apex u.s. history grade 8 learning packetjohn c. calhoun martin van buren missouri compromise...

SOCIALSTUDIESUnitedStatesHistory–Grade8

Packet2–(April20–May1)–Weeks3&4

CHARLES COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS

APEX U.S. History Grade 8

Learning Packet



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PacketDirectionsforStudentsStudentsshouldcompletethefollowingsectionsoftheAPEXMSU.S.Historycourse.WEEK3-8.2LessonOverview:CompromisesforFreeandSlaveStates8.2.1Study:Compromises for Free and Slave StatesLeadersintheNorthandtheSouthagreedtoacompromiseontheissueofslavery.8.2.5Quiz:CompromisesforFreeandSlaveStatesTakeaquiztoassessyourunderstandingofthematerial.WEEK4–9.1LessonOverview:ThePathtoCivilWar9.1.1Study:ThePathtoCivilWarDebatesoverslaverydividedtheUnitedStatesandledtothestartoftheCivilWar.9.1.4Quiz:ThePathtoCivilWarTakeaquiztoassessyourunderstandingofthematerial.WEEK4:CompromisesForFreeandSlaveStates

8.2OverviewCompromisesForFreeandSlaveStates

Objectives• ExplainhowtheMissouriCompromisetemporarilyresolvedtheissueoftheexpansionofslavery.• AnalyzehowthedebateoverthespreadofslaveryledtoapoliticaldividebetweentheNorthandthe

South.• ExplainhowtheCompromiseof1850attemptedtosettlecontinuingdisputesovertheexpansionof

slavery.



8.2.1Compromises for Free and Slave States Definethefollowingterms.Ifyoucomeacrossadditionalwordsyoudon’tknow,writethemintheblankspaces.Trytofigureoutwhatthewordmeansbylookingatitscontext.Then,useyourdictionaryortheInternettolookupthecorrectdefinitionfortheword.

Terms Definition

compromise

Compromise of 1850

Daniel Webster

Free-Soil Party

Fugitive Slave Act

Henry Clay

John C. Calhoun

Martin Van Buren

Missouri Compromise

states' rights



Usethisstudyguidetotakenotesasyouworkthroughtheactivity.Main idea: The Missouri Compromise temporarily resolved debates about whether slavery should be allowed in new states. 1. By 1820, the United States was divided between states that banned slavery and those that allowed it. Respond to the following prompts about free states and slave states.

a. List the three ways northern states ended slavery gradually. b. Why was it possible for the North to end slavery in this way? c. In two or three sentences, describe why the South wanted to preserve slavery. d. Why did slavery cause arguments between the North and the South as the territory of the United States expanded westward?

2. In 1820, the territory of Missouri wanted to join the United States as a slave state. Circle four reasons why leaders in the North did not think Missouri should become a slave state.

-Missouri was farther north than most other slave states.

-Slavery was already a huge part of the Midwest's economy.

-Slavery was not widespread in the region where Missouri was located.

-Missouri had important shipping ports at the mouth of the Mississippi River.

-Making Missouri a slave state would upset the balance of power between slave and free states.

-If Missouri became a slave state, slave states would have more power in Congress than free states.

3. Congress decided to solve the debate over Missouri's statehood through the Missouri Compromise. Summarize the result of the compromise.



4. What happened to each of the following territories as a result of the Missouri Compromise?

Maine: Missouri: Arkansas: Territory north of the Missouri Compromise line:

Main idea: The issue of slavery created major political divisions between the North and the South. 5. Despite the Missouri Compromise, the North and the South continued to grow further apart on many issues. Respond to the following prompts about the North's and the South's differing views on tariffs, protections for slave owners, and westward expansion.

a. Why did leaders in the North argue for higher tariffs and leaders in the South argue for lower tariffs? b. In two or three sentences, describe the difference in how southerners and northerners viewed protections for slave owners. c. Why did southerners believe they should be allowed to bring slaves into lands north of the Missouri Compromise line? How did people in the North react to this?

6. John C. Calhoun and Daniel Webster argued over whether the federal government could use its power to interfere with slavery. Answer two questions about the debate over states' rights.

a. What arguments did Calhoun make in favor of states' rights?



b. What arguments did Webster make in favor of the federal government having more power than the states?

7. Abolitionists spoke out against slavery, and abolition grew more popular in the North between 1820 and 1850. Use the table to take notes on the growing movement against slavery.

Abolitionist press John Quincy Adams Free-Soil Party

8. Supporters of slavery in the South made several arguments to defend their position. Use the table to describe the arguments southerners made to defend slavery.

The economy

Racism

History



Main idea: The Compromise of 1850 helped preserve peace but did not end debates over slavery. 9. From 1846 to 1848, the United States fought a war with Mexico and claimed a large territory in the Southwest. Northern and southern leaders disagreed about whether slavery should be allowed in this territory; Congress came to a compromise on the subject in 1850. Answer the following questions about the Compromise of 1850.

a. What was the Wilmot Proviso? Did southern leaders accept or reject the Wilmot Proviso? Why or why not? b. What was Henry Clay's proposed compromise? c. Despite opposition from both sides, the Compromise of 1850 passed Congress. Why were southerners upset by the compromise? Why did northerners dislike it?

10. The Compromise of 1850 decided how slavery would spread in the country's new lands and created new rules about slavery in the nation's capital. Use the table to take notes on the results of the Compromise of 1850.

New territories New states Washington, D.C.

11. The Fugitive Slave Act created conflict between Americans in the North and the South. Determine whether each statement about the Fugitive Slave Act is true or false.



a. The Fugitive Slave Act required all states to return escaped slaves and punished people who helped them escape. b. Because commissioners made more money by setting slaves free, they were more likely to give runaway slaves their freedom. c. Slave catchers sometimes accused free African Americans of being runaways in order to claim the reward for capturing them. d. Anyone accused of hiding slaves faced fines or prison sentences.

