Legislation
What did the Fugitive Slave Act require?
Runaway slaves to be returned to their owners.
What was the focus of Charles Sumner’s “Crime Against Kansas” speech?
He criticized slavery and pro-slavery forces in Kansas.
Who were the main candidates in the 1856 election?
John C. Fremont (Republican), James Buchanan (Democrat), Millard Fillmore (Know-Nothing).
Name 2 events John Brown was involved in.
Harpers Ferry, Pottawatomie Massacre, Battle of Osawatomie
Who were the Border Ruffians?
Pro-slavery Missourians who illegally voted in Kansas.
What did the Wilmot Proviso propose?
To ban slavery in territories gained from Mexico
What was William Lloyd Garrison's major contribution to abolitionism?
He led the abolitionist movement through his newspaper The Liberator.
How did the Republican Party form?
It emerged from the anti-slavery factions of the Whigs and Democrats.
What was the Supreme Court's decision in the Dred Scott case?
Scott was not a U.S. citizen and could not sue; Congress couldn’t prohibit slavery in territories.
What shift occurred in the abolitionist movement in the 1830s?
From gradualism to immediate abolition.
Name at least 4 of the 5 provisions in the Compromise of 1850.
California admitted as a free state
Fugitive Slave Act strengthened
Popular Sovereignty for Utah and New Mexico territories
Slave trade abolished in Washington, D.C.
Texas gives up land for financial aid
How did John Brown’s raid on Harpers Ferry impact the South’s view of abolitionism and the Republican Party?
It intensified Southern fear of slave revolts and convinced them that abolitionism was a direct threat to their way of life.
How did political parties reflect growing divisions over slavery?
New parties like the Free-Soil Party and the Republican Party emerged to address the issue of slavery's expansion.
What are at least 2 immediate consequences of the election of 1860 for the political landscape of the U.S.?
The election marked the collapse of the Whig Party and solidified the Republican Party as the primary Northern opposition to slavery. It also led to secession of the Southern states.
What impact did the Dred Scott decision have on the concept of popular sovereignty in U.S. territories?
It invalidated popular sovereignty by ruling that Congress couldn’t prohibit slavery in territories, deepening sectional divisions.
What major legislation did the Kansas-Nebraska Act introduce?
It allowed settlers to vote on slavery, repealing the Missouri Compromise.
What was the impact of Elijah P. Lovejoy’s murder in 1837?
It highlighted the violence faced by abolitionists and intensified the sectional divide.
What were 3 of the 4 components of the Confederate States Constitution?
States' Rights: Strong emphasis on state sovereignty
Slavery: Protected slavery in both existing and new territories
Presidency: Single six-year term for president
Trade and Tariffs: Prohibited protective tariffs to support the South’s agrarian economy
How did the Freeport Doctrine challenge the Dred Scott decision during the Lincoln-Douglas debates?
Douglas argued that territories could exclude slavery through local laws, directly contradicting the Dred Scott ruling.
What was the goal of the American Colonization Society?
To send free African Americans to Liberia.
How did Northern states respond to the Fugitive Slave Act?
Many passed Personal Liberty Laws to protect free African Americans and prevent them from being returned to slavery.
Name three key abolitionists and their contributions to the cause.
numerous answers
Name 1 way the Compromise of 1850 violated the Constitution and 1 way it aligned with the Constitution
Violations
Fugitive Slave Act & Due Process:
Federal Overreach (Tenth Amendment):
Popular Sovereignty vs. Congress's Authority:
Alignments with the Constitution:
Fugitive Slave Clause (Article IV, Section 2):
Territorial Rights (Article IV, Section 3):
State Sovereignty (Tenth Amendment):
Texas Boundary (Article I, Section 8):
Name 2 different events and explain how they caused the growth or decline of 2 different political parties
numerous answers
What did the Freeport Question ask?
Could settlers in a territory vote to exclude slavery before the territory became a state?