AICE US HISTORY PAPER 1

: What was the Missouri Compromise?

A law that let Missouri become a slave state and Maine a free state to keep balance in Congress

How was the North different from the South in 1820?

The North was becoming more industrial, and the South depended on farming and slavery.

Why did people argue about slavery?

Many Northerners believed slavery was wrong and should end, while Southerners believed it was necessary for their economy and way of life.

Why did slavery become a national political issue?

It wasn't just about morality, it affected laws, the economy, and the balance of power in Congress. The Missouri Compromise showed how adding new states with or without slavery could change national politics.

What was the "Era of Good Feelings," and why was it misleading?

After the War of 1812, Americans felt united, with one major political party and growing pride in the country. But behind this unity, serious disagreements over slavery and states' rights were growing.

What was the Three-Fifths Compromise?

A deal made at the Constitutional Convention that let Southern states count 3 out of every 5 enslaved people when deciding how many seats they got in Congress. It gave slave states more power in government.

How did the Louisiana Purchase affect slavery debates?

In 1803, the U.S. bought a huge amount of land. As settlers moved west, people disagreed about whether slavery should be allowed in those new areas.

What did the Missouri Compromise try to solve?

It tried to keep an equal number of free and slave states to prevent either side from having too much power in Congress.

How were the North and South's economies different?

The North was based on factories. The South made money from large farms that used enslaved people to grow cotton.

What was the fight over states' rights vs. federal power?

Southern leaders said each state should decide if slavery was legal. Many Northerners wanted the federal government to stop slavery from spreading. This disagreement grew more serious over time.

Why was slavery important to the Southern economy?

Slavery made it possible to grow cash crops like cotton and tobacco on big farms. These crops made a lot of money, so many Southerners felt they couldn't survive without slavery.

Who were some famous people who fought against slavery?

-Frederick Douglass a former slave who gave powerful speeches

-Harriet Tubman who helped slaves escape through the Underground Railroad

How were opinions on slavery changing in the 1800s?

More people in the North started to believe slavery was morally wrong. In the South, people defended slavery more strongly, saying it was part of their culture and economy. This caused growing tension between the regions.

What was Manifest Destiny?

It was the belief that the U.S. was destined by God to expand across the continent, spreading democracy and civilization.

How did Manifest Destiny influence U.S. expansion?

It encouraged Americans to settle western lands, support wars for territory (like the Mexican-American War), and justify taking land from Native Americans and other nations.

What caused the Mexican-American War (1846-1848)?

Disputes over the Texas border and U.S. desires to gain more land, like California and New Mexico.

What did the U.S. gain from the Mexican-American War?

The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo gave the U.S. a large area of land from Mexico, including what is now California, Nevada, Utah.

What was the Wilmot Proviso (1846)?

A proposed law to ban slavery in any land gained from Mexico. It passed in the House but failed in the Senate, showing how divided the country was over slavery.

Why did many Americans move west in the 1800s?

To find fertile land for farming, to seek gold and other resources, and to take advantage of trade opportunities

: What was the California Gold Rush?

it was when many different types of people immigrated/ migrated to California to collect gold

How did the cotton economy affect westward expansion?

Southern farmers needed more land to grow cotton, which increased the spread of plantations and with them, slavery into new territories

What was the Homestead Act of 1862?

A law that gave free land to people who would farm it for five years, encouraging many families to move west.

Why did the U.S. population grow so fast in the 1800s?

Many immigrants came from Europe looking for jobs, land, and freedom.

What is the Trail of Tears?

the forced removal of Cherokees (Native Group) from Georgia

What was the Gold Rush, and how did it change the West?

The Gold Rush (1848-1855) started when gold was found in California. It brought hundreds of thousands of people to the West, including immigrants from China and Latin America. It helped California grow quickly and become a state in 1850.

What political issues were caused by expansion?

Every time a new territory wanted to become a state, the country argued about whether slavery should be allowed there. This caused fights in Congress and increased tension between the North and South.

What major events were influenced by Manifest Destiny?

-The annexation of Texas (1845)

-The Oregon Treaty (1846), which gave the U.S. part of Oregon

-The Mexican-American War (1846-1848), which led to the U.S. gaining California and much of the Southwest

How did art and media spread the idea of Manifest Destiny?

