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.

Explain the concept of popular sovereignty and its significance in the context of the Civil War.

What were the consequences of the Compromise of 1850 for the North and South?