Causes of the War
Key Legal Events
100

This economic and moral institution was the central issue that divided the North and South and was a primary cause of the Civil War.

What is Slavery 

100

The Supreme Court case that ruled African Americans were not citizens and that Congress could not ban slavery in U.S. territories is known by this name.

What is Dread Scott v. Sandford? 

200

The political idea that individual states could refuse to follow federal laws they believed were unconstitutional is called this.

What is nullification or States Rights?

200

The Dred Scott decision increased tensions because it said Congress had no authority to do this regarding slavery in territories.

What is banning or prohibiting slavery in U.S. territories? 

300

 Name the 1850 agreement that attempted to settle disputes over slavery in territories and included a stricter Fugitive Slave Law.

What is the Compromise of 1850?

300

This legal/political action, used by some Southern states, allowed them to claim they could declare a federal law void within their borders.

What is nullification?

400

This Georgia statement accepted the Compromise of 1850 but warned that future violations of Southern rights could lead to secession.

What is the Georgia Platform? 

400

The Compromise of 1850 included several parts; name one specific provision included in it (other than popular sovereignty)

What is the Fugitative Slave Act? 

or Cali as a free state

500

This presidential election year and winner prompted many Southern states to begin debating secession.

Abraham Lincoln's election of 1860

500

This event in 1860–1861 involved debates and votes across Southern state legislatures about whether to leave the Union; give one major reason Georgia leaders considered secession.

What is any of the following events: Debates over states’ rights, protection of slavery, reaction to Lincoln’s election, preservation of Southern political power.

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