AS & A Level History Mark Scheme Flashcards

Flashcards on causes of division, Lincoln's victory and party bosses.

Why did Kansas become a focus of sectional divisions in the mid-1850s?

The Kansas-Nebraska Act allowed residents to decide on slavery through popular sovereignty, overturning the Missouri Compromise and leading to violent conflict between pro- and anti-slavery settlers.

What was 'bleeding Kansas'?

Series of ongoing skirmishes in the Kansas territories after the passing of the Kansas-Nebraska Act in 1854

What were the Lincoln-Douglas debates?

The Lincoln-Douglas debates took place from August 21st to October 15th across the state of Illinois. Lincoln and Douglas were both candidates for election to the Senate seat which was to be decided that autumn.

What was Douglas's stance on popular sovereignty during the Lincoln-Douglas debates?

Douglas strongly advocated the policy of popular sovereignty but Lincoln reminded him that this went against the recent Dred Scott judgement that had stated that slavery continued in free territories

What was Lincoln's position on the rights of black Americans during the Lincoln-Douglas debates?

Lincoln argued that black Americans should be entitled to rights under the Constitution.

How did anti-slavery sentiment affect Lincoln's chances in the 1860 election?

Growth in abolitionist feeling in the Northern states was clearly important to the political situation of the late 1850s

How did splits within the Democrat party affect Lincoln's chances in the 1860 election?

Northern Democrats wanted to nominate Stephen Douglas because they felt he had the best chance of beating Republicans in the North. Douglas though was an enemy of many Southern Democrats because of his championing of popular sovereignty in new territories.

Who were some of the well known industrialists of the era who were called robber barons?

Andrew Carnegie [steel], Jay Gould [railroads], JP Morgan [finance], J D Rockefeller [oil] and Cornelius Vanderbilt [railroads]

Why were some leading businessmen of the late nineteenth century known as robber barons?

They were commonly known as robber barons because there was a belief that they had gained their great wealth and power by using methods which were illegal or immoral, e.g. bribery, share dealings and manipulation, and were unjust.

How widespread were political bosses in cities by 1890?

By 1890 virtually every sizable city had a political boss or was in the process of developing one.

Who was the most notorious political boss of the age?

Boss Tweed of New York's Tammany Hall

What was one example of progressive reform that limited the power of Party Bosses?

Foundation of a professional civil service in the late 19th century went some way to improving corruption in some cities

What system was exported to many states so that the average citizen should have more control over his government?

Oregon System of 'Initiative, Referendum, and Recall'

How did some bosses create a welfare state?

To the urban poor the boss ran a kind of welfare state. For example, he helped the unemployed find jobs and he provided free coal and baskets of food to tide a widow over an emergency