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Causes of the Civil War

Total questions: 17

Worksheet time: 17mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

Why would abolitionists in Boston warn "colored people" to stay away from police and other law enforcement agents?

a)

the civil war started

b)

the Fugitive Slave Act was passed

c)

the 13th Amendment was enacted

d)

the Emancipation Proclamation was passed

2.

How much time passed between the first and last states seceding from the Union according to the map?

a)

six months

b)

eleven months

c)

eight months

d)

two months

3.

Why did Northern Democrats split from the political party to create the Republican Party?

a)

They believed slavery was necessary for the economy

b)

They believed that the territories should decide of they were going to be free or slave states

c)

They supported the Fugitive Slave Act while most Democrats did not

d)

They did not support the spread of slavery into the new territories

4.

Select the statement that BEST describes the economic systems in the North and the South before the Civil War.

a)

the North relied on transportation while the South relied on imported goods

b)

The South relied on slave labor for manufacturing while the North relied on agriculture

c)

The North relied on manufacturing while the South relied on slave labor for agriculture

d)

The South relied on agriculture while the North relied on slave labor

5.

Select the statement that BEST describes the primary cause of the Civil War.

a)

The states had different views about the role of America in the West

b)

Western territories were being taxed without representation in Congress

c)

There was a rivalry between the North and the South over state rights and slavery

d)

The states had different alliances with European countries

6.

What did Lincoln mean when he stated "I do expect it will cease to be divided" in his House Divided Speech?

a)

When new states are not added to the country anymore then there would be no more fights about making decisions

b)

Two governments would have to be created so that they would not have to argue about slavery

c)

The country will need to agree to disagree in order to get along

d)

Slavery will either need to be allowed in every state in the country or no state at all

7.

Which event officially started the Civil War?

a)

the attack on Fort Sumter

b)

the burning of Lawrence, Kansas

c)

the election of Abraham Lincoln

d)

the raid on Harpers Ferry

8.

What reason was John Brown's raid on Harpers Ferry important?

a)

A compromise was reached between the North and South

b)

Run away slaves were returned to their owners

c)

Abolitionists demonstrated that they were willing to use violence

d)

Many slaves earned their freedom by revolting

9.

Which statement BEST describes the ruling in Dred Scott v. Sanford?

a)

Dred Scott was freed from being a slave and won the case.

b)

The Constitution protected the right to own slaves and Dred Scott lost the case

c)

Even though the judge condemned slavery, Dred Scott still lost the case

d)

Even though Dred Scott won his case, he was not set free because slaves were not considered citizens.

10.

Read the quote below from the Lincoln-Douglas Debate

"But in the right to eat the bread...which his own hand earns, [an African American] is my equal and the equal of [Senator] Douglas, and the equal of every other man."

-Abraham Lincoln, August 21, 1858

Which statement BEST reflects the opinion of Lincoln from the quote?

a)

All states and territories should make slavery legal

b)

Slavery should be decided by each state themselves (instead of the country deciding)

c)

Certain rights and freedoms are guaranteed to all men

d)

The same rights that white men have should be given to African Americans

11.

Which statement BEST describes the purpose of the Kansas-Nebraska Act?

a)

Allowed deals to be made with fugitive slaves in the Kansas-Nebraska Territory

b)

It allowed the citizens of a state would be a free state or a slave state.

c)

Kansas became a free state and Nebraska became a slave state

d)

Border ruffians were able to vote in Kansas elections to promote slavery.

12.

Based on the map, what would have been the motivation for Florida to secede from the union?

a)

textile industries

b)

cotton plantations

c)

sugar plantations

d)

coal industries

13.

Which statement BEST describes the result of the passage of the Kansas-Nebraska Act?

a)

Ruffians were able to cast enough votes to prevent Kansas from becoming a slave territory

b)

Abolitionists tried to steal weapons so they could attack border ruffians

c)

Northerners were able to vote against Kansas becoming a state

d)

Violence between ruffians and abolitionists that became known as Bleeding Kansas

14.

How did the South benefit from the Compromise of 1850?

a)

A new law required returning escaped slaves was included

b)

California was added as a slave state

c)

An end of slave trade om Washington D.C. was enacted

d)

New teaxes were created for the construction of railroads

15.

Below is an excerpt from a journal article:

"...the Confederate authorities ordered the attack it is generally held that they were directly responsible for the horrors of the ensuing four years."

-Charles Ramsdell

Which event is BEST described in the quote above?

a)

The actions taken by the South at Fort Sumter

b)

John Brown's raid on Harpers Ferry

c)

The end of the Bleeding Kansas riots

d)

Confederate defeat in Charleston harbor

16.

Which of the following statements BEST describes Florida's role in the Civil War?

a)

Florida refused to secede and fought with the North against the South

b)

Florida seceded from the Union, bit did not fight in the war with either side

c)

Florida was neutral during the entire war

d)

Florida withdrew from the Union and fought in the war with the South

17.

Below is a quote by Frederick Douglas on the Underground Railroad

"...no man can tell the intense agony which is felt by the slave when wavering on the point of making his escape... The life which has, may be lost, and the liberty which he seeks, may not be gained."

Which conclusion BEST reflects the quote above?

a)

Slaves encountered many risks on the pursuit to freedom

b)

Slaves preferred the lifestyle in which they lived.

c)

Slaves encountered minimal risks on the pursuit of freedom

d)

Slaves preferred not to take the risk of being captured