Unit 1: The Road to the Civil War Flashcards
Uncle Tom’s Cabin
Novel published by Harriet Beacher Stowe in 1852 about a fugitive slave in the south. This made people in the south angry and Abe Lincoln said to her, “so you’re the little lady who started this great big war?”
Fugitive Slave Law
In the compromise of 1850 the fugitive slave law was passed. This was a law that forced anyone who saw a runaway slave had to return them to their master. This offended the people in the North, who wanted to do with slave catching, furthering the tension and thus making the underground railroad more efficient than ever.
Lincoln-Douglass Debates
Lincoln ran for office in 1860 against Stephen Douglas for President of the United States. Stephen was a republican. Abe was a non abolitionist. He took office March 4, 1961. And the Civil War had already begun. 7 States seceded from the Union.
Nat Turner
A black fugitive who led a slave rebellion in 1831. He killed many slave owners in an effort to free slaves. He hid in the woods for months before he was caught. He was executed and slaves were put under stronger supervision in the south.
Sectionalism
Sectionalism is when there is loyalty to one section/region of the country rather than to the nation itself. In the 1850s and 1960s Sectionalism was occur in between the North and the South. This led to things like the Missouri Compromise, the Compromise of 1850 and the Civil War itself.
Missouri Compromise
In Missouri in 1820 the Missouri Compromise enters as a slave state and Maine enters as a free state. Then slavery was banned in Louisiana, north of the 36~30’ parallel. This is another example of sectionalism against the North and the South causing more tension and adding to the powder keg.
Mexican-American War
In 1846-1848 America fought against Mexico and emerged victorious. It began after America annexed Texas into America. The fighting was over American territory expansion to the west coast. Mexico signed a treaty with the US. Because of this treaty America gained new lands: California, New Mexico, Arizona, Utah and Nevada.
Popular Sovereignty
Popular Sovereignty was used in the 1850s (by Stephen A. Douglass) to vote on slavery in Kansas. This meant that the citizens would get to vote. But it eventually led to bleeding Kansas.
Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade
From 1525-1866, 12.5 million Africans were shipped to America through the trans-atlantic slave trade. Bringin slaves into America is what eventually led to the Civil War.
Powder keg
Phrase saying that the time before the civil war was tense and that with each event it was like adding gun powder to the powder keg, getting closer and closer to the point of explosion.
The narrative of the life of Fredrick Douglass, an american slave
A biography written by Fredrick Douglass. Published 1845.
Abolition movement
A movement that led to the CW that was carried out by the people (mostly) in the north. It was the movement to end slavery.
Underground railroad
The network of people that worked to help slaves escape to their freedom by giving them resources, helping them, letting them stay in their homes, and feeding them. (Even though it was against the law.
“What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?”
A speech by Fred Doug. on July 5, 1852. (Given to a bunch of white men who didn’t understand the struggles of being a slave and how the 4th of July meant nothing to slaves because the 4th is all about independence and freedom but slaves aren’t free.)
“House divided” speech
Speech given by Abe lincoln. June 16, 1858. Telling the U.S.
that they need to choose between slavery or no slavery because the country will be divided if the don’t.
