America A Narrative Chapter 14

Why did President Buchanan support the Lecompton Constitution? He was politically dependent on northern congressmen, who also supported the constitution. He had no strong position, but his advisers insisted he support it. He was dependent on southern congressmen, who also supported the constitution. He was born in Lecompton and always supported his hometown. He opposed the spread of slavery, and the constitution banned it from Kansas.

He was dependent on southern congressmen, who also supported the constitution.

During the great congressional debate over the Compromise of 1850: Henry Clay pushed for the compromise and national harmony. Jefferson Davis emerged as a voice of moderation. Daniel Webster made an impassioned argument for secession. President Taylor died. John Calhoun endorsed all of Henry Clay's proposals.

Henry Clay pushed for the compromise and national harmony.

Why did Kansas's Lecompton Constitution become so controversial? It banned slavery even though an overwhelming majority of residents supported it. It banned slavery but provided an exception to existing resident slave owners. It allowed slavery even though a majority of residents opposed it. It allowed each county in Kansas to vote on the legality of slavery. It advocated for Kansas independence rather than statehood.

It allowed slavery even though a majority of residents opposed it.

What was the impact of President Taylor's death? It strengthened the chance for compromise over slavery in 1850. It put pro-slavery Franklin Pierce in the White House. It prevented California from gaining admission into the Union. It brought great relief to the nation, because he had started the current sectional crisis. It put anti-slavery William H. Seward in the White House.

It strengthened the chance for compromise over slavery in 1850.

The Republican party platform supported all of the following in 1860, EXCEPT: free farms on federal lands out west. John Brown's raid. no further extension of slavery. a higher protective tariff. a transcontinental railroad.

John Brown's raid.

How did passage of the Kansas-Nebraska Act impact the settlement of Kansas? It made Kansas a slave state with a majority population of slaveholders. Popular sovereignty encouraged violence-prone supporters and opponents of slavery to flood Kansas. The act had no impact on the settlement of Kansas. It ensured that Kansas would be admitted into the Union as a free state with a population deeply committed to abolition. The vagaries left about the status of slavery discouraged settlement.

Popular sovereignty encouraged violence-prone supporters and opponents of slavery to flood Kansas.

Why did the Whig party collapse? Its economic policies were perceived as too socialist. The Republican party defeated the major Whig candidates in the 1852 election. It no longer had sufficient numbers of people voting for it. It opposed slavery. The strain of the Kansas-Nebraska Act pushed northern and southern members toward joining different parties.

The strain of the Kansas-Nebraska Act pushed northern and southern members toward joining different parties.

All of the following were presidential nominees in 1860, EXCEPT: William Seward. John Bell. John Breckinridge. Stephen Douglas. Abraham Lincoln.

William Seward.

As the election of 1860 approached, the Democratic party: was dominated by southern extremists. broke up into northern and southern wings. condemned the Kansas-Nebraska Act. renominated Buchanan. was silent on the issue of slavery.

broke up into northern and southern wings.

The discovery of gold in California did all of the following, EXCEPT: encourage American dreams of a Pacific empire. hasten the demise of the Indians. spur a massive migration of gold seekers. result in an infusion of gold into the U.S. economy that led to a prolonged period of national prosperity. create a population with an equal balance of men and women.

create a population with an equal balance of men and women.

In 1856, the Republicans: campaigned vigorously all over the country. stood for states' rights. declared their opposition to slavery. strongly condemned the nativist platform of the American party. nominated William Seward for president.

declared their opposition to slavery.

In response to secession, President Buchanan: did practically nothing. said he supported it. abandoned Fort Sumter. declared martial law. let Lincoln take office ahead of schedule.

did practically nothing.

