U.S. History: 1850s Controversies, California Gold Rush & Underground Railroad

What was the Wilmot Proviso?

A proposal to prohibit slavery in any territory acquired from Mexico, attached to an appropriations bill by David Wilmot.

What were the Calhoun Resolutions?

Proposed by John C. Calhoun, they outlined the Southern position on slavery, asserting that territories are property of the states and only states can prohibit slavery.

What is popular sovereignty?

The idea that residents of a territory can decide the status of slavery in their territory.

Who was John Sutter?

A Swiss immigrant who owned land in California and discovered gold in 1848, leading to the California Gold Rush.

What triggered the California Gold Rush?

The discovery of gold by John Sutter in 1848, which led to an influx of people seeking fortune in 1849.

What was the Compromise of 1850?

A series of laws aimed at resolving the status of slavery in the new territories, including California as a free state and the enforcement of the Fugitive Slave Act.

What did the Fugitive Slave Act entail?

A law that mandated the return of runaway slaves and was used by abolitionists to rally against slavery.

Who was Harriet Tubman?

An escaped slave and famous conductor of the Underground Railroad who made nineteen trips to help approximately 300 slaves escape.

What was the Underground Railroad?

A secret network of people and routes that helped escaped slaves reach freedom, primarily in the northern United States and Canada.

What were 'conductors' in the context of the Underground Railroad?

Individuals who helped guide escaped slaves along the routes to freedom.

What was the significance of Canada for escaped slaves?

Canada was often referred to as the 'Promised Land' because it offered freedom from slavery.

What role did William Still play in the Underground Railroad?

He was a wealthy African American who aided many slaves' escapes and documented their stories in his book 'The Underground Railroad.'

What was the estimated number of slaves who escaped via the Underground Railroad?

Over 100,000 slaves, including 30,000 during its peak years before the Civil War.

When did the Underground Railroad operate?

From around 1810 to the 1860s, peaking right before the Civil War in the 1850s.

What were 'stations' in the context of the Underground Railroad?

Stopping places along the routes where escaping slaves could rest and receive assistance.

What were 'lines' in the context of the Underground Railroad?

Various routes that escaped slaves would take to reach freedom.

What did abolitionists do in response to the Fugitive Slave Act?

They urged citizens to break the law and supported the Underground Railroad to help runaway slaves.

What was the impact of the Compromise of 1850 on the nation?

It temporarily eased tensions between the North and South but ultimately deepened divisions over slavery.

What was the response of Daniel Webster to the Compromise of 1850?

He supported the Compromise, stating he wished to speak as an American for the preservation of the Union.

What was the 'fire-eaters' movement?

A group of Southern extremists who advocated for the South's secession from the Union.

What was the role of the military government in California after the Mexican War?

It governed California until statehood was achieved amid chaos from the influx of people.

What was the significance of the term 'personal liberty' laws in the North?

These laws were enacted to protect free blacks from being kidnapped and sent into slavery under the Fugitive Slave Act.