Chapter 1: Civil War

Which sequence of events correctly identifies a rise in tensions, bringing the nation closer toward armed conflict?

• John Brown’s raid  →  Compromise of 1850

• Compromise of 1850  → Dred Scott decision

• Kansas-Nebraska Act → Admission of California to statehood

• “Bleeding Kansas” → Admission of Maine and Missouri to statehood

Answer explanation

The Compromise of 1850 attempted to ease tensions over slavery, but the Dred Scott decision further inflamed conflicts by ruling that Congress could not prohibit slavery in the territories, escalating tensions toward armed conflict.

Which event led to the secession of Southern states in 1861?

• Passage of a higher protective tariff

• Issuance of the Emancipation Proclamation

• The election of Abraham Lincoln as President

• The shipment of Union supplied to Fort Sumter

Answer explanation

The election of Abraham Lincoln in 1860 was seen as a threat to slavery, prompting Southern states to secede from the Union in 1861. They feared his policies would undermine their way of life.

The political cartoon on the left represents the strategy the Union hoped to use to win the Civil War.

What did the plan hope to accomplish

• To suffocate the South by controlling the Mississippi River and the Southern Ports

• To attack and bring under control a few key Southern cities

• To disrupt Southern supply lines by controlling the railroad junctions in the South

• To sign treaties with Britain and France to prevent them from assisting the South

Answer explanation

The Union's strategy aimed to suffocate the South by controlling the Mississippi River and Southern ports, effectively cutting off supplies and trade, which was crucial for the Southern economy and war effort.

Why did the Union impose a naval blockade on the South during the Civil War?

• To promote domestic industries in the South

• To strangle the shipment of supplies to the Confederacy

• To motivate enslaved African Americans to migrate to the North

• To encourage Union sympathizers to persuade their states to rejoin the Union

Answer explanation

The Union imposed a naval blockade on the South to strangle the shipment of supplies to the Confederacy, aiming to weaken their resources and ability to sustain the war effort.

What was a significant impact of the Emancipation Proclamation?

• Enslaved African-Americans in Northern States were freed.

• Enslaved African-Americans in Confederate territory were freed, and the war became a moral contest over slavery.

• Enslaved Africans in the border states were immediately freed.

• African Americans were admitted into the Confederate army.

Answer explanation

The Emancipation Proclamation freed enslaved African-Americans in Confederate territory, transforming the Civil War into a moral battle against slavery, which galvanized support for abolition.

What were the major consequences of the Civil War?

• The end of slavery and a strengthening of the power of the federal government

• Recognition of the rights of states to leave the Union and to nullify federal laws

• An end to racial discrimination and establishment of social equality throughout the nation.

• The abolition of slavery in all Northern States and in all federal territories not of 36 degrees of 30’ N

Answer explanation

The Civil War led to the end of slavery through the 13th Amendment and increased federal authority, solidifying the government's power over states, which is reflected in the correct answer.

Which of the following contributed to the outbreak of the Civil War?

• Southerners feared that Northerners intended to abolish slavery

• Southern states wanted a free hand in suppressing local slave revolts

• The Dred Scott decision led Northern state officials to defy federal law

• Northerners opposed the shipment of Southern cotton to Great Britain

Answer explanation

Southerners feared that Northerners intended to abolish slavery, which heightened tensions and contributed significantly to the outbreak of the Civil War. This fear was a driving force behind Southern secession.

Which title best completes the diagram?

• Key Events of the Civil War

• Causes of the Civil War

• Individual Rights during the Civil War

• The Nullification Crisis

Answer explanation

The title 'Causes of the Civil War' best fits the diagram as it focuses on the underlying factors that led to the conflict, which is essential for understanding the Civil War's context.

What was the significance of the Battle of Gettysburg?

• It marked the end of the Civil War

• It was the first battle of the Civil War

• It was a turning point that favored the Union

• It led to the capture of the Confederate capital

Answer explanation

The Battle of Gettysburg was a crucial turning point in the Civil War, as it marked a significant defeat for the Confederacy and boosted Union morale, ultimately favoring the Union's chances of winning the war.

All of the following were advantages the Union had over the Confederacy EXCEPT

• Control of railroads and factories

• Fighting on their home territory

• Larger population for recruitment.

• Control of banks

Answer explanation

The Union did not fight on their home territory; that advantage belonged to the Confederacy. The Union's strengths included control of railroads, factories, banks, and a larger population for recruitment.