The Crittenden Compromise proposed to: outlaw slavery in the United States after 1865 guarantee continuance of slavery in the states where it then existed guarantee that all new territories would be open to slavery give slaves full representation rather than allow them to count for only three-fifths of a person provide a federal slave code for the western territories

guarantee continuance of slavery in the states where it then existed

The Supreme Court's Dred Scott decision: gave Dred Scott his freedom was applauded by the Republicans implied that the Missouri Compromise had been unconstitutional guaranteed the future admission of slave states recognized that free blacks were U.S. citizens

implied that the Missouri Compromise had been unconstitutional

The Free-Soil party stance on slavery: led to the political downfall of Henry Clay. was endorsed by John C. Calhoun. opposed the Wilmot Proviso. infuriated John C. Calhoun. attracted Abraham Lincoln into its ranks.

infuriated John C. Calhoun.

Many northerners, including the so-called Independent Democrats, opposed the Kansas-Nebraska Act because: it did not embrace "popular sovereignty." they opposed the admission of both territories as states. it would bring about immediate abolition. it repealed the Fugitive Slave Law. it repealed the Missouri Compromise.

it repealed the Missouri Compromise

John Brown targeted Harpers Ferry, Virginia, because: it had a large slave population it was the site of a federal arsenal it was an important railroad center many abolitionists lived in the area it had banks with large deposits

it was the site of a federal arsenal

Preston Brooks's caning of Charles Sumner: took place in Kansas. was totally without motive or provocation. showed that both the North and South rejected political extremists. made Brooks a hero in much of the South. ended Brooks's career in Congress.

made Brooks a hero in much of the South.

The new Fugitive Slave Act outraged abolitionists because it: offered a strong temptation to kidnap free blacks in northern "free" states. guaranteed fugitive slaves a jury trial. required the licensing of slave catchers. reintroduced the legal international slave trade. allowed northern states to become slave states.

offered a strong temptation to kidnap free blacks in northern "free" states.

The new Fugitive Slave Act outraged abolitionists because it: reintroduced the legal international slave trade. required the licensing of slave catchers. offered a strong temptation to kidnap free blacks in northern "free" states. guaranteed fugitive slaves a jury trial. allowed northern states to become slave states.

offered a strong temptation to kidnap free blacks in northern "free" states.

Author Harriet Beecher Stowe's background was indicative of the abolitionist movement's: weak moral compass. powerful religious underpinnings. gradually weakening strength. symbolic support of the Fugitive Slave Act. willingness to accept slavery in some modified form.

powerful religious underpinnings.

John Brown's raid on Harpers Ferry was intended to: unify the Republican party. provoke slave insurrections. start a civil war. provoke a fight with the U.S. Army. prove John Brown was God's agent.

provoke slave insurrections.

The Lincoln-Douglas debates: clinched Lincoln's election to the U.S. Senate. saw Douglas abandon popular sovereignty. saw Lincoln state his belief in racial equality. bolstered Lincoln's presidential prospects in 1860. saw Lincoln endorse the Dred Scott ruling.

saw Lincoln state his belief in racial equality.

The panic of 1857: ended sectional bickering. was the worst depression in American history. strengthened southern confidence in its cotton economy. started the Civil War. was triggered by the violence in Kansas.

strengthened southern confidence in its cotton economy.

The Compromise of 1850: gave Texas more territory. admitted Utah as a slave state. strengthened the Fugitive Slave Law. postponed California statehood. ended slavery in Washington, D.C.

strengthened the Fugitive Slave Law.

Lincoln won the election of 1860 by: carrying the biggest states in both the North and South. appealing to fear. sweeping the free states. changing his position on slavery. massive voter fraud.

sweeping the free states.

A major reason the Democrat James Buchanan won the 1856 election was that: slavery and sectional divisions were not an issue in the election. the Republicans did not have a candidate to run against him. the Democrats were the only remaining national party. the Republicans were mired in political scandal. the northern Whigs threw their support to the Democrats.

the Democrats were the only remaining national party.

Passage of the Kansas-Nebraska Act was a victory for: immigrant groups in America. the concept of popular sovereignty. southerners who wanted a transcontinental railroad to run west from New Orleans. the preservation of the Union. abolitionists.

the concept of popular sovereignty.

