IB History HL Test Review - The Civil War (Slavery)

What economic developments occurred in the US between 1800-1850?

The gross national product increased seven-fold, and per capita income doubled.

How did the population growth in mid-19th century America affect westward expansion?

The population doubled every 25 years, and the west of the Appalachians grew three times faster than the original 13 states.

What innovations boosted US food production in the mid-19th century?

Technologies like fertilization and crop rotation increased food output fourfold.

What transportation advancements occurred by 1860 in the US?

Steamboats revolutionized river travel, and over 30k miles of railroad track had been laid.

How was American society viewed in the mid-19th century?

As a “society of equals” and a “people of plenty,” though this ignored inequality under slavery.

What was the contradiction within America’s prosperity in the 1830-1860 period?

The continued expansion of slavery, referred to as the “peculiar institution,” despite economic growth.

How were enslaved people affected in the antebellum South?

Though some had better material conditions than others globally, most faced harsh conditions but developed a distinct culture rooted in African traditions.

What were most womens’ roles in mid-19th century America?

Most were homemakers, with only 25% working outside the home before marriage. Historians debate whether the “cult of domesticity” empower or restricted women.

How did slavery differ between the North and South by 1776?

It existed in all colonies but was economically central to the South due to plantation agriculture.

What impact did the Haitian Revolution have on Southern attitudes towards slavery?

It reinforced fear of rebellion, convincing Southerners that slavery was essential for social control.

What was a key difference between American and Latin American slavery?

Latin American slavery often allowed for manumission and had more racial mixing, while American slavery became increasingly rigid and racially defined over time.

How did mortality rates differ between American and Latin American slavery?

Mortality rates were generally higher in Latin America due to harsher labor and climate, leading to a constant need for new enslaved laborers.

Why was religion important in slave communities?

Religion offered spiritual comfort, a sense of identity, and a form of resistance; Christian teachings were often reinterpreted to emphasize liberation and justice.

How did music function in slave culture?

Music preserved African traditions, expressed resistance and hope, and was used during work, worship, and community gatherings to foster solidarity.

Why was cotton called “King Cotton” in the antebellum South?

Because cotton became the dominant cash crop of the South, driving its economy and accounting for over 50% of US exports by 1860.

How did the invention of the cotton gin impact slavery?

Eli Whitney’s cotton gin made cotton processing faster, dramatically increasing demand for slave labor and expanding slavery into the Deep South.

What was the “Second Middle Passage”?

The forced migration of over 1 million enslaved people from the Upper South to the Deep South as cotton agriculture expanded.

How did the cotton economy tie into global trade?

Southern cotton fed the textile mills of Britain and the North, integrating the South into a transatlantic economy that relied heavily on slavery.

What role did slavery play in the US financial system?

Slaves were used at collateral for loans, bought and sold in financial markets, and helped fuel banking, insurance, and credit systems.

How did the expansion of the cotton economy influence US policies?

It intensified the debate over slavery’s expansion into new territories, contributing to sectional tensions and the Civil War.

What was the relationship between the North and Southern slavery?

While the North abolished slavery, it still profited from Southern cotton through textile industries, shipping, and finance.

How did slavery affect Southern social structure?

A rigid hierarchy developed, with wealthy planters at the top, poor whites below, and enslaved people forming the base of the economy and labor force.

What was the core ideological justification for slavery in the American South?

That slavery was a natural, beneficial system where African Americans were considered racially inferior and incapable of self-government.

How did paternalism justify slavery?

Slaveholders claimed they provided food, shelter, and care to slaves in return for labor, framing themselves as benevolent guardians.

What role did pseudoscience play in defending slavery?

Pseudoscientific racial theories falsely claimed Black people were physiologically suited for slavery.

What did John C. Calhoun assert about slavery?

That it was a “good, a positive good".

How did pro-slavery ideology differ from anti-slavery views in the North?

While some Northerners opposed slavery on moral grounds, other objected mainly to its expansion or feared competition with slave labor. Not all were abolitionists.

Why did Southern elits argue that slavery was necessary?

They claimed slavery was essential for economic growth, especially for producing cash crops like cotton and tobacco.

How did cotton shape the global economy in the 19th century?

Cotton became a global commodity, fueling industrial growth in Europe and the US, especially in textile manufacturing.

What political power did slavery provide to Southern elites?

The wealth from slavery allowed Southern elites to influence politics and resist abolitionist movements.

How did slavery affect the South’s economic development?

It led to economic stagnation by hindering industrialization and technological innovation.

How did slavery benefit Northern industries?

Northern textile mills and financial institutions profited from cheap Southern cotton and trade networks dependent on slave labor.

Why did slavery persist for so long despite growing opposition?

Its profitability for Southern elites and global markets.

What economic model did the North follow that contrasted with the South?

The North developed a wage-labor economy that fueled industrial expansion without relying on slavery.

What two historians can you use for the topic of slavery?

Eugene D. Genovese, who argued that slavery was a rational economic system, and Eric Foner, who believed slavery was an impediment to economic and social progress.