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The Compromise of 1850
Georgia History
Chapter Vocabulary
Politics
Miscellaneous
100
True or false: the "Missouri Compromise" and the "Compromise of 1850" are the same event.
FALSE
100
Was Georgia's economy largely industrial, or agricultural? Explain.
Georgia's economy was largely based on agriculture. In 1860, the state's 68,000 farms produced 700,000 bales of cotton overall.
100
Define "state's rights."
This concept is the idea that any power not clearly given to the United States Congress belonged to the states.
100
Who was Dred Scott, and what was the decision in his court case?
Scott was a slave who was taken from Missouri to live in free states. After he returned to Missouri, he filed a lawsuit claiming he was free because he had lived in a free state. The Supreme Court ruled that Scott could not sue because he was a slave.
100
Who was Alexander Stephens?
Alexander Stephens was a Georgian who initially opposed secession and who eloquently spoke to fellow congressmen in Georgia's legislative chambers. He was later out-voted and named vice-president of the C.S.A.
200
Who initially proposed the Missouri Compromise?
Henry Clay
200
What was the Georgia Platform of 1850?
It was a state platform which adopted the Compromise of 1850, signaling the state's support of the bill.
200
Define "platform."
A statement of the principles and policies the party supports
200
What political party opposed the spread of slavery in the 1856 election?
Republican
300
California entered the United States as a _________ state as a result of the Compromise of 1850.
free
300
What was Georgia's state capital from 1807-1867?
Milledgeville
300
Explain "Bleeding Kansas" and what led to this incident.
In 1854, the Kansas-Nebraska Act was passed, which allowed new territories such as Kansas and Nebraska to decide whether they would have slavery. Many people were upset because this conflicted with the Missouri Compromise of 1820. Thus, fights broke out among free soilers and anti-slavery groups in Kansas, resulting in a very violent conflict known as "Bleeding Kansas."
300
What defined the "Know Nothing" Party?
This political party was against citizenship for immigrants or political office for anyone not born in the United States
400
What stance did Georgians take toward the Compromise of 1850?
Although many Georgians did not support it, all realized that supporting the Compromise was important in order to stay in the Union.
400
How did Georgians react to the Election of 1860? Explain.
The election of Abraham Lincoln caused many Georgians to debate over secession and war; although Georgia wanted to remain in the Union, its residents strongly believed in states' rights and were concerned by Lincoln.
400
Define "Underground Railroad."
It was an organized escape plan for southern slaves fleeing their owners.
400
What was the "nullification crisis," and what happened as a result?
N/A
500
Explain the Compromise of 1850 and why the entry of California into the Union was so contentious.
The Compromise of 1850, proposed by Senator Henry Clay of Kansas, was legislation designed to please both the Northern states and the Southern states. The North benefited from the Compromise because it admitted California as a free state, ended slave trading in the District of Columbia, and ended Texas' claim to New Mexico. The South benefited from the Compromise because it allowed New Mexico and Utah to decide whether they wanted slaves, D.C. residents could keep existing slaves, and enabled a more strict Fugitive Slave Act to be passed. By 1848, California had over 100,000 residents, due largely to the discovery of gold at Sutter's Mill. The population qualified them for statehood; however, California's entry into the Union was contentious because its statehood would upset the balance of free states and slave states (15/15).
500
What Georgians held leadership positions in the Confederate States of America?
Robert Toombs (secretary of state), Alexander Stephens (vice president)
500
What is sectionalism? Explain how it contributed to the division in the United States.
Sectionalism is the belief in which people of a certain area think their ideas and interests are correct and more important than another region. This was apparent in the period leading up to the Civil War because the North and the South had opposing views on slavery and states' rights versus federal rights. Westward expansion, coupled with already existing sectionalism, aggravated this divison between the regions.
500
How did the election of 1860 affect the secession of states?
The election of Abraham Lincoln led to southern states considering secession seriously, since the Republican party had run on a platform that would not directly benefit the South. After South Carolina seceded, other states such as Georgia, Florida, Alabama, and Mississippi quickly followed suit.