IB History HL Test Review - the Civil War (Primary Events)

What were the key long-term causes of the Civil War?

Sectionalism, the expansion of slavery, states’ rights vs. federal authority, and the breakdown of the Second Party System.

How did sectionalism contribute to the Civil War?

The North and South developed distinct economies and cultures. The North industrialized with free labor, while the South relied on slavery and agriculture, fueling mutual distrust and political tension.

How did the Missouri Compromise of 1820 try to resolve sectional conflict?

It admitted Missouri as a slave state and prohibited slavery north of the 36 30 line in the Louisiana Territory, temporarily balancing free and slave states.

What was the impact of the Compromise of 1850?

It admitted California as a free state, allowed popular sovereignty in Utah and New Mexico, strengthened the Fugitive Slave Act, and banned the salve trade in D.C. It increased tensions by making slavery enforcement national.What

What was the Fugitive Slave Act and why was it controverisal?

A law requiring citizens to assist in the capture of runaway slaves and denying fugitives the right to a jury trial. It enraged Northerners.

How did the Kansas-Nebraska Act in 1854 escalate sectional conflict?

It repealed the Missouri compromise by allowing popular sovereignty in Kansas and Nebraska, leading to violent conflict (“Bleeding Kansas”) between pro and anti-slavery settlers.

What was Bleeding Kansas?

A series of violent confrontations in Kansas between pro-slavery and anti-slavery forces following the Kansas-Nebraska Act, symbolizing the failure of popular sovereignty.