Download Causes of the Civil War Study Guide

Causes of the Civil War Study Guide-Compromises
DIRECTIONS: Use the words from the word bank to fill in the blanks. Words may be used more than
once.
In the mid-19th century, sectionalism
was tearing the United States apart. The largely
anti-slavery Northern states and the pro-slavery
Southern states were vying for representation
in the U.S. Congress. In 1817, a perfect balance
existed between the two, at 11 states each.
That is, until _____________ applied for
statehood in 1817 wanting to allow slavery.
Adding _____________ as a ___________ state
would upset the balance of power in Congress.
The question divided Congress and the nation.
The nation argued for months.
_____________________, known as the “Great
Compromiser”, saw an opportunity when
______________ wanted to apply for statehood
as a free state. Congress passed his plan,
known as the Missouri Compromise, in 1820. It
kept the balance of power in the Senate
between ______________ and free states, and
banned slavery in the Louisiana Territory north
of the ______________ line. The compromise
kept the Union together, but did not settle the
question of slavery forever.
Once the United States defeated
Mexico in the Mexican-American War, the
nation’s leaders began debating how to deal
with slavery in the _______________________.
______________________ gained enough
people because of the __________________,
and applied for statehood as a free state. This,
once again threatened to upset the balance.
Senator __________________ came up
with the Compromise of 1850. To please the
North, _____________________ was admitted
as a free state and the _________ trade was
abolished in Washington D.C. To please the
South, Congress left the question of slavery in
the territories to _________________________
and passed the __________________________.
As a footnote, Texas gave up 1/3 of its territory
in exchange for $10 million.
The Compromise of 1850 settled both
sides, but Northerners did not appreciate the
__________ ___________________ because it
made them actively participate in the practice
of slavery.
Illinois Senator ____________________
proposed the Kansas-Nebraska Act in 1854 to
organize the remaining territories from the
Louisiana Purchase. The Act left the slavery
question in the territories to
____________________________.
Pro- and anti-slavery settlers rushed
into the territories, leading to an event called
“______________________.” Fighting between
the two groups was rampant. An extreme
abolitionist named ____________________
gained national attention for his gruesome acts
during this little civil war.
Henry Clay
Bleeding Kansas
Slave
Maine
California
Fugitive Slave Act
John Brown
Stephen Douglas
36°30’
Missouri
Mexican Cession
Gold Rush
Fugitive Slave Act
popular sovereignty
Causes of the Civil War Study Guide-Slavery and Abolitionism
1. What invention led to the expansion of slavery? Why did this happen?
2. How many southerners owned slaves? What fraction of the southern population was enslaved?
3. What problems did free African Americans face?
4. Below are people, places and things that contributed to the abolitionism movement or
sectionalism between the North and South. Give a brief description of each.
Nat Turner
Eli Whitney
William Lloyd Garrison
Sojourner Truth
Harriet Tubman
John Brown & Harper’s Ferry
Frederick Douglass
Uncle Tom’s Cabin
Dred Scott
Roger Taney
Causes of the Civil War Study Guide-Sectionalism
The Northern and Southern states had many differences that led to economic, political, and cultural
conflict. Eventually, they led to the Civil War. For each phrase below, put a U if it applies to the North
(also called the Union) or put a C if it applies to the South (also called the Confederacy).
_____ 1. Had a larger population of 31 million people in 1860
_____ 2. Had broad, deep, slow-moving rivers for transportation on steamboats
_____ 3. Did not have to defeat the other side to win
_____ 4. Had superior military leaders
_____ 5. Had most of the nation’s banking system and wealth
_____ 6. Its economy was mostly agricultural
_____ 7. Relied on imports
_____ 8. Had 86% of the country’s factories and industrial power
_____ 9. Had superior transportation, including 71% of the nation’s railroads
_____ 10. Seceded from the United States
Some Vocabulary Terms to Know
States’ RightsSecedeNullifyCompromiseAbolitionismSectionalismUnionConfederacy-
Causes of the Civil War Study Guide-Secession
QUESTIONS
1. Why/how did the Republican Party form?
2. Why didn’t the South support the Republican Party?
3. What was important about the Election of 1856?
4. What were the Lincoln-Douglas Debates?
5. How did Lincoln view slavery and its expansion?
6. How did Douglas view slavery and its expansion?
7. What did the Southern states promise to do if Lincoln won the presidential election of 1860?
8. What four topics did the North and South disagree on?
9. What happened during the Nullification Crisis?
10. Which state was the first to secede?
11. Fill in the blank: Texas was the ______ state to secede.
12. How did Sam Houston view secession? What happened to him?
13. How was the Confederate Constitution different from the American Constitution?
14. How did Lincoln view secession and how was he going to deal with the South?
15. Who was Robert E. Lee?