1850s American Political Landscape

The video explores the failure of compromise in 1850s America, focusing on the growing sectionalism and divide over slavery. It contrasts the industrialized North with the agrarian South, highlighting their differing economies and societies. The election of 1852 is discussed, noting the political changes and the decline of the Whig Party. The Kansas-Nebraska Act is introduced, explaining its origins and the controversial use of popular sovereignty to decide the fate of slavery in new territories.

What was the primary issue that caused sectionalism in America during the 1850s?

• Industrialization

• Immigration

• Slavery

• Economic policies

How did the North view slavery by the 1850s?

• As a necessary economic institution

• As a moral issue that needed to be abolished

• As a political issue to be debated

• As a regional tradition

What characterized the economy of the South during the 1850s?

• A slave-based agricultural economy

• A focus on free wage labor

• A diverse immigrant population

• Industrialization and urbanization

What was a significant change in the Whig Party during the 1850s?

• A shift towards industrial policies

• An increase in support from Southern states

• The death of key leaders and a lack of firm stance on slavery

• The rise of new leaders like Henry Clay

Who won the presidential election of 1852?

• Franklin Pierce

• Millard Fillmore

• Zachary Taylor

• Winfield Scott

What was the outcome for the Whig Party after the 1852 election?

• It became the dominant party in the North

• It dissolved due to internal divisions over slavery

• It merged with the Democratic Party

• It gained more support in the South

What was the Kansas-Nebraska Act primarily concerned with?

• Creating a new political party

• Building a transcontinental railroad

• Allowing territories to decide on slavery through popular sovereignty

• Establishing new states in the West

Who was the key figure behind the Kansas-Nebraska Act?

• Stephen Douglas

• Franklin Pierce

• Henry Clay

• Daniel Webster

What was a major consequence of the Kansas-Nebraska Act?

• It resulted in the immediate abolition of slavery

• It resolved the issue of slavery peacefully

• It led to increased tensions and violence in the territories

• It strengthened the Whig Party

What did the Kansas-Nebraska Act repeal?

• The Missouri Compromise line

• The Compromise of 1850

• The Fugitive Slave Act

• The Dred Scott decision