8.2.1StudyCompromisesForFreeandSlaveStatesSlaverywasamajorissuefortheearlyUnitedStates.By1820,thecountrywasdividedbetweenstatesthatbannedslaveryandthosethatallowedit.SlaveryexistedinalltheBritishcoloniesinNorthAmerica.ButaftertheUnitedStatesdeclaredindependencefromGreatBritain,severalnorthernstatesdecidedtobanthepractice.Bytheearly1800s,everystatenorthofMarylandhadendedslavery.Itwasalsobannedinmostnorthernterritories.Northernstatesendedslaverygradually.Theybannednewslavesfrombeingbroughtintothestate,paidslaveownerstofreetheirslaves,anddeclaredthatthechildrenofslaveswouldbebornfree.ItwaspossibletoendslaverythiswaybecausethepracticewasneverwidespreadintheNorth.Mostpeopleworkedassmallfarmersorinfactories.EventhoughslaveownersintheNorthwereupset,thereweren'tenoughofthemtoopposethesenewlaws.Mostpeoplesupportedendingslavery,becausetheyfeltitwasbothmorallywrongandnotnecessaryforastrongeconomy.ThesituationwasverydifferentintheSouth.There,theeconomywasbasedonplantations,largefarmsthatrequiredmanyworkerstoplantandharvestcrops.Sincecolonialtimes,plantationownershadreliedonforcingAfricanstodothisworkforfree.Theownersgrewrichandpowerful.Theyworkednotjusttodefendslavery,buttoexpandittonewlandsintheWest.AstheUnitedStatesgainedmorelandinthewesternregionsofNorthAmerica,leadersinboththeNorthandtheSoutharguedaboutwhethertoallowslaveryinthenewterritories.Theseargumentsdividedthecountry.TheDebateoverMissouriThequestionofextendingslaveryintowesternterritoriescausedamajordebatein1820.TheUnitedStateshadgainedalotofnewlands,andpoliticalleadersfromtheNorthandtheSouthstronglydisagreedaboutwhetherthoselandsshouldallowslavery.



ShouldMissouribeallowedtobeaslavestate?

In1820,theterritoryofMissouri(MO)wantedtojointheUnitedStatesasaslavestate.LeadersintheNorthwereupsetbythisturnofevents.Missouri,whichwasintheMidwest,wasfarthernorththanmostotherslavestates.Slaverywasalsonotwidespreadintheterritory.Afewwealthyslaveownerswereleadersintheterritorythough.TheyarguedfortheirrighttokeeptheirslavesonceMissouribecameastate.IfMissourijoinedtheunion,itwouldalsoupsetthebalanceofpowerbetweenslaveandfreestates.Atthetime,therewere22statesinthecountry—11ofthemslavestatesand11ofthemfreestates.Neithersidehadanadvantageinthefederalgovernment,butifMissourijoined,slavestateswouldgetmorepowerinCongress.



TheMissouriCompromiselinewassetalongthesouthernborderofMissouriandextendedwestward.Nonewstatesnorthofthatline—exceptforMissouriitself—couldbecomeslavestates.ThecompromiseestablishedthelandnorthoftheMissouriCompromiselineasfreeterritory.Slaverywouldnotbeallowedinanystatesmadefromthisterritory.Becauseofthecompromise,Missouribecameaslavestate.NorthernlawmakerswerenothappyaboutallowingMissouritobecomeaslavestate.Slaverywasnotcommoneverywhereinthestate,andMissouriwaslocatedfarthernorththanotherslavestates.ButtheyagreedtotheMissouriCompromisebecauseitwouldlimitwhereslaverycouldspreadinthefuture.Becauseofthecompromise,Mainebecameafreestate.Before1820,MainewaspartofthestateofMassachusetts.SomeleadersinMainewantedtheareatobecomeitsownstate,andtheU.S.governmentagreedtothissothatanotherfreestatecouldbeadded.Bylettingonefreestateandoneslavestate(Missouri)jointhecountry,Congresshopedtobalancepowerbetweenthetwosidesoftheslaveryissue.ThecompromisemadethelandsouthoftheMissouriCompromiselineintoslaveterritory.Slaverywasallowedtospreadintotheseareas.TheSectionalDivideTheissueofslaverycreatedmajorpoliticaldivisionsbetweentheNorthandtheSouth.LawmakershopedthattheMissouriCompromisewouldhelphealthedividebetweentheNorthandtheSouth.Intheyearsafter1820,however,thetworegionscontinuedtogrowfurtherapartonmanyissues.Theseissuescausednewdebatesoverthepoliciesofthefederalgovernment.TheNorthandtheSouthhadverydifferenteconomicsystems.TheNorth'seconomywasbasedonmanufacturing.TheSouth'seconomywasbasedongrowingcashcropsonplantations.IntheNorth,leadersarguedforahightariff,whichwouldmakeiteasierfornorthernmanufacturerstosellproductsintheUnitedStates.IntheSouth,leaderswantedalowtariffbecausethatwouldhelpthemsellcropstoforeigncountries.Bothsidesfiercelydebatedthetariffissueandstruggledtofindacompromise.Leadersinbothregionsarguedaboutwhetherthefederalgovernmentshouldhelpreturnescapedslaves.PeopleintheNorthandSouthhadverydifferentideasaboutthefederalgovernment'sroleinprotectingslaveowners.Southernleadersarguedthatthegovernmentwasresponsibleforenforcingthelawandprotectingtheirrighttoownslaves.Theybelievedthatifslavesranaway,thegovernmentshouldhelprecaptureandreturnthem.ManypeopleintheNorththoughtthatslaverywasmorallywrongandbelievedthegovernmentshouldnothelprecaptureslaves.Northernleadersfoughtagainstfederallawsthatworkedtocaptureescapedslaves.SinceslaverywasillegalintheNorth,theybelievedthatitshouldnotbelegaltoforcefreepeoplebackintoslavery.AsthecountryexpandedwestwardtothePacificOcean,leadersintheNorthandtheSouthworkedtodevelopthesenewlands.EventhoughtheMissouriCompromisehadlimitedslaverytocertainregions,slaveownersstilltooktheirslaveswiththemtolandsnorthofthecompromiseline.Southernersarguedthatbecauseslaveswereproperty,theirownersshouldbeabletotakethemwherevertheywanted.PeopleintheNorthdisagreedandaccusedslaveownersofviolatingtheMissouriCompromise.Theywantedthegovernmenttostopslaveownersfrombringingslavesintofreeterritories.



