Antebellum Age

Why did sectionalism increase during the Antebellum Period?

• There was strong agreement on slavery

• The North and South had major economic, cultural, and political differences

• Both regions wanted to abolish slavery

• The federal government enforced uniform laws nationwide

How did the Missouri Compromise try to maintain a balance of power?

• By ending slavery in the South

• By banning slavery in all new territories

• By admitting one free state and one slave state

• By granting citizenship to enslaved people

What made the Fugitive Slave Act controversial in the North?

• It allowed slavery to expand into Canada

• It banned voting rights for African Americans

• It forced Northerners to help capture runaway slaves

• It encouraged Native American removal

Why did the Kansas-Nebraska Act lead to violence?

• People disagreed over taxation

• It gave Native Americans voting rights

• It allowed settlers to decide on slavery, leading to conflict

• It freed all enslaved people in the territories

What was the impact of the Dred Scott decision on national tensions?

• It eased tensions by allowing free states to remain free

• It ruled slavery unconstitutional

• It angered Northerners by stating African Americans weren’t citizens

• It abolished the Fugitive Slave Act

How did the Compromise of 1850 attempt to ease sectional conflict?

• By expanding slavery into the North

• By banning slavery in the West

• By balancing concessions to both free and slave states

• By dividing California into two states

Why was “Bleeding Kansas” a sign of deeper national problems?

• It showed the success of the abolition movement

• It demonstrated that debates over slavery could turn violent

• It was a minor border skirmish

• It was unrelated to slavery

How did Nat Turner’s rebellion influence Southern states?

• They ended slavery

• They loosened laws on enslaved people

• They strengthened slave codes and increased fear

• They joined the North in outlawing slavery

What was one consequence of the growing abolitionist movement in the North?

• More Southern states freed enslaved people

• It reduced tension between regions

• It led to Southern backlash and defensive pro-slavery arguments

• It unified all states against slavery

Why did Southerners support the idea of popular sovereignty in new territories?

• It guaranteed free labor

• It allowed Congress to decide on slavery

• It gave local voters power to allow slavery

• It ended disputes over land