Secession & State Rights
What does the term "secession" mean?
The act of formally withdrawing from a political union.
What was the Kansas-Nebraska Act?
A law allowing settlers to vote on slavery in their territory.
How many candidates ran in the Election of 1860?
4
Where was Fort Sumter located?
Charleston, South Carolina
What was one major economic difference between the North and South?
The North was industrial; The South was agricultural.
Which state was the first to secede from the Union?
South Carolina
Why was Kansas called "Bleeding Kansas"?
Violence broke out between pro- and anti-slavery settlers.
Why did Lincoln’s election anger the South?
He was seen as a threat to slavery and Southern political power.
Who fired the first shots at Fort Sumter?
The Confederate forces.
What role did slavery play in the Southern economy?
It was essential for plantation labor and wealth.
What was the main reason South Carolina cited for seceding?
The protection of slavery and states' rights.
What year did "Bleeding Kansas" begin?
1854
How many Southern states did Lincoln appear on the ballot in?
Zero in ten Southern states.
What was the result of the battle at Fort Sumter?
The Union surrendered after 34 hours of fighting.
Which law required Northerners to return escaped slaves?
The Fugitive Slave Act of 1850.
What federal law did Northern states refuse to enforce?
The Fugitive Slave Act of 1850.
What was the main issue debated in Kansas?
Whether slavery should be allowed in the territory.
What was the immediate reaction of the South to Lincoln's win?
Southern states began seceding from the Union.
Why did the Confederacy attack Fort Sumter?
They saw it as a U.S. fort on Confederate territory.
How did the Missouri Compromise contribute to tensions?
It limited slavery’s expansion, angering the South.
What constitutional argument did South Carolina make to justify its secession?
The federal government was infringing on states' rights.
How did violence in Kansas foreshadow the Civil War?
It showed how divided the nation was over slavery.
How did the Election of 1860 contribute to secession?
Southern leaders saw it as proof they had no political power.
What was Lincoln’s response to the attack on Fort Sumter?
He called for 75,000 troops, officially starting the Civil War.
What long-term political disagreements led to the Civil War?
States' rights, tariffs, and slavery expansion.