TheDebateoverStates'RightsLeadersintheSouthfearedthatthefederalgovernmentwoulduseitspowertointerferewithslavery.LedbyJohnC.Calhoun,southernersarguedinfavorofstates'rights.NorthernerslikeDanielWebsteropposedCalhoun'spointofview,arguingthatthefederalgovernmenthadmorepowerthanthestates.Calhoun believed that the state government should be more powerful than the federal government. Hebelieved that state governmentswouldbest represent the interests of local people. Calhoun thought thatstatesshouldhavetherighttoignorefederallawsiftheywereharmfultothepeoplewithintheirstate.Websterarguedthatthefederalgovernmentwasmorepowerfulthanstategovernmentsbecause ithadtoleadtheentirecountry.Therefore,federallawsweresuperiorto—ormoreimportantthan—lawsmadebyindividualstates.Websterbelievedthatstategovernmentscouldnotselectwhichfederallawstheywantedtofollow.Instead,hearguedthatfederallawsappliedtoeveryone.MovementsAgainstSlaveryBetween1820and1850,slaverybecameincreasinglyunpopularintheNorth.Opponentsofslavery,calledabolitionists,startedpublishingnewspapersandarguingthatslaverywasmorallywrong.Importantpoliticalleaders,likeJohnQuincyAdams,spokeoutagainstslavery,andtheFree-SoilPartygrewinpopularity.Newspapershadabigimpactonpoliticalopinionsinthemid-1800s.ImportantabolitionistpapersincludedFrederickDouglass'sNorthStarandWilliamLloydGarrison'sLiberator.Thesepapershadmanyreadersandhelpedturnnorthernersagainstslavery.Abolitionistsalsopublishedmanybooksandpamphlets.Together,newspapers,books,andpamphletshelpedcreatesupportforpoliticianswhoopposedslavery.ThesepublicationswerenotwelcomeintheSouth,however.Sometimes,southernersevenburnedthenewspapersbeforetheycouldbedistributed.JohnQuincyAdamswasanimportantopponentofslaveryduringthe1830sand1840s.HisworkinspiredpeopleintheNorthtoopposeslavery.Afterfinishinghistermaspresidentin1828,AdamsbecameamemberofCongress,whereheusedhispositiontospeakoutagainstslavery.In1841,inthecaseofUnitedStatesv.TheAmistad,hearguedbeforetheSupremeCourtonbehalfofseveralAfricanswhohadbeencapturedandforcedintoslavery.TheCourtruledinfavorofAdams,andtheAfricansweredeclaredfree.In1848,peoplewhoopposedthespreadofslaveryformedanewpoliticalparty.TheFree-SoilParty'ssloganwas"freesoil,freespeech,freelabor,andfreemen."ItspurposewastokeepslaveryoutoftheWest.MartinVanBurenwastheparty'scandidateinthe1848presidentialelection.Hisstatusasaformerpresidentmadethepartymorepopular.VanBurendidn'twin,butsomeFree-SoilcandidateswonelectiontotheHouseofRepresentatives.ThesuccessoftheFree-SoilPartyshowedthatpeopleinboththeNorthandtheWestwereorganizingtoopposeslavery.ArgumentsMadebytheSouthtoDefendSlaveryBetween1820and1850,southernleadersfeltincreasinglythreatenedbyabolitionistsandpoliticalleadersintheNorth.Theyfoughttodefendslaveryasvitaltothesouthernwayoflife.Supportersofslaverymadeseveralargumentstodefendtheirposition.



Theeconomyof theSouthdependedonslave labor.Supportersof slaveryargued thatwithoutslave labor,theycouldnotgrowcropslikecotton,tobacco,rice,andsugar,whichwereindemandacrossthecountry.Theincorrectbeliefthatsomepeopleareinferiortoothersbecauseoftheirraceiscalledracism.Defendersofslavery argued that African Americanswere not equal towhite Americans. Some people even argued thatAfricanAmericanswerebetteroffasslavesbecausetheirmasterswouldprovidethemwithfoodandshelter.Defendersof slavery argued that slaverywas common throughouthistory. Sinceancient times,peoplehadkeptotherpeopleasslavesagainsttheirwill.DefendersalsoarguedthatslaverywassupportedintheBibleandintheU.S.Constitution.TheCompromiseof1850From1846to1848,theUnitedStatesfoughtawarwithMexicoandclaimedalargeterritoryintheSouthwest.AlthoughtheMissouriCompromisealreadymadethislandopentoslavery,leadersintheNortharguedagainstallowingit.Southernleadersdisagreed,andamajordebateeruptedinCongress.SenatorHenryClayhelpedcreateacompromisetoresolvethefighting.ThisbecameknownastheCompromiseof1850.LeadersintheNortharguedthatslaveryshouldnotbeallowedinthelandswonfromMexico.LedbyDavidWilmot,amemberofCongressfromPennsylvania,theysupportedaproposalknownastheWilmotProviso,whichwouldbanslaveryinalllandstakenfromMexico.LeadersintheSouthrejectedtheWilmotProvisoandstoppeditfrompassingCongress.TheyarguedthatslaveryshouldbeallowedtospreadintoeveryterritorycontrolledbytheUnitedStates.Congresswassharplydividedaboutwhattodowiththenewland.OneofthemostimportantleadersinCongress,HenryClay,workedtocreateacompromise.HeproposedthatCaliforniashouldentertheUnitedStatesasafreestate,whilepeopleinothernewterritoriescouldvoteonwhethertoallowslavery.Clayalsoproposedthattheslavetradebeendedinthecountry'scapitalofWashington,D.C.,andthatthecountryshouldpassanewlawtopreventslavesfromrunningaway.PeopleinboththeNorthandtheSouthdislikedpartsofHenryClay'splanforcompromise.SouthernerswereupsetthatCaliforniawouldjointheUnitedStatesasafreestate.Theyalsodidn'tlikethattheslavetradewouldbeendedinWashington,D.C.Northernersdidn'tlikethatslaverycouldspreadintonewterritoriesintheSouthwest.TheyalsohatedtheFugitiveSlaveAct,whichwasalawthatforcednorthernstatestoreturnescapedslavestotheirowners.Despitethisoppositionfrombothsides,theCompromiseof1850passedCongress.ResultsoftheCompromiseof1850TheCompromiseof1850decidedhowslaverywouldspreadinthecountry'snewlandsintheSouthwest.Italsocreatednewrulesaboutslaveryinthenation'scapital,Washington,D.C.TheCompromiseof1850allowedslaverytoexistinthenewterritoriesofUtahandNewMexico.Whitemalesettlersintheseterritoriescouldvoteonwhethertoallowslaverythere.Bothterritorieseventuallyvotedtoallowslavery.Southernleaderswerehappythatslaverywouldspreadtothesenewterritories,butleadersintheNorthwereupset.TheCompromiseof1850establishedthebordersforTexas,whichhadjoinedtheUnitedStatesin1845asaslavestate.ThecompromisealsoallowedCaliforniatoentertheUnitedStatesasafreestate.NorthernleaderswerehappythatCaliforniawasaddedasafreestate,butleadersintheSouthwereupset.Withthe