Paintings like American Progress by John Gast showed a woman (symbolizing America) bringing light and progress as she moved west. Newspapers and politicians used this imagery to convince people that expansion was good and necessary.

How did Manifest Destiny lead to war with Mexico?

After Texas joined the U.S., Mexico and the U.S. disagreed about the border. This led to the Mexican-American War, which the U.S. won.

What did the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo do?

It ended the war in 1848 and gave the U.S. a huge area of land (called the Mexican Cession), including California, Nevada, Utah.

How did this land lead to more arguments about slavery?

Every time the U.S. got new land, people argued whether slavery should be allowed there. This led to laws like the Missouri Compromise and Compromise of 1850, which tried to keep peace but didn't solve the problem.

What did the Missouri Compromise say about slavery in new territories?

The banned slavery in most of the Louisiana Territory north of the 36°30′ latitude line, except for Missouri.

What is the 36°30′ latitude line?

The 36°30′ line meant that slavery was banned above (north of) the line and allowed below (south of) the line, except in Missouri, which allowed slavery even though it was north of the line.

Why was California's request to be a free state a big deal?

if California entered as a free state, it would tip the balance in Congress in favor of free states, which the South strongly opposed.

What is The Fugitive Slave Act (1793)?

The Fugitive Slave Act was a law that said escaped enslaved people had to be returned to their owners, even if they were found in free states where slavery was not allowed.

What was the problem with the Fugitive Slave Act (1793)?

It wasn't being enforced, so many enslaved people escaped to the North and weren't returned. This made Southerners angry, who demanded a stricter law.

What were the main differences between North and South?

The North opposed the spread of slavery and supported "free soil" (new land without slavery).

-The Mexican-American War (1846-1848), which led to the U.S. gaining California and much of the Southwest

Who was Henry Clay, and why was he important?

Henry Clay, called the "Great Compromiser," helped create the Compromise of 1850 to keep the North and South from splitting apart.

What were the main parts of the Compromise of 1850?

-California joined the Union as a free state.

-Utah and New Mexico could vote on slavery (popular sovereignty).

-The slave trade (but not slavery itself) was banned in Washington, D.C.

Did the Compromise of 1850 work?

It calmed tensions for a short time, but it also made things worse in the long run. The new Fugitive Slave Act made Northerners very angry, leading to more resistance and deeper divisions.

What was the Crittenden Compromise?

A final attempt to stop the Civil War. It was proposed by Senator John Crittenden and aimed to bring back the Missouri Compromise line (36°30′), allowing slavery south of the line all the way to the Pacific Ocean.

Why did Crittenden Compromise fail?

Northerners, especially Republicans like Abraham Lincoln, opposed it because it would allow slavery to expand.

Southerners thought it didn't go far enough or came too late.

Why was these compromise so important even though it failed?

It showed that by 1860, compromise no longer worked. The country was too divided, and war became almost unavoidable

How did these failed compromises lead to the Civil War?

As each new territory became part of the U.S., the argument over slavery started again. When compromise failed (like with Crittenden), the Southern states began to secede, leading directly to the Civil War.

Who wrote Uncle Tom's Cabin?

Harriet Beecher Stowe.

What did Uncle Tom's Cabin describe ?

Novel that exposes the brutal realities of slavery through the story of an enslaved man named Uncle Tom and his experiences.

What was the impact of Uncle Tom's Cabin on the North?

The book made many people in the North more determined to fight against slavery because it made them see just how cruel slavery really was.

How did the South react to Uncle Tom's Cabin?

People in the South were upset by the book, calling it exaggerated and a misrepresentation of life in the South. They saw it as an attack on their way of life.

Who were the Border Ruffians?

Border Ruffians were pro-slavery people from Missouri who crossed the border into Kansas in the 1850s to try and make Kansas a slave state. They used violence and threats to control elections in Kansas.

What did the Border Ruffians do in Kansas?

They helped rig elections by intimidating voters and using violence to keep anti-slavery people from voting. This led to "Bleeding Kansas," a time when violence broke out over the slavery question in Kansas.

Why were the Border Ruffians important?

