Lead up to the Civil War Flashcards
(10 cards)
What were the main economic and social differences between the North and the South in the mid-1800s?
The North had an industrial economy, large cities, and more infrastructure; the South relied on agriculture, especially cotton, and enslaved labor.
How did the Missouri Compromise (1820) attempt to resolve the issue of slavery in new territories?
The Missouri Compromise allowed Missouri as a slave state and Maine as a free state; it banned slavery north of 36°30′ in the Louisiana Territory.
What was the significance of the Compromise of 1850, and how did it address the issue of slavery?
The Compromise of 1850 allowed California in as a free state and strengthened the Fugitive Slave Law, trying to balance North and South interests.
How did Uncle Tom’s Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe influence national attitudes toward slavery?
Uncle Tom’s Cabin exposed the cruelty of slavery, increasing anti-slavery support in the North and angering the South.
What was “popular sovereignty,” and how did it contribute to violence in Kansas during the 1850s?
Popular sovereignty let territories vote on slavery; it led to “Bleeding Kansas” as pro- and anti-slavery forces clashed violently.
What effect did the Kansas-Nebraska Act (1854) have on the Missouri Compromise and sectional tensions?
The Kansas-Nebraska Act repealed the Missouri Compromise, allowing popular sovereignty; it worsened sectional tensions.
How did the Supreme Court’s decision in the Dred Scott case increase tensions between the North and South?
The Dred Scott decision ruled that African Americans weren’t citizens and Congress couldn’t ban slavery, outraging the North.
Who was John Brown, and what was the goal of his raid on the federal arsenal at Harpers Ferry?
John Brown tried to spark a slave revolt by raiding Harpers Ferry; he was captured and became a martyr to abolitionists.
How did the creation of the Republican Party in the 1850s reflect growing divisions in the country?
The Republican Party was formed to oppose slavery’s expansion—highlighting the growing North-South divide.
Why did many Southern states decide to secede after the election of Abraham Lincoln in 1860?
Southern states feared Lincoln would end slavery, so they seceded after he was elected in 1860.
