2nd MP Unit Test

1. How did the results of the Mexican-American War affect US politics?

• The Mexican-American War intensified the debate over slavery in new territories. As the US gained new lands, arguments over whether these territories should be free or slave-holding escalated, leading to increased sectionalism and tension between the North and South.

2. What caused the Whig party to split up? What new parties did former Whigs form/join?

• The Whig Party split largely due to divisions over slavery. Northern and Southern Whigs disagreed on slavery's expansion, leading some to join the anti-slavery Free Soil Party, and later, the Republican Party, while others joined the Know-Nothing or Democratic Parties.

3. Why were Americans split on Polk’s plan to start a war with Mexico?

• Some Americans, particularly in the South and West, supported the war for expansion. However, Northerners and abolitionists feared it would lead to the spread of slavery, believing it was a war for "slave power."

4. How did the Compromise of 1850 fail to satisfy the parties involved?

• The Compromise aimed to ease tensions but ended up angering both sides. Though it created The Fugitive Slave Act which upset the North, while the South was frustrated that California entered as a free state, which tipped the balance in favor of free states.

5. Was John Brown’s raid on Harpers Ferry successful?

• No, the raid failed. Brown hoped to incite a slave uprising but was quickly captured. However, it heightened tensions between the North and South, as the South viewed it as proof that the North supported violent abolitionism.

6. Did popular sovereignty prove to be effective or ineffective? Why?

• Popular sovereignty was largely ineffective. It led to violent conflicts, such as "Bleeding Kansas," as pro-slavery and anti-slavery settlers clashed over the state's future, revealing that compromise on slavery was increasingly unfeasible.

7. What were personal liberty laws and why were they created? How do they fit into the narrative of the causes of the Civil War?

• Personal liberty laws were Northern laws meant to counteract the Fugitive Slave Act by protecting escaped slaves and preventing state officials from assisting in their capture. These laws highlighted the growing North-South divide and intensified Southern fears of Northern interference.

8. Was the Civil War necessary for the South to come back to the Union? Could it have been reasonably prevented?

• Many historians argue that the Civil War became inevitable due to irreconcilable differences over slavery, state rights, and economic interests. Efforts like the Compromise of 1850 and the Kansas-Nebraska Act only temporarily delayed conflict.

9. What factors led to Lincoln’s presidential win?

• Lincoln’s strong anti-slavery stance, his appeal to Northern voters, and the fractured Democratic Party helped him secure victory in 1860. His win signaled to the South that anti-slavery sentiments were gaining power, prompting Southern states to secede.

10. What were the advantages the North had over the South during the Civil War? Were there any disadvantages?

• The North had more industrial resources, a larger population, and a better transportation network. However, they were less familiar with the Southern terrain and initially had weaker military leadership.

11. How did the Civil War contribute to the expansion of federal government power?

• The federal government increased its power by implementing conscription, establishing a national currency, and initiating an income tax. These measures were necessary to manage the war effort but led to a stronger central government post-war.

12. Was the Emancipation Proclamation effective or ineffective?

• While it didn't free all enslaved people, the Emancipation Proclamation redefined the war as a fight against slavery, prevented European support for the Confederacy, and allowed African Americans to join the Union Army, boosting morale and manpower.

13. Compare and contrast opposition to the war in the North and South, including reasons for opposing the war and actions they took.

• In the North, opposition came from Democrats and “Copperheads” who believed the war was unnecessary. In the South, opposition came from poor whites who resented conscription. Both sides had protests, but opposition in the South was more muted due to Confederate censorship.

14. What did most Union soldiers consider to be their goal at the beginning of the war? How did that change, and what contributed to it?

• Initially, Union soldiers fought to preserve the Union. After the Emancipation Proclamation, the goal expanded to include the abolition of slavery, which many soldiers saw as a moral imperative by the end of the war.

15. Did African Americans serve in the military during the Civil War? Did this contribute to equality or inequality?

• Yes, African Americans served in the Union only after escaping slavery by Union Soldiers. They treated discrimination and inequality.

16. How did the Civil War affect Americans’ attitudes about death and mourning? Discuss the “cult of death.”

• The Civil War affected Americans attitudes about death and mourning because of the media that they saw everywhere they went like the images. The people also probably knew at least 1 person in the War that died

17. Describe the main reasons for opposing conscription in the North and South. Were the reasons different or similar?

• In both the North and South, people opposed conscription due to economic hardships and beliefs that wealthy individuals could avoid service (e.g., the “Twenty-Slave Law” in the South and substitutes in the North). This led to perceptions of inequality and class conflict.

18. What choice does Onion make at the end of Episode 4 of The Good Lord Bird? Why does the character make that decision?

• In Episode 4 of The Good Lord Bird, Onion decides to stay with John Brown rather than escape. This decision reflects Onion's complex feelings of loyalty, curiosity, and perhaps a growing belief in Brown’s mission, despite the dangers.