South, ultimately leading to the Civil War.

    Slavery and Expansion

    • Wilmot Proviso:
      • This 1846 proposal aimed to prohibit slavery in territories acquired from Mexico.
      • It was ultimately defeated, but its failure heightened the debate over slavery's future.

    Growth of Anti-Slavery Sentiment

    • Free-Soil Party:
      • Formed in 1848, this party advocated for a policy of "Free soil, Free speech, Free labor, and Free men."
      • They opposed the expansion of slavery into new territories.

    Compromise and Conflict

    • Compromise of 1850:
      • Admitted California as a free state and allowed popular sovereignty (allowing residents to choose regarding slavery) in other territories.
      • It also included the Fugitive Slave Act, which enforced the return of escaped slaves to their owners, sparking fierce resistance in the North.

    Political Shifts

    • Republican Party Formation:

      • Established in 1854, the Republican Party quickly gained political power in the North.
      • It was committed to preventing slavery from expanding into new territories.
    • Dred Scott Decision:

      • The Supreme Court's 1857 ruling declared that African Americans were not citizens and Congress could not ban slavery in territories.
      • This landmark decision deepened divisions about slavery and intensified tensions between the North and South.

    Debates and Division

    • Lincoln-Douglas Debates:

      • In 1858, Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas, both running for the U.S. Senate, clashed over the issue of slavery.
      • Lincoln's position of opposing the expansion of slavery gained nationwide attention.
    • John Brown's Raid:

      • In 1859, abolitionist John Brown's failed raid on Harpers Ferry, Virginia, attempted to ignite an uprising against slavery.
      • While his effort was unsuccessful, it solidified his place as an anti-slavery martyr and fueled sectional tensions.

    The Path to Secession

    • Democratic Party Division:

      • Tensions over slavery led to a split within the Democratic Party in 1860.
      • This division resulted in the nomination of two separate candidates, further fracturing the political landscape.
    • Lincoln's Election:

      • The election of Abraham Lincoln in 1860, despite not having Southern support, sparked the first wave of Southern secession.
      • South Carolina was the first state to secede.
    • Confederation Formation:

      • Seven Southern states formed the Confederate States of America in 1861.
      • Their constitution guaranteed slavery and reinforced state sovereignty.

    Failed Peace Efforts

    • Crittenden Compromise and Peace Convention:
      • Last-minute compromises, like the Crittenden Compromise and a secret peace convention, were unsuccessful in preventing the collapse of the Union.

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    Description

    Explore the tensions between the North and South leading to the Civil War. This quiz covers significant events such as the Wilmot Proviso, the formation of the Free-Soil Party, and the Compromise of 1850. Test your knowledge of the economic and political factors that fueled the conflict.

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