The Confederate States of America seceded after Lincoln's election because: the southern secessionists planned to invade the North and impose slavery on the entire Union. the southern secessionists believed that Jefferson Davis had won the 1860 election but was denied the office through fraud. Lincoln was pushing for an invasion of the South. the southern secessionists were convinced that Lincoln would move against slavery despite his assurances otherwise. Lincoln promised to abolish slavery immediately after taking office.

the southern secessionists were convinced that Lincoln would move against slavery despite his assurances otherwise.

John C. Calhoun believed that the Wilmot Proviso: violated property rights. blamed the South for the Mexican War. would help keep the Union together. protected the interests of slaveholders. would never pass Congress.

violated property rights.

John C. Calhoun believed that the Wilmot Proviso: would never pass Congress. would help keep the Union together. protected the interests of slaveholders. blamed the South for the Mexican War. violated property rights.

violated property rights.

All of the following statements about John Brown are true, EXCEPT that he: believed blacks deserved both liberty and full social equality. led an unsuccessful raid on the federal arsenal at Harper's Ferry. was the father of twenty children. and his followers were responsible for the Pottawatomie Massacre. was fanatically committed to fight to protect the institution of slavery.

was fanatically committed to fight to protect the institution of slavery.

The election of 1852: was won by Franklin Pierce. saw the disappearance of the Free-Soil party. was dominated by the current economic depression. saw both major parties denounce the Compromise of 1850. resulted in a second term for Millard Fillmore.

was won by Franklin Pierce.

The 1848 presidential election: was won by Van Buren. broke up the Whig party. was won by Zachary Taylor. was decided in the House of Representatives. was won by Lewis Cass.

was won by Zachary Taylor.

The Freeport Doctrine might be defined as the concept that: slavery could not be prohibited in a territory until that territory became a state slavery was immoral and ought to be abolished in all territories of the United States whatever the Supreme Court said about slavery, it could not exist anywhere unless supported by local police regulations if blacks were freed from slavery, they must be given full legal and social equality the Dred Scott decision should be overturned

whatever the Supreme Court said about slavery, it could not exist anywhere unless supported by local police regulations

The idea of popular sovereignty: would allow people in the territories to decide whether or not to permit slavery. allowed Oregon to enter the Union as a slave state. guaranteed that slavery would spread westward. solved the controversy over slavery's extension. was adopted by the Whigs in the 1848 election.

would allow people in the territories to decide whether or not to permit slavery.

What did the Supreme Court rule in Dred Scott v. Sandford? Slaves who were taken to free territories would be considered free. The Missouri Compromise was still legally binding. State bans on slavery did not violate the property rights of masters. Blacks did not have citizenship and therefore lacked legal standing. Slaves who were taken to free states would be considered free.

Blacks did not have citizenship and therefore lacked legal standing.

In late 1849, Zachary Taylor proposed: war against the Mormons in Utah. California's immediate entry as a free state. extension of slavery to the Pacific. abolition of slavery in Washington, D.C. giving Texas back to Mexico.

California's immediate entry as a free state.

The Republican party reflected a combination of all of the following groups, EXCEPT: abolitionists. Cotton Whigs. northern Whigs. anti-slavery Democrats. Free-Soilers.

Cotton Whigs.

On what legal basis did Dred Scott sue for his freedom? The physical abuse he suffered was illegal. He claimed that living for extended periods in areas where slavery was forbidden made him free. He had married a free woman. His father was a free man. He argued that slavery was unconstitutional.

He claimed that living for extended periods in areas where slavery was forbidden made him free.

Given the bitterness of the congressional debate, why was Stephen Douglas successful in getting the Compromise of 1850 passed? His support for popular sovereignty allowed many abolitionist senators to vote with him. He was in better health and was more charismatic than Clay. He could depend on a sympathy vote from supporters of deceased President Taylor. He split the issues into separate bills. He dropped the question of the slave trade in the District of Columbia.

He split the issues into separate bills.