additionofCalifornia,therewerenow16freestates,butonly15slavestates.ThatmeantthatfreestateswouldhavemorerepresentationinCongress.Priorto1850,slaveryhadbeenallowedinthecountry'scapitalofWashington.Northernleaderswantedtoendslaveryinthecapital,butsouthernleaderswantedtokeepit.TheCompromiseof1850gavebothsidessomethingtheywanted:SlaverycouldcontinueinWashington,D.C.,buttheslavetradeitselfwasbanned.Inotherwords,peoplelivinginthecitycouldownslaves.Peoplecouldalsobringtheirslavesintothecity,buttheycouldnotsellorbuynewslavesthere.TheFugitiveSlaveActOnepartoftheCompromiseof1850ledtomajorproblems:theFugitiveSlaveAct.ThislawwasabigwinforleadersintheSouth,becauseitrequiredthegovernmenttouseitspowertoreturnfugitive—orescaped—slaves,andpunishthepeoplewhohelpedthemescape.PeopleintheNorthwereoutragedbythelaw.Intheend,itwouldcreateevenmoreconflictbetweenAmericansintheNorthandtheSouth.TheFugitiveSlaveActrequiredallstatestoreturnescapedslavesandpunishedpeoplewhohelpedthemescape.Anyoneaccusedofbeingarunawayslavehadtogobeforeaspecialofficercalledacommissioner.Thecommissionerdecidedwhethertheslaveshouldbesentbacktohisorherowner.Commissionersreceived$10forreturningfugitiveslaves,butonly$5iftheylettheprisonergo.Becausetheymademoremoneybyreturningslavestotheirowners,commissionersweremorelikelytosendpeopleback,eventhosewhowerefalselyaccusedofbeingrunawayslaves.Tohelpenforcethelaw,slavecatcherswentNorthtotrytofindfugitiveslaves.There,theyhunteddownrunawayslavesandtookthemtocommissionersforareward.TheseslavecatcherswouldsometimesaccusefreeAfricanAmericansofbeingrunawaysandtrytocapturethem.Anyoneaccusedofhidingslavesalsofacedfinesorprisonsentences.Sometimes,violencebrokeoutbetweenslavecatchersandpeopleintheNorth.PeopleinnorthernstatesarguedthattheFugitiveSlaveActwasamisuseofpower.Theydidnotthinkthefederalgovernmentshoulduseitspowertosupportthelawsofonlycertainstates.TheyalsothoughtthattheSouthwasusingitseconomicandpoliticalpowertoforcetheNorthtoacceptslavery.Manypeopleopenlybrokethelawbyhelpingrunaways.OthersintheNorthprotestedthelaw.In1854,inBoston,Massachusetts,riotsbrokeoutwhenofficialstriedtoreturnarunawayslave,AnthonyBurns,totheSouth.PresidentFranklinPiercehadtoorderfederaltroopstostoptheriotandguardBurnswhilehewasbeingreturnedtoslavery.



8.2.5-Quiz:CompromisesForFreeandSlaveStatesQuestion1of5WhichstatementbestdescribesaresultoftheMissouriCompromise?

A. MembersofCongresswerenolongerallowedtotalkaboutslavery.

B. SlaverywasbannedfromallU.S.territories.

C. SlaverywasallowedtospreadintoallU.S.territories.

D. MissourijoinedtheUnitedStatesasaslavestate.

Question2of5WhydidMissouri'srequesttojointheUnitedStatesin1820causeacrisis?

A. NorthernstatesdidnotwanttoaccepttheFugitiveSlaveAct.

B. NorthernstateswereupsetthatMissouriwantedtojoinasaslavestate.

C. SouthernstatesworriedtheywouldlosepowerinCongressifMissouribecameastate.

D. SouthernstateswereupsetthatMissouriwantedtojoinasafreestate.



Question3of5Whichsentencebestcompletesthisdiagram?

A. PeopleintheWestarguefortherighttovoteonallowingslavery.

B. PeopleintheNorthorganizetostopthespreadofslavery.

C. MostnorthernerssupporttheCompromiseof1850.

D. NorthernerssupportthepassageoftheFugitiveSlaveAct.

Question4of5WhichstatementbestexplainshowtheCompromiseof1850attemptedtoresolvedebatesovertheexpansionofslavery?

A. CaliforniajoinedtheUnitedStatesasafreestate,butslaverycouldspreadinsouthwesternterritories.

B. SlaverywaspermittedinallnewlandsintheWest,buttheslavetradewasoutlawed.

C. Slaverywasallowedinnewterritories,butonlyfreeterritorieswouldbeabletobecomestates.

D. Allnewterritorieswouldbefreeofslavery,butslaverywasprotectedwhereitalreadyexisted.



Question5of5TheCompromiseof1850allowedcitizenstovoteoverwhethertoallowslaveryin

A. California

B. Maine

C. Utah

D. Washington,D.C.

WEEK5:ThePathtoCivilWar



9.1OverviewThePathtoCivilWarObjectives• ExplainhowtheconflictoverKansasandNebraskareignitedthedivisionbetweentheNorthandthe

South.• DescribetheconsequencesofJohnBrown'sactionsagainstslavery.• EvaluatethepositionsofAbrahamLincolnandStephenDouglasonthespreadofslavery.• ExplainwhySouthernstatesdecidedtosecedeaftertheelectionofAbrahamLincoln.

9.1.1Study:ThePathtoCivilWarDefinethefollowingterms.Ifyoucomeacrossadditionalwordsyoudon’tknow,writethemintheblankspaces.Trytofigureoutwhatthewordmeansbylookingatitscontext.Then,useyourdictionaryortheInternettolookupthecorrectdefinitionfortheword.

Terms Definition

Abraham Lincoln

Bleeding Kansas

Confederate States of America

Democratic Party

Dred Scott decision

John Brown



Terms Definition

Kansas-Nebraska Act

Lincoln-Douglas debates

popular sovereignty

Republican Party

secede

Stephen Douglas

Usethisstudyguidetotakenotesasyouworkthroughtheactivity.Mainidea:ThecrisisoverslaveryexplodedintheterritoriesofKansasandNebraskaandintheSupremeCourt.1.Inthe1850s,thedebateoverslaveryreachedanewheightovertheterritoriesofKansasandNebraska.AnswerthefollowingquestionsaboutthedebateoverKansasandNebraska.

a.HowdidleadersintheSouthreactwhenCaliforniajoinedtheUnitedStatesin1850?Whydidtheyreactthisway?



b.In1854,thenewestterritoriesbeingdebatedforstatehoodwereKansasandNebraska.WhydidleadersintheNorthbelievetheyshouldbeadmittedasfreestates?WhydidleadersintheSouthfearthisoutcome?

2.StephenDouglasproposedtheKansas-NebraskaActin1854.AnswertwoquestionsabouttheKansas-NebraskaAct.

a.Whatwerethetwomainoutcomesoftheact?b.WhatdidDouglashopetheKansas-NebraskaActwouldachieve?

3.InresponsetothepassageoftheKansas-NebraskaAct,AmericansfromtheNorthandtheSouthtraveledtotheterritoriestoinfluencethevote.Theviolentconflictthatresultedisknownas"BleedingKansas."Putkeyeventsfromtheconflictinorderbynumberingthem1through6.

Order Events

Proslaverymen,called"borderruffians,"traveledtoKansastovoteandthreatenpeoplewhoopposedslavery.LeadersproposedtoallowslaveryinKansas.

PeopleinKansasandNebraskapreparedtovoteonwhethertoallowslaveryintheirterritories.PeopleexpectedNebraskatobecomeafreestateandKansastobecomeaslavestate.

ProslaverymenattackedtheheadquartersofantislaveryorganizersinLawrence,Kansas.Inresponse,JohnBrownledanattackonaproslaverytown,killingfivemen.

