period 5

What was the significance of the Compromise of 1850?

It was a package of five bills intended to resolve the territorial and slavery issues arising from the Mexican-American War, which aimed to maintain the balance between slave and free states.

What did the Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854 establish?

It allowed the territories of Kansas and Nebraska to decide for themselves whether or not to allow slavery within their borders through the principle of popular sovereignty.

What was the Dred Scott decision?

A Supreme Court ruling in 1857 that stated African Americans could not be citizens and that Congress had no authority to prohibit slavery in federal territories.

What was the main goal of the abolitionist movement during this period?

To end the practice of slavery and promote the rights of African Americans.

What was John Brown's raid on Harpers Ferry?

An 1859 attempted revolt led by John Brown to initiate an armed slave uprising by taking over a United States arsenal.

How did the Election of 1860 affect the Union?

Abraham Lincoln's election led to the secession of Southern states, as they feared the power of an anti-slavery president.

What did the term 'Bleeding Kansas' refer to?

The violent confrontations in Kansas between pro-slavery and anti-slavery factions between 1854 and 1859.

What was the purpose of the Underground Railroad?

To help enslaved people escape to free states and Canada through a network of safe houses and routes.

What major conflict marked the beginning of the American Civil War?

The attack on Fort Sumter in April 1861, which prompted the start of hostilities.

What were the key advantages the North had in the Civil War?

More industrial resources, a larger population, and a more extensive railroad network.

What did the Emancipation Proclamation achieve?

Issued by Abraham Lincoln in 1863, it declared the freedom of all enslaved people in Confederate-held territory.

What was the significance of the Battle of Gettysburg?

Fought in July 1863, it was a turning point in the Civil War that marked the beginning of the decline of the Confederacy.

What did the Reconstruction Amendments (13th, 14th, and 15th) accomplish?

They abolished slavery, granted citizenship and equal protection under the law, and ensured voting rights for African American men.

What was the impact of the Wilmot Proviso?

Proposed in 1846, it aimed to ban slavery in territories acquired from Mexico, reigniting sectional tensions.

What role did the Republican Party play in the 1850s?

Formed in the 1850s, it was primarily an anti-slavery party that opposed the spread of slavery into the territories.

Who was Frederick Douglass?

A former enslaved person and prominent abolitionist who advocated for justice and equality for African Americans.

What economic changes occurred in the North compared to the South during this period?

The North industrialized rapidly while the South remained largely agrarian and dependent on slave labor.

What was the significance of Habeas Corpus suspension during the Civil War?

Lincoln suspended habeas corpus during the war to prevent dissent and maintain order, sparking debates about civil liberties.

What were the conditions of the Reconstruction era?

After the Civil War, the South faced economic hardship, political reform, and social change, with conflicting views on how to integrate formerly enslaved people.