Flashcards Causes of the Civil War Slides Review

Front

What does the idea of states' rights mean?

Back

To limit the power of the federal government

Answer explanation

States' rights means that each state should have the power to make its own decisions instead of the federal government controlling everything. Many Southern states believed they should be able to decide important issues, like slavery and taxes, without the national government telling them what to do. They wanted to limit how much power the federal government had over them. This idea was one of the causes of the Civil War because the North and South disagreed on how much power the states should have.

Front

The Tariff of Abominations was a tax passed by Congress in 1828 that favored _______ in the North but hurt the farmers in the South.

Back

manufacturing

Answer explanation

The Tariff of Abominations was a tax passed by Congress in 1828 that favored manufacturing in the North but hurt the farmers in the South. This means that Northern factory owners benefited because their products were cheaper than imported goods, while Southern farmers had to pay more for things they needed from Europe. The North liked the tariff because it helped their industries, but the South hated it because it hurt their economy. This disagreement increased tensions between the North and South before the Civil War.

Front

What does it mean for a state to nullify a federal law?

Back

To cancel it

Front

During the Nullification Crisis, which state threatened to ______ the Union over the tariff?

Back

secede

Answer explanation

During the Nullification Crisis, South Carolina threatened to secede (leave) the Union over the tariff. South Carolina believed the Tariff of Abominations was unfair and hurt their economy, so they declared it illegal and said they had the right to nullify (cancel) federal laws they didn’t agree with. This created a big conflict between South Carolina and the federal government, almost leading to war.

Front

What was the main purpose of the Missouri Compromise of 1819?

Back

To keep slave states and free states equal

Answer explanation

The main purpose of the Missouri Compromise of 1819 was to keep slave states and free states balanced and equal. The compromise allowed Missouri to enter as a slave state and Maine to enter as a free state, keeping the balance between the North and South.

It also created a rule that slavery would not be allowed north of the 36°30′ line in future states. This helped keep peace for a while, but later disagreements over slavery led to more conflict.

Front

What was one of the main agreements in the Compromise of 1850?

Back

Agreement over slavery

Answer explanation

One of the main agreements in the Compromise of 1850 was an agreement over slavery. As part of the compromise, California joined the Union as a free state, which made the North happy. In exchange, the South got the Fugitive Slave Act, which forced escaped enslaved people to be returned to the South even if they had made it to a free state. This compromise was meant to keep peace between the North and South, but it caused more tension over slavery.

Front

California joined the Union as a ______.

Back

free state

Answer explanation

California joined the Union as a free state. As part of the Compromise of 1850, California was allowed to enter without slavery, which made the North happy. In return, the South got the Fugitive Slave Act, which required escaped enslaved people to be returned to the South, even if they had made it to a free state. This compromise was meant to keep peace, but it increased tensions over slavery.

Front

The Kansas-Nebraska Act allowed settlers to decide if they wanted ______ or not.

Back

slavery

Answer explanation

The Kansas-Nebraska Act allowed settlers to decide if they wanted slavery or not. This was called popular sovereignty, which meant the people in each territory could vote on whether to allow slavery.

This law repealed (canceled) the Missouri Compromise, which had banned slavery in these areas before. It led to violent conflicts in Kansas, known as "Bleeding Kansas," as people fought over whether the state should allow slavery.

Front

What was the main reason Dred Scott sued for his freedom?

Back

His owner had taken him to live in places where slavery was illegal

Answer explanation

The main reason Dred Scott sued for his freedom was that his owner had taken him to live in places where slavery was illegal before returning to Missouri. Scott argued that since he had lived in free territories, he should be considered a free man. However, the Supreme Court ruled against him, saying that he was not a citizen and that enslaved people were property, so he could not sue in court.

Front

The Supreme Court ruled that Dred Scott was not a ______ and could therefore not sue in the U.S. courts.

Back

citizen

Answer explanation

The Supreme Court ruled that Dred Scott was not a citizen and could therefore not sue in the U.S. courts. The Court decided that enslaved people and even freed slaves were not citizens, so they had no legal rights to bring a case to court. This decision also stated that slaves were property, and banning slavery in certain territories would violate slave owners' property rights.