Westward Expansion and Slavery Quiz

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Questions and Answers

What primary economic factors motivated individuals to head westward during the expansion?

Search for land, resources, and economic opportunities (correct)

Escape from religious persecution

Desire for adventure and exploration

Political influences from the East

What aspect of Romanticism inspired people to migrate to the west?

Focus on industrial progress

Emphasis on community and social living

Idealization of nature and individualism (correct)

Promotion of urban expansion

What was the position of the Democratic Party regarding westward expansion during this time?

They were indifferent to the issue

They supported expansion (correct)

They wanted to halt all expansion efforts

They opposed it due to moral concerns

What was the Wilmot Proviso and why was it significant?

A proposal to ban slavery in territories gained from Mexico, intensifying sectional conflict Signup and view all the answers

How did the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 impact Northern attitudes toward slavery?

It increased anger among Northerners and anti-slavery sentiment Signup and view all the answers

What led to the violence known as 'Bleeding Kansas'?

Political disagreements over the Kansas-Nebraska Act Signup and view all the answers

What action did Henry David Thoreau take to protest the Mexican-American War?

Refused to pay taxes, penning 'Civil Disobedience' Signup and view all the answers

What justification did Abraham Lincoln provide through his 'spot resolutions' regarding the Mexican-American War?

He questioned the legitimacy of the war's cause Signup and view all the answers

What argument did the chief justice present regarding African Americans and slavery?

African Americans were not citizens and Congress could not ban slavery. Signup and view all the answers

What was a primary objective of the Republican Party formed in the 1850s?

To oppose the expansion of slavery. Signup and view all the answers

Which candidate in the 1860 presidential election supported the expansion of slavery?

John Breckenridge Signup and view all the answers

What historical strategy did the Missouri Compromise and Compromise of 1850 reflect?

An attempt to manage slavery's expansion and avoid conflict. Signup and view all the answers

How did the Caning of Charles Sumner affect national politics?

It led to increased sectional tensions and strengthened the Republican Party. Signup and view all the answers

What was a significant consequence of Lincoln's election in 1860?

Unified Southern states against the Union. Signup and view all the answers

What motivated Union soldiers during the Civil War?

To preserve the Union and protect their homeland. Signup and view all the answers

What was the purpose of the Emancipation Proclamation?

To free enslaved individuals in Confederate states. Signup and view all the answers

What did the term 'hard war' refer to in the context of the Civil War?

Total war tactics aimed at destroying Confederate resources. Signup and view all the answers

What was Andrew Johnson's plan for Reconstruction generally characterized as?

Lenient toward the South, similar to Lincoln's but with more autonomy. Signup and view all the answers

What were 'Black Codes' designed to do?

Restrict the rights of African Americans to maintain a labor force. Signup and view all the answers

Which act led to the impeachment of President Johnson?

The Tenure of Office Act. Signup and view all the answers

How was the winner of the 1876 election determined amidst controversies?

Through a disputed electoral commission. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Westward Expansion and Manifest Destiny

Economic factors drove westward expansion, including the search for land, resources, and opportunities (farming, mining).
Romanticism's emphasis on nature and individualism fueled the westward migration ideal.
The Democratic Party supported expansion; the Whigs were more cautious or opposed.
James K. Polk's 1844 election victory promoted Texan annexation and expansion into Oregon and California.
The Mexican-American War stemmed from border disputes, expansionist desires, and Mexican refusal to negotiate.
Abraham Lincoln's "spot resolutions" reflected opposition to the war, questioning its justification.
Henry David Thoreau protested the war by refusing to pay taxes.

Slavery and Sectionalism (1850s-1860s)

The Wilmot Proviso aimed to ban slavery in Mexican territories, deepening sectional tensions.
The Compromise of 1850 addressed California statehood, a stricter Fugitive Slave Act, and popular sovereignty.
The Fugitive Slave Act forced Northerners to return runaway slaves, strengthening anti-slavery sentiment.
Southern Californians opposed Californian statehood to avoid weakening Southern political power.
The Kansas-Nebraska Act allowed residents to decide on slavery through popular sovereignty, causing conflict.
"Popular sovereignty" was the principle of allowing settlers to decide on slavery locally.
"Bleeding Kansas" was violent conflict over slavery, including John Brown’s involvement.
John Brown's raid on Harper's Ferry aimed to incite a slave rebellion.
The Dred Scott decision ruled enslaved people were not citizens and Congress couldn't ban slavery in territories.
Abolitionists sought complete slavery abolition; Free Soilers opposed its expansion but didn't necessarily call for its end.
Political parties changed; Whigs dissolved, and Republicans arose against slavery expansion.
1860 presidential candidates held differing views on slavery and Union preservation. (Lincoln opposed expansion, Douglas supported popular sovereignty, Breckenridge supported expansion, and Bell sought Union preservation.)
The pre-Civil War approach to slavery prioritized compromises to resolve tensions, like the Missouri and 1850 compromises.
The Caning of Charles Sumner escalated sectional tensions and impacted the 1856 election.

Civil War

Lincoln's 1860 election triggered Southern secession due to fears concerning slavery's future.
Southern secession leaders justified it by upholding states' rights and maintaining slavery.
Union and Confederate soldiers fought for honor, duty, and home protection; but Union soldiers also fought to preserve the Union, while Confederates aimed to protect states' rights and slavery.
Black men in the North fought for freedom and equality through military service.
The Emancipation Proclamation freed Confederate enslaved people, partly excluding border states to maintain loyalty.
President Lincoln viewed the Confederacy as a rebellious part of the Union and refused to acknowledge it as a separate country.
"Hard war" tactics emphasized total destruction of Confederate resources, leading to civilian suffering but aiming to end the conflict quickly.
The Union held advantages in resources and manpower; the Confederacy possessed superior military leadership and local knowledge.

Reconstruction

Lincoln proposed a lenient reconstruction process to reintegrate the South.
Radical Republicans advocated for harsher punishments.
Johnson's plan resembled Lincoln's but prioritized Southern autonomy.
The Freedmen's Bureau offered crucial support to freed slaves through education, healthcare, and legal aid.
Andrew Johnson's different background, a Southern Democrat and former slaveholder, contrasted with Lincoln's more moderate, nationally focused approach.
"Black Codes" restricted African American rights, promoting forced labor and limiting freedoms.
The Tenure of Office Act, restricting presidential removal power, was connected to Johnson's impeachment.
The contested 1876 election outcome determined by an electoral commission illustrated widespread voter fraud.

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Description

Test your knowledge on the key events and factors surrounding Westward Expansion and the rising sectionalism due to slavery in the 1850s-1860s. This quiz covers significant political, economic, and social elements leading up to the Civil War. Explore the impacts of Manifest Destiny and the complex issues regarding slavery during this pivotal era in American history.