American History Past Paper PDF

Key People ​ Abraham Lincoln: Illinois Republican who became a prominent leader against the spread of slavery and later the 16th President of the United States. ​ Stephen Douglas: Senator who introduced the Kansas-Nebraska Act and was Lincoln's opponent in the 1858 Senate race. ​ Dr...

Key People ​ Abraham Lincoln: Illinois Republican who became a prominent leader against the spread of slavery and later the 16th President of the United States. ​ Stephen Douglas: Senator who introduced the Kansas-Nebraska Act and was Lincoln's opponent in the 1858 Senate race. ​ Dred Scott: An enslaved African American who sued for his freedom, leading to the infamous Supreme Court case. ​ John Brown: An abolitionist who led the Pottawatomie Massacre, killing pro-slavery advocates in Kansas. ​ Charles Sumner: A Massachusetts senator who was a vocal critic of slavery and was attacked by Preston Brooks on the Senate floor. Key Events ​ Pottawatomie Massacre (1856): John Brown and his followers killed five pro-slavery men in Kansas, escalating violence in the region. ​ Lincoln-Douglas Debates (1858): A series of debates between Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas focusing on the issue of slavery, which brought national attention to Lincoln. ​ Dred Scott v. Sandford (1857): The Supreme Court case that ruled African Americans were not citizens and declared the Missouri Compromise unconstitutional. Key Dates ​ 1854: The Kansas-Nebraska Act was passed, leading to increased tensions over slavery. ​ 1856: The Pottawatomie Massacre occurred, highlighting the violent conflict over slavery in Kansas. ​ 1857: The Dred Scott decision was issued by the Supreme Court. ​ 1858: The Lincoln-Douglas debates took place, marking a significant moment in the political landscape regarding slavery. Key Themes ​ Political Division: The struggle over slavery led to the realignment of political parties and the formation of the Republican Party. ​ Judicial Influence: Supreme Court decisions, particularly the Dred Scott case, played a crucial role in shaping public opinion and political action regarding slavery. ​ Violence and Conflict: The period was marked by violent confrontations, such as the Pottawatomie Massacre, reflecting the deep divisions in American society over slavery. Facts to Memorize ​ Dred Scott v. Sandford (1857) - Supreme Court case that ruled African Americans were not citizens. ​ Kansas-Nebraska Act (1854) - Divided the Louisiana Purchase into Kansas and Nebraska territories. ​ Pottawatomie Massacre - John Brown's attack on pro-slavery settlers in 1856. ​ Lincoln-Douglas Debates (1858) - Series of debates between Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas over slavery. Cause and Effect Cause Effect Formation of the United various groups against the spread of slavery, leading to Republican Party in significant political shifts. 1854 Dred Scott's lawsuit for Supreme Court ruling intensified national divisions over slavery freedom and undermined the Missouri Compromise. Lincoln's challenge to Increased national attention on the issue of slavery and Douglas in debates solidified Lincoln's political presence. Pottawatomie Massacre Heightened tensions between pro-slavery and anti-slavery by John Brown factions, leading to violence in Kansas. Concept Comparisons Concept Lincoln-Douglas Debates Dred Scott Decision Main Focus Spread of slavery in the West Citizenship and rights of African Americans Outcome Lincoln gains prominence in the Ruling against African American Republican Party citizenship Public Increased support for Lincoln and Cheered by Southern whites, angered Reaction Republicans Northerners Historical Set the stage for the 1860 Contributed to the sectional conflict Significance presidential election leading to Civil War Key Terms/Concepts ​ Dred Scott Decision: A landmark Supreme Court case in 1857 where the court ruled that African Americans were not citizens and could not sue in federal court, further intensifying the slavery debate. ​ Kansas-Nebraska Act: A law passed in 1854 that created the territories of Kansas and Nebraska, allowing settlers to determine if they would allow slavery, leading to violent conflict known as 'Bleeding Kansas'. ​ Freeport Doctrine: Proposed by Stephen Douglas during the Lincoln-Douglas debates, it stated that local governments could choose whether to allow slavery, regardless of the Supreme Court's decisions.