Britannica Study Guide: The Crisis of the Union

The video explores the causes and events leading to the American Civil War, focusing on slavery as the main cause. It discusses the impact of westward expansion, Texas annexation, and the Mexican-American War on North-South tensions. The Wilmot Proviso and the Compromise of 1850 further divided the nation, leading to the collapse of the Whig Party and increased sectionalism. The election of Abraham Lincoln and the subsequent secession of Southern states culminated in the formation of the Confederate States of America.

What was the main cause of the Civil War according to the video?

• Slavery

• Political ideologies

• Territorial disputes

• Economic differences

What was the concern of Northerners regarding Texas joining the Union?

• It would cause economic instability

• It would lead to more free states

• It would increase the number of slave states

• It would lead to war with Mexico

What was the Wilmot Proviso intended to do?

• Prohibit slavery in territories gained from Mexico

• Support popular sovereignty

• Divide the Whig Party

• Allow slavery in new territories

What was a significant outcome of the Compromise of 1850?

• The Fugitive Slave Act was enacted

• The South abolished slavery

• California entered as a slave state

• The North gained more slave states

What event marked the beginning of the Confederate States of America?

• The election of Abraham Lincoln

• The signing of the Compromise of 1850

• The secession of the first Southern state

• The end of the Mexican-American War