Nebraskavotedtobecomeafreeterritory.

MembersofCongressarguedoverthevotingissuesinKansas.ProslaverysenatorPrestonBrooksattackedantislaverysenatorCharlesSumner.

Kansasoutlawedslavery,butthenationwasstillbitterlydividedovertheissue.



4.TheDredScottdecisioncreatedevenmoreconflictbetweenfreestatesandslavestates.AnswerthreequestionsaboutDredScott'scaseandtheSupremeCourt'sdecision.

a.WhowasDredScott?Whatwashiscourtcaseabout?b.WhatwastheSupremeCourt'sdecisionintheDredScottcase?Whydiditmakethisdecision?c.HowdidtheSupremeCourt'sdecisionaffecttheUnitedStates?

Mainidea:DivisionsoverslaveryinfluencedU.S.politics.5.DebatesaboutslaveryintheUnitedStatesgrewmoreintenseinthe1850s.PlaceanXintheboxtoidentifywhethereachstatementreferstotheRepublicanPartyortheDemocraticPartyinthepresidentialelectionof1856.

Statement Republican Democratic

Thisparty'scandidatewasanantislaverysenatorandaherofromtheMexican-AmericanWar.

Thisparty'scandidatewasaNorthernerwhopromisedtoprotectslaverywhereitexisted.

Thispartyarguedthatitscandidate'svictorywouldpreservetheunionandkeeppeacebetweentheNorthandtheSouth.

Thisparty'scandidatewonthepresidentialelectionof1856.

Thispartypromised"freesoil"and"freemen"ifitscandidatewon.



6.OneoftheRepublicanParty'smostimportantleaderswasAbrahamLincoln.DeterminewhethereachstatementdescribingLincoln'slifeandworkbeforehebecamepresidentistrueorfalse.

a.Hegrewupinafamilythatownedslaves,sohedidn'tstartbelievingslaverywaswronguntilhebecameapoliticianinthe1830s.

b.Hehadmanyjobsasayoungmanandeventuallytaughthimselflawandbecamealawyer.

c.HeservedintheIllinoisHouseofRepresentativesformanyyearsandalsorepresentedIllinoisintheU.S.HouseofRepresentatives.

d.HewasbornintoawealthyEastCoastfamilyandreceivedanexpensiveeducationatthecountry'sfinestschools.

e.Hegrewupbelievingthatslaverywaswrongand,asapolitician,arguedagainstthespreadofslavery.

7.AbrahamLincolnandStephenDouglashadseveralpublicdebatesaboutslavery.IdentifywhethereachdescriptionreferstoLincolnorDouglas.

Politicalleader Description

ArguedthatslaverywasmorallywrongandwentagainsttheidealsthattheUnitedStateswasfoundedon

ArguedthatthefederalgovernmentshouldhavethepowertoendslaveryintheUnitedStates

Believedinpopularsovereignty,thepolicythatallowedpeopleinterritoriestovoteonwhethertoallowslavery

Believedthatthefederalgovernmenthadnobusinessinterferingwiththestates'rightstomaketheirownlawsaboutslavery

Believedthegovernmentshouldstopslaveryfromspreadingandthenslowlyenditwhereitdidexist

Cautionedagainstfightingslavery,believingitcouldleadtocivilwar

Mainidea:JohnBrownfoughtagainstslaverybyleadingaraidinVirginia.8.AbolitionistJohnBrownbelievedthatslaveryhadtobedestroyed.BrieflydescribeBrown'sthreecorebeliefs.



9.In1859,JohnBrowndecidedtoraidHarpersFerry,Virginia,wheretheU.S.militarykeptweapons.BrieflysummarizetheeventsofBrown'sraid.Mainidea:Southernstateslefttheuniontoprotecttheinstitutionofslavery.10.Fourcandidatesraninthe1860presidentialelection.Identifythe1860presidentialcandidateineachdescriptionasAbrahamLincoln,StephenDouglas,JohnBreckinridge,orJohnBell.

• NominatedbytheDemocraticParty• WantedNorthernandSouthern

statestocompromiseoverslavery• Gotalmost30percentofthepopular

votebutwononlyonestate:Missouri

• NominatedbytheRepublicanParty

• Promisedtostopthespreadofslavery

• HatedintheSouth,wherehedidn'tevenappearonsomeballots

• Wonalmost40percentofthepopularvote,morethananyothercandidate

• NominatedbytheConstitutionalUnionParty

• Triedtotakeaneutralstanceonslavery

• Arguedthattheunionofthestatesshouldbepreserved

• Received12percentofthepopularvoteandwonseveralstatesintheUpperSouth

• NominatedbytheSouthernDemocraticParty

• Promisedtoprotectslaveryandhelpitspreadtonewlands

• Won18percentofthepopularvoteandalmosteverystateintheSouth



11.WhenAbrahamLincolnwonthe1860presidentialelection,peopleintheSouthwerefurious.PutimportanteventsfromtheSouth'sresponsetoLincoln'selectioninorderbynumberingthem1through5.

Order Events

AbrahamLincolntookoffice.HedeclaredthatSouthernstateshadnorighttoleavethecountryandpromisedtousemilitaryforcetokeeptheuniontogether.

TheConfederatearmyattackedU.S.troopsatFortSumter,SouthCarolina,inthefirstbattleoftheCivilWar.

AbrahamLincolnwonthepresidencywithoutwinningasingleSouthernstate.ManySouthernleadersfeltthreatenedbyhisvictory.

SevenstatesintheSouthlefttheUnitedStatesanddeclaredthemselvesanindependentcountrycalledtheConfederateStatesofAmerica.

AbrahamLincolncalledforvolunteerstojointheU.S.Army,andfourmoreslavestatesdecidedtoleavetheUnitedStatesandjointheConfederacy.

9.1.1Study:ThePathtoCivilWarThecrisisoverslaveryexplodedintheterritoriesofKansasandNebraskaandintheSupremeCourt.Throughouttheearly1800s,theNorthandtheSouthgrewincreasinglydividedovertheissueofslavery.TheSouthwantedslaverytocontinueitsspread,whiletheNorthwantedtolimitit.Inthe1850s,thisdebatereachedanewheightovertheterritoriesofKansasandNebraska.Bythemid-1800s,theUnitedStateshadclaimedlandacrosstheNorthAmericancontinent.Aspeoplesettledinthoseareas,newstateswantedtojointhenation.Eachtimeanewstatewascreated,thecountryhadthesamedebate:Woulditbeafreestateoraslavestate?The1820MissouriCompromisehadmadeanofficialborderbetweenfreestatesandslavestates.ItwascalledtheMissouriCompromiseline.Statesabovetheline,otherthanMissouri,wouldbefree.Statesbelowthelinecouldallowslavery.Whenthecompromisewascreated,therewasanevennumberoffreeandslavestates,12each.TheslaverydebatecontinuedwhentheUnitedStatesclaimedlandfromMexicoaftertheMexican-AmericanWar.AfterCongresspassedtheCompromiseof1850,Californiajoinedasafreestate.WithCalifornia,therewerenow16freestatesand15slavestates.Californiahadtippedthebalanceinfavoroffreestates.Leadersinslavestateswereupsetthattheywereoutnumbered,andtheyworriedaboutthefutureofslavery.