They showed how the debate over slavery was becoming more violent, not just political. Their actions in Kansas helped spark a lot of conflict that would later lead to the Civil War.

What was the Kansas-Nebraska Act?

Tt was a law that created the Kansas and Nebraska territories and let the people there vote (popular sovereignty) to decide if they would allow slavery.

What happened because of the Kansas-Nebraska Act?

Pro-slavery and anti-slavery groups rushed into Kansas to try to influence the vote. This led to violent fighting, known as "Bleeding Kansas."

What was "Bleeding Kansas"?

It was a period of violent conflict in Kansas between people who supported slavery and those who were against it, from 1854 to about 1859.

Who was Stephen A. Douglas?

A U.S. Senator from Illinois who created the Kansas-Nebraska Act. He believed in popular sovereignty, or letting settlers vote on slavery.

What did Douglas think popular sovereignty would do?

He thought it would be a fair and peaceful way to settle the slavery issue and keep the country together.

How did people react to Douglas's idea?

Many Southerners supported it because it gave them a chance to expand slavery. Many Northerners were outraged, especially after violence broke out in Kansas.

What political result did the Bleed Kansas act lead to?

The Republican Party was formed, made up of people who opposed the spread of slavery, especially because of the violence in Kansas.

What caused the Whig Party to start falling apart in the 1850s?

The Whigs were divided over big issues like slavery and states' rights, especially after the Kansas-Nebraska Act, which made those divisions worse.

How did the Kansas-Nebraska Act affect the Whigs?

Northern Whigs opposed it because it allowed slavery to spread, while Southern Whigs supported it — this split the party in two.

What other problem hurt the Whigs?

They kept losing elections and couldn't agree on a clear plan or platform, which made it hard for them to stay united or win support.

Why was the Republican Party formed?

It was created in the 1850s by people who wanted to stop the spread of slavery into new U.S. territories.

Who joined the Republican Party when it started?

Former Whigs, Free Soilers (people who didn't want slavery in the new land), and anti-slavery Democrats.

What did the Republican Party think about the Kansas-Nebraska Act?

They were against it, because it allowed slavery to spread by letting people vote on it (popular sovereignty).

Who were the Know-Nothings?

A political party from the 1850s that was mostly against immigrants and Catholics

Why were they called "Know-Nothings"?

Because members were told to say "I know nothing" when asked about the group.

What happened to the Know-Nothings?

They got popular for a short time but fell apart because they had no strong plans and argued too much among themselves.

Who was Millard Fillmore?

He became president in 1850 after President Zachary Taylor died. He was a member of the Whig Party.

What important law did Fillmore support?

The Compromise of 1850, which included the Fugitive Slave Act

Why did Fillmore's decisions upset people?

Many Northern Whigs were angry about the Fugitive Slave Act, and it helped tear the party apart even more.

How did the Republican Party become the main challenger to the Democrats?

As the Whigs collapsed, the Republicans took their place by uniting people who were against the expansion of slavery.

Why did Northerners support the Republicans?

The Republican Party had a strong, clear stance against slavery spreading, which matched the beliefs of many people in the North.

What made the Republicans more successful than the Whigs?

They were better organized, had a clear message, and weren't divided like the Whigs had been.

Why did the fall of the Whigs and the rise of the Republicans matter?

It showed how deeply divided the country was over slavery and how the old political system couldn't hold the country together anymore.

Who was Dred Scott?

Dred Scott was an enslaved African American man who sued for his freedom, arguing that because he had lived in free states and territories, he should be free.

What was the Supreme Court's decision in Dred Scott v. Sandford?

The Court ruled that:

-Dred Scott was not a U.S. citizen, so he had no right to sue in court.

-Congress could not ban slavery in U.S. territories.

-The Missouri Compromise was unconstitutional because it limited where slavery could exist

Why was this Dred Scott v. Sandford important?

It was a huge win for the South and slavery supporters. It meant that slavery could legally spread into any U.S. territory, even those that had been considered "free."

How did the North react to the Dred Scott decision?

Northerners were furious. Many believed the decision showed that slave power was controlling the federal government and that the system was rigged against freedom.

What did the Dred Scott case say about African Americans?

