Quiz on Sectionalism, Slavery, and Nationalism in the U.S.

Why did the South support slavery?

• To strengthen national identity

• For economic reasons tied to agriculture and cotton

• To encourage westward expansion

• To promote industrial growth

What is sectionalism?

• The idea that states can invalidate federal laws

• The belief in expanding territory across North America

• Loyalty to a specific region rather than the whole country

• Support for the entire nation over individual regions

What principle allowed people in a territory to decide if they wanted slavery?

• Popular sovereignty

• Manifest Destiny

• Nullification

• Secession

What is nullification?

• The belief in expanding territory across North America

• The idea that states can invalidate federal laws they disagree with

• The principle of popular sovereignty

• The act of secession from the Union

Which of the following were key differences between the North and the South prior to the Civil War?

• The North was more industrialized, urbanized, and nationalist than the South.

• The South mechanized its cash crop production to lower prices on cotton, indigo, rice, and tobacco.

• While slavery was legal in both the North and the South, the Southern economy depended on slavery whereas the North did not.

• The South was more urban, industrial, and nationalist than the North.

What did Southern states threaten to do over slavery issues?

• Support protective tariffs

• Secede from the Union

• Invest in infrastructure

• Expand westward

What was the impact of the Louisiana Purchase?

• It promoted sectionalism between the North and South

• It led to the Civil War

• It doubled the size of the U.S. and fueled nationalism

• It invalidated federal laws in new territories

Why did the North invest in infrastructure like railroads and canals?

• To connect regions and support industry

• To resist tariffs

• To promote sectionalism

• To support agriculture

How did nationalism impact infrastructure in the 1800s?

• It led to the construction of roads, bridges, canals, and railroads

• It reduced the need for transportation systems

• It discouraged settlement and commerce

• It promoted sectionalism between the North and South

What conclusion can best be supported by the information in the illustration?

• The North and the South had equal percentages of their population working for railroads
• The North had fewer manufacturing plants than the South
• Most of the nation's railroads ran through the South
• The North had a major advantage in industrial production when compared to the South