In1854,thenewestterritoriesbeingdebatedwereKansasandNebraska.BothwerenorthoftheMissouriCompromiseline,suggestingthattheyshouldbefreestates.Butifthathappened,therewouldbeevenmorefreestatesthanslavestates.LeadersintheSouthfearedthatfreestatesmighteventuallygainenoughpowertoforcetheSouthtogiveupslavery.Topreventthis,southernersarguedthatKansasandNebraskashouldjointheunionasslavestates.ThedebateoverwhetherslaveryshouldbeallowedinKansasandNebraskahadstartedasadiscussionbetweenleaders,butitsoongrewintoaviolentconflictbetweentheNorthandtheSouth.Before1854,theareaofpresent-dayKansasandNebraskawasonelargeterritory.Douglasproposedcreatingtwoseparateterritories:KansasandNebraska.IntheKansas-NebraskaAct,Douglasincludedanideahecalledpopularsovereignty.Accordingtothisidea,thepeopleineachterritorywouldvoteonwhethertoallowslaverythere.WhenheproposedtheKansas-NebraskaAct,DouglasthoughtthatNebraskawouldbecomeafreestateandKansaswouldbecomeaslavestate.Thisdivisionwouldmaintainanequalnumberoffreeandslavestates.Douglashopedthiscompromisewouldkeepbothsideshappyandpreventtheconflictfromturningviolent.BleedingKansasCongressapprovedtheKansas-NebraskaAct,givingpeopleintheKansasandNebraskaterritoriesthepowertovoteonwhethertoallowslavery.Inresponse,AmericansfromtheNorthandtheSouthbegantravelingtotheterritoriestoinfluencethevote.Knownas"BleedingKansas,"theconflictbetweenpeoplewhosupportedslaveryandthosewhoopposeditquicklybecameviolent.AfterCongresspassedtheKansas-NebraskaActin1854,leadersinKansasandNebraskapreparedtoletvotersdecidewhethereachterritorywouldallowslavery.TheNebraskaTerritorywasintheNorth,andslaverywasnotcommonthere.PeoplegenerallyexpectedNebraskatobecomeafreestate.ButKansaswasfarthersouth,rightnexttotheslavestateofMissouri.MostpeopleexpectedKansastobecomeaslavestate.SomeofthepeoplewhomovedtoKansasandNebraskawerefamilieshopingtosettletheland.After1854,however,menbeganmovingtoeachterritoryjusttovoteonslavery.WhiletherewassomedebateinNebraska,antislaveryvotersoutnumberedtheiropponentsandNebraskabecameafreeterritory.InKansas,thevotewasmuchcloser.AlargenumberofproslaverymencrossedtheborderfromMissouritovote.Thesemenwerenicknamed"borderruffians."Theyshoweduptovotearmedwithgunsandknivesandthreatenedpeoplewhoopposedslavery.Afterthe"borderruffians"voted,theyreturnedtotheirhomesinMissouri.ThedebateoverKansasturnsviolentinCongress.NorthernandSouthernmembersofCongressarguedoverwhattodoaboutthevotingissuesinKansas.In1856,thedebatesbecameviolent.ProslaverysenatorPrestonBrooksofSouthCarolinaattackedantislaverysenatorCharlesSumnerofMassachusetts,beatinghimwithacane.Sumnernearlydiedfromtheattack,whichshockedandangeredpeopleintheNorth.Despitehiscrime,peopleinSouthCarolinaelectedBrookstoanotherterminoffice.Inresponse,peopleinMassachusettsreelectedSumner,eventhoughhewasunabletoservewhilerecoveringfromhisinjuries.Sumner'semptyseatservedasasymboloftheNorth'sresistanceagainstslavery.



ConflictscontinuedbetweentheproslaveryandantislaverygroupsinKansas.In1856,proslaverymenattackedLawrence,Kansas,whichwastheheadquartersofantislaveryorganizers.Theydestroyedseveralbuildingsandthreatenedpeopleinthetown.Inresponse,anabolitionistnamedJohnBrownledanattackontheproslaverytownatPottawatomieCreek,killingfivemen.Afterthat,violencebrokeoutacrossKansas.Thetwosidesfoughtseveralbattlesbetween1856and1858,killingdozensofpeople.In1859,leadersinKansasfinallyagreedtooutlawslavery,butbythen,thewholenationwasbitterlydividedovertheissue.DredScottCaseDuringthe1850s,theconflictbetweenfreeandslavestatesgrew.In1857,theSupremeCourtheardacaseinvolvingDredScott,anenslavedAfricanAmericanmanwhohopedtowinhisfreedom.Theoutcomeofthecase—knownastheDredScottdecision—createdevenmoreconflictbetweenfreestatesandslavestates.In1857,theSupremeCourtheardthecaseofDredScottv.Sandford.DredScottwasanenslavedAfricanAmericanmanfromMissouri.Inthe1830s,ScotttraveledtoIllinoiswithhismaster.UnlikeMissouri,Illinoiswasafreestate.AndaccordingtoMissourilaw,anyslavewhospenttimeinafreestatewouldbefreed.Therefore,Scottarguedthatheshouldbefreed.LedbyChiefJusticeRogerTaney,theSupremeCourtdecidedScottwasnotfree.TheCourtalsodecidedthatScottwasnotevenallowedtobringacasetocourt.TaneyarguedthatbecauseScottwasanAfricanAmericanman,hehadnorighttosueawhiteman.Infact,theCourtdecidedthatbecauseScottwasAfricanAmerican,hehadnorightsatall.Finally,theCourtdeclaredthatthefederalgovernmentcouldnotbanslaveryinanyterritory.ThePresidentialElectionof1856Until1856,mostpoliticalleaderswantedtocompromiseontheissueofslavery.Themajorpoliticalpartiesofthe1830sand1840sdidnottakeastandonslavery.Butduringthe1850s,theissuewastoobigtoignore.TheDemocraticPartycontinuedtoargueinfavorofcompromise.Butanewpoliticalparty—theRepublicanParty—wascreatedtoopposeslavery.In1856,thetwopartiesfacedoffinapresidentialelection.TheDemocraticcandidate,JamesBuchanan,wontheelectionandbecamepresidentin1857,butdebatesaboutslaveryonlygrewmoreintense.TheRepublicancampaignpromised"freesoil"and"freemen"ifitscandidateJohnC.Frémontwon.Frémontpromisedtostopthespreadofslaveryintonewlands.HispromisesexcitedpeopleintheNorthbutangeredpeopleintheSouth.ManypeopleintheSouthfeltthreatenedbythenewRepublicanParty.SomeSouthernersevenarguedthattheirstateswouldleavetheUnitedStatesifFrémontwon.DemocraticcandidateJamesBuchananarguedthathisvictorywouldpreservetheunionandkeeppeacebetweentheNorthandtheSouth.AbrahamLincolnEventhoughitlosttheelectionof1856,thenewRepublicanPartycontinuedtogrow.ItbecameincreasinglypopularintheNorth,anditscandidatesgainedseveralseatsinCongress.Oneoftheparty'smostimportantleaderswasAbrahamLincolnfromIllinois.LincolnwasborninKentuckyandmovedtoIndianaandthenIllinois.Inhisearlylife,hehadmanydifferentjobs.Heworkedonariverboat,ownedageneralstore,andwasapostmasterforthetownofNewSalem,



