Key Events and Figures in Pre-Civil War America

Flashcards covering key terms and concepts related to pre-Civil War America, focusing on key events, figures, and political ideas.

Nat Turner’s Rebellion

A violent slave rebellion in Virginia in 1831 that frightened white Southerners and led to harsher laws against enslaved people.

Harriet Tubman

An escaped slave who helped over 70 people escape slavery via the Underground Railroad, known for her bravery and intelligence.

Frederick Douglass

A former slave who became a powerful speaker and writer against slavery, raising awareness about its cruelty.

Abraham Lincoln

The 16th President of the U.S., known for wanting to prevent the spread of slavery and preserve the Union.

Stephen Douglas

A U.S. senator who advocated for popular sovereignty, letting states decide on slavery through voting.

Harriet Beecher Stowe

Author of Uncle Tom’s Cabin, a novel that depicted the harsh realities of slavery and incited anger in the North.

John Brown

An abolitionist who used violence against slavery, notably leading a raid on Harpers Ferry.

Dred Scott v. Sandford Case

A Supreme Court case ruling that a slave had no right to be free; it angered many Northerners.

Bleeding Kansas

Violence in Kansas between pro-slavery and anti-slavery factions, showcasing national divisions.

Lincoln-Douglas Debates

A series of debates that raised Lincoln's profile and highlighted the urgency of the slavery issue.

Raid on Harpers Ferry

John Brown's failed attempt to seize weapons for a slave rebellion, which instigated fear in the South.

Underground Railroad

A secret network that aided enslaved people in escaping to the North.

Republican Party

A political party founded to oppose the spread of slavery, with Abraham Lincoln as its first president.

Fugitive Slave Act of 1850

A law requiring Northerners to assist in the capture of escaped slaves, causing anger among those opposed to slavery.

Secession

The act of a state leaving the United States, which Southern states did in order to maintain slavery.

Antebellum

A term meaning 'before the war,' referring to the period before the Civil War in the 1800s.

Democratic Party Split

A significant division that contributed to Lincoln's victory in the Election of 1860.

North vs South Differences

Key distinctions included industrial vs agricultural economies, transportation infrastructure, and attitudes toward slavery.