7th Grade Social Studies - Chapter 16: Section 4 Assessment - The Republican Party Emerges

Harpers ferry

Virginia town raided by John Brown in 1859

John C. Frémont

first Republican presidential candidate in 1856

Arsenal

gun warehouse

What issue led to the founding of the Republican party?

opposition to the spread of slavery in the western territories

Republican Party

party formed to keep slavery out of the western territories

How did Abraham Lincoln emerge as a Republican leader?

In 1858, Lincoln challenged Douglas to a series of debates in the campaign for the Senate. The debates showed the Lincoln was strongly opposed to any expansion of slavery.

How did northerners and southerners respond to John Brown's raid?

Northerners admired Brown as a hero and a martyr. White southerners thought that he was dangerous, and they were outraged at the sympathetic and respectful northern response to his execution.

James Buchanan

Pennsylvania Democrat who won the 1856 presidential election

Abraham Lincoln

Republican senatorial candidate in 1858

Exploring the Main Idea: Review the Main Idea statement at the beginning of this section. Then, write a paragraph explaining how the views of the Republican party differed from the views of earlier parties.

The Republican party believed that slavery was a central issue. Instead of avoiding it or trying to compromise, its leaders took a firm strand opposing its spread to western territories.

Supporting a Point of View: Lincoln said the nation could not "endure permanently half slave and half free." Do you agree that slavery was too important an issue to allow differences among the states? Write a paragraph explaining the reasons for your opinion.

You may agree that the issue of slavery was too important. In a unified country, such a fundamental difference could not be allowed to exist.

Treason

actions against one's country

Martyr

willing to give up his life for his beliefs