The Court said African Americans could never be citizens, whether they were enslaved or free. This deeply offended many Northerners and abolitionists.

What did the Dred Scott decision say about the power of Congress?

It said Congress had no power to stop slavery in the territories, basically removing the government's ability to limit the spread of slavery.

Who was Frederick Douglass, and what did he do?

Douglass was a former enslaved person who became a powerful speaker and writer; he published The North Starnewspaper and fought for immediate emancipation (freedom) for all enslaved people.

What role did William Lloyd Garrison play in the movement?

He was a white abolitionist who published The Liberator, a newspaper calling for the immediate end of slavery and equal rights for Black Americans.

Who was John Brown?

He was a radical abolitionist who believed slavery had to be ended through violence if necessary.

What happened at Harper's Ferry in 1859?

John Brown and 21 followers tried to raid a U.S. arsenal (a place where weapons are stored) in Virginia to start a slave rebellion. The raid failed, and Brown was captured.

What happened to John Brown after the raid?

He was tried for treason (betraying the country), found guilty, and hanged. Many Northerners saw him as a martyr(someone who dies for a cause).

Why did the South react so strongly to John Brown's raid?

Southerners were terrified that more violent uprisings might happen and felt their way of life was under attack. It pushed them closer to the idea of secession (leaving the U.S.).

How did the Republican Party benefit from the raid?

It gained more support from Northerners who saw slavery as a threat to freedom and justice. This helped Abraham Lincoln win the election in 1860.

What was the "Bleeding Sumner" incident?

It was when Representative Preston Brooks of South Carolina attacked Senator Charles Sumner of Massachusetts by beating him with a cane on the floor of the U.S. Senate.

Why did Brooks attack Sumner?

Sumner had given a speech called "The Crime Against Kansas" criticizing slavery and insulting Brooks's relative, Senator Andrew Butler, which enraged Brooks.

How did people in the North react to the Bleeding Summer?

Northerners were horrified and saw Sumner as a victim and a symbol of Southern aggression.

How did people in the South react to Bleeding Summer

Many Southerners praised Brooks and even sent him new canes, seeing him as a hero for defending Southern honor.

Why were the Lincoln-Douglas Debates important?

They became national news and showed how divided the country was over slavery.

-Lincoln opposed the spread of slavery.

-Douglas supported popular sovereignty—letting settlers vote on slavery.

What was the Freeport Doctrine?

In one debate, Lincoln asked Douglas if territories could ban slavery despite the Dred Scott decision.Douglas said yes—they could just refuse to pass laws supporting slavery.This answer, known as the Freeport Doctrine, helped him win the Senate race but angered Southern Democrats, who felt betrayed.

How did the Lincoln-Douglas lead toward the Civil War?

They exposed the deep divide between North and South. The country couldn't agree on slavery, and the debates showed how even peaceful discussion couldn't fix it. This growing tension led to secession and war just a few years late

What were Lincoln's beliefs?

He didn't want slavery to expand into new areas. He also supported free labor, economic growth, and westward expansion.

What made the election 1860 different?

-Lincoln wasn't even on the ballot in most Southern states.

-Douglas tried to appeal to everyone but ended up with little support.

What happened after Lincoln won?

Lincoln won the election with only 40% of the popular vote and no support in the South.Many Southern states saw his win as a threat to slavery and began to secede (leave the Union) starting with South Carolina.

Who were the four main candidates and what did they believe? Election 1860

Abraham Lincoln (Republican): Opposed the expansion of slavery, but not slavery where it already existed.

-Stephen Douglas (Northern Democrat): Supported popular sovereignty (let territories vote on slavery).

-John C. Breckinridge (Southern Democrat): Wanted to protect and expand slavery into all territories.

-John Bell (Constitutional Union Party): Wanted to avoid the slavery issue and keep the Union together

How did the South respond to Lincoln's victory?

-The South saw his win as a threat to slavery and their way of life.

-South Carolina seceded in December 1860—the first state to leave the Union.

-By February 1861, six more states (Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, and Texas) also seceded.

Did anyone try to stop the Civil War after Lincoln's election?

Yes. The Crittenden Compromise tried to make peace by protecting slavery in the South forever. But Lincoln refusedany plan that allowed slavery to expand into new territories.