Illinois.Lincolneventuallytaughthimselflawandbecamealawyer.Hewasknownas"HonestAbe"becausepeoplefoundhimtrustworthyandkind.In1834,LincolnwaselectedtotheIllinoisstategovernment.HeservedintheIllinoisHouseofRepresentativesformanyyears.HealsorepresentedIllinoisintheU.S.HouseofRepresentativesfrom1847to1849.Lincolnwasastrongleaderwhosupportedpeoplehavinggreaterrightsandencouragedthedevelopmentofbanksandrailroads.Lincolnbecameknownforhisopinionsonslavery.Hegrewupbelievingthatslaverywaswrong.Later,asapolitician,hetookthepositionthatslaveryshouldnotbeallowedtospread.LincolnhadmanysupportersintheNorthwhosawhimasanantislaveryleader.Lincoln-DouglasDebatesIn1858,AbrahamLincolnchallengedStephenDouglasforhisseatrepresentingIllinoisintheU.S.Senate.Beforetheelection,theyhadseveralpublicdebatesaboutslavery.TheLincoln-Douglasdebatesbecamefamousacrossthecountry.AlthoughDouglasendedupwinningthestateelection,Lincoln'sargumentsinthedebatesmadehimwidelypopularintheNorth.HesoonbecameoneoftheNorth'sleadingpoliticiansopposedtoslavery.Douglasdefendedhisideaofpopularsovereignty,whichwasthepolicythatallowedpeopleinterritoriestovoteoverwhetherornottoallowslavery.Hearguedthatstateshadtherighttomaketheirowndecisionsaboutallowingslavery.Douglassaidthathedidnotagreewiththepracticeofslavery,butithadalwaysbeenallowedintheUnitedStates.ManySouthernerswerewillingtofighttoprotectslavery.Douglasarguedthatfightingagainstslaverycouldleadtocivilwar.Douglasbelievedthatonlyindividualstatesshouldmakelawsaboutslavery.Hebelievedthatthefederalgovernmenthadnobusinessinterferingwiththestates.LincolnchallengedDouglas'sideasaboutpopularsovereignty.Hethoughtthat,ratherthanallowingpeopletovoteonslavery,thegovernmentshouldsimplynotallowslaverytospread.LincolnarguedthatthefightingandchaosinKansasofferedproofthatDouglas'ssystemcouldnotworkpeacefully.LincolnreferredtothefamousphraseintheDeclarationofIndependence,thatallmenarecreatedequal.HearguedthatslaverywasmorallywronganditwentagainsttheidealsthattheUnitedStateswasfoundedon.LincolnarguedthatonlythefederalgovernmentwouldhavethepowertoendslaveryintheUnitedStates.Hebelievedthatthebestwaytoendslaverywastostopitfromspreading,andthentoslowlyenditwhereitalreadyexisted.JohnBrownDuringthe1850s,theabolitionmovementgrewmorepowerfulintheNorth.OneofthemostinfluentialabolitionistsatthetimewasJohnBrown.Whilemanyabolitionistshopedtoprotestslaverypeacefully,Brownbelievedthatslaveryhadtobedestroyed—withviolenceifnecessary.Brownwantedtoinspireslavestorebelagainsttheirowners.Hebelievedthatrebellionwasthequickestwaytoendslavery.Brownbelievedthatslaveryhadtobedestroyedbyanymeans,evenviolence.HeledarmedforcesduringthefightoverslaveryinKansas,knownas"BleedingKansas."Hisattackskilledseveralslaveowners.Brownhatedslavery.Hewasdeeplyreligiousandbelievedthattoleratingslaverywasevil.Hebelievedallslaveownerswerewrong—whethertheywantedtoadmititornot—andthattheyshouldpayfortheirsins.



JohnBrown'sRaidIn1859,JohnBrowndecidedtoraidHarpersFerry,Virginia,wheretheU.S.militarykeptweapons.Hehopedhisraidwouldstartalargeslaverebellion.Althoughhisraidwasstopped,peopleintheNorthandtheSouthrespondedtohisattackonslaveryinverydifferentways.JohnBrownplannedtoattackHarpersFerry,atowninVirginiawheretheU.S.Armystoredweapons.HewantedtoinspireslavestorevoltallovertheSouth.Hegatheredaforceof22men,includinghisownsons,

freeAfricanAmericans,escapedslaves,andotherabolitionists.Brownhopedheandhismencouldcapturetheweaponsandgivethemtoescapedslaves.HealsohopedthatescapedslavescouldsafelygatheratHarpersFerryontheirwaynorthtothefreestates.OnOctober16,1859,BrownandhismenattackedthearsenalatHarpersFerry.However,theU.S.militaryquicklysurroundedthem.SeveralofBrown'smen,includinghissons,werekilled.Brownhimselfwasinjuredandcaptured.Brownwasaccusedofcommittingtreason—whichistheactofbetrayingone'sowncountry.HewasfoundguiltyandputtodeathonDecember2,1859.ManyabolitionistsintheNorthwereinspiredbyBrownandwantedtocontinuehiswork.Theycelebratedhimasaherowhosacrificedhislifetoendslavery.WhiteSouthernersviewedBrownasamurderer.Hisraidfrightenedslaveowners,whobecamemoreworriedaboutslaverevolts.TheyalsofearedtheNorthwouldcontinuetochallengetheSouth'srighttoslavery.ThePresidentialElectionof1860In1860,theUnitedStatesfacedanimportantelection.Thecountrywasdeeplydividedoverslavery.Theviolenceduring"BleedingKansas"andJohnBrown'sraidinVirginiahadshownthatAmericanswerewillingto

fightanddieovertheissue.JamesBuchanandecidednottorunforanothertermaspresident.Fourcandidates,includingAbrahamLincoln,rantotakehisplace.Theissueofslaverywasthemainfocusofthepresidentialrace,andSouthernersthreatenedtoleavetheUnitedStatesifLincolnwontheelection.TheDemocraticPartynominatedStephenDouglas.DouglaswastheonlycandidatewhoranacampaignacrossthewholeUnitedStates.HewantedNorthernandSouthernstatestocompromiseoverslavery.Douglashadalotofsupporters,buttheywerescatteredthroughoutthecountry.Therefore,althoughhegotalmost30percentofthepopularvote,hewononlythestateofMissouri.



SouthernDemocratsdecidedtobreakawayfromtheDemocraticParty,andtheynominatedJohnBreckinridge.Breckinridgestronglysupportedslaveryinthecountry.HewonsupportacrosstheSouthbypromisingtoprotectslaveryandtohelpitspreadtonewlands.Breckinridgewon18percentofthepopularvoteandcarriedalmosteverystateintheSouth.TheConstitutionalUnionPartywasformedbypeoplewhowantedtokeeptheUnitedStatestogether.TheynominatedJohnBell.BellpromisedtosupporttheU.S.Constitutionandtriedtotakeaneutralstanceontheissueofslavery,neitherstandingagainstitnorsupportingit.Healsoarguedthattheunionofthestatesshouldbepreserved.Bellreceived12percentofthepopularvoteandwonseveralstatesintheUpperSouth.TheRepublicanPartynominatedAbrahamLincolnforpresident.Lincolnpromisedtostopthespreadofslaveryifhewaselected.HewaspopularacrosstheNorthandinfreestatesandterritoriesintheWest.IntheSouth,however,peoplehatedhim.Inmanystatesintheregion,hisnamedidn'tevenappearontheballot.OnElectionDay,LincolnwonalmosteverystateintheNorth,aswellasCaliforniaandOregon.Healsowonjustunder40percentofthepopularvoteinthecountry,morethananyothercandidate.TheSouthRespondstoLincoln'sElectionWhenAbrahamLincolnwonthe1860presidentialelection,peopleintheSouthwerefurious—andfrightened.Lincolnwantedtolimitthespreadofslavery.Southernerswantedtoprotectandexpandit.Inthemonthsthatfollowed,manySouthernstatessecededfromtheUnitedStatesanddeclaredthemselvesanewcountry—theConfederateStatesofAmerica,alsoknownastheConfederacy.

Theelectionof1860dividedthenation.TheNorthralliedbehindAbrahamLincoln,whopromisedtostopthespreadofslavery.LincolnreceivedenoughvotesintheNorthandtheWesttoeasilywintheelection,eventhoughhedidn'twinasingleSouthernstate.PeopleintheSouthwereshockedthatsomeonewhoopposedslaverycouldbecomepresident.LincolntriedtocalmpeopleintheSouthbypromisinghewouldnotinterferewithslaveryinstatesthatalreadyallowedit.ButmanySouthernleadersstillfeltthreatenedbyhisvictory.

SlaveownersintheSouthfeltdeeplythreatenedbyLincoln'selection.Theybelievedthatslaverywasunderattack,andtheyrefusedtobepartofacountrythatwouldn'tacceptslavery.Inlate1860andearly1861,sevenstatesintheSouthleft—orsecededfrom—theUnitedStates.LeadersinSouthCarolina,Mississippi,Florida,Alabama,Georgia,Louisiana,andTexasdeclaredthemselvesanindependentcountry—theConfederateStatesofAmerica—andwroteanewconstitution.Theirnewgovernmentpromisedtoprotectslavery.



JamesBuchananwaspresidentuntilMarch4,1861.AstheSouthernstateslefttheunion,Buchananinsistedtheywerewrong—buthealsobelievedhedidnothavethepowertostopthem.AbrahamLincolndisagreed.WhenLincolntookoffice,hedeclaredthatsecessionwasillegalandthatSouthernstateshadnorighttoleavethecountry.HepleadedwithleadersintheSouthtorejointheUnitedStates.Buthealsopromisedtousemilitaryforcetokeeptheuniontogether.

TheConfederacyquicklybeganorganizinggroupsoflocalsoldiersandanarmy.ConfederateleadersthreatenedtoattackU.S.troopsiftheydidnotleavetheirstates.Lincolnorderedhistroopstostaywheretheywere.Tensionswerehigh,andbothsideswaitedfortheothertoattack.InSouthCarolina,Confederateforcesstruckfirst.OnApril12,1861,theConfederatearmyattackedU.S.troopsinFortSumter.Aftertwodaysunderfire,U.S.troopsinthefortwereforcedtosurrender.Confederatetroopscapturedthefort,andtheCivilWarbegan.

AftertheBattleofFortSumter,PresidentLincolncalledforvolunteerstojointheU.S.Army.HeplannedtousethemilitarytokeeporderandrestoretheSouthernstatestotheunion.LeadersintheConfederatestatesrespondedbycallingfortheirownvolunteerstodefendtheConfederacy.Fourmoreslavestates—Virginia,Arkansas,Tennessee,andNorthCarolina—decidedtojointheConfederacy.Bothsideswerenowreadytofight.



9.1.4Quiz:ThePathtoCivilWarQuestion 1 of 5

What was a major cause of regional conflicts in the United States when Kansas and Nebraska were added as new territories?

A. Northerners wanted both territories to outlaw slavery.

B. Southerners claimed that the new territories were too large.

C. Northerners worried that the new territories would support Republicans.

D. Southerners believed that neither territory should become a state.

Question 2 of 5

Abraham Lincoln would most likely support which statement?

A. Citizens should be able to decide whether to allow slavery in their own state.

B. The federal government has no right to support or oppose slavery.

C. Most American citizens do not think slavery is an important issue.

D. Slavery goes against the American ideal that all men are created equal.



Question 3 of 5

Stephen Douglas would most likely support which statement?

A. Citizens should be able to decide whether to allow slavery in their own state.

B. Slavery goes against the American ideal that all men are created equal.

C. Only the federal government has the power to make laws related to slavery.

D. The issue of slavery should be ignored to avoid creating regional conflicts.

Question 4 of 5

Why did Southern states secede after Abraham Lincoln was elected president?

A. They worried that Lincoln would try to end slavery in the United States.

B. They believed that John Breckinridge had actually won more votes than Lincoln.

C. They argued that Lincoln would illegally weaken the U.S. military.

D. They claimed that Lincoln would try to limit the federal government's power.

Question 5 of 5

How did John Brown's attack on Harpers Ferry affect many Northern abolitionists?

A. They were able to convince Southern leaders to stop supporting slavery.

B. They lost official support from the Republican Party.

C. They were inspired to continue fighting to end slavery.

D. They were forced to publicly support slavery in the South.

apex u.s. history grade 8 learning packetjohn c. calhoun martin van buren missouri compromise...

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