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Mexican Cession

Total questions: 103

Worksheet time: 1hrs 4mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

What major issue did the acquisition of the Mexican Cession raise anew in the United States?

a)

The right to vote

b)

Extending slavery into the territories

c)

Women's suffrage

d)

Taxation without representation

2.

The debate over the issue of slavery in the Mexican Cession threatened to split which two political parties along sectional lines?

a)

Whigs and Democrats

b)

Republicans and Federalists

c)

Libertarians and Greens

d)

Socialists and Populists

3.

The acquisition of the Mexican Cession raised anew the burning issue of extending _______ into the territories.

a)

slavery

b)

democracy

c)

railroads

d)

statehood

4.

Who was the Democratic candidate in the Election of 1848?

a)

Martin Van Buren

b)

Lewis Cass

c)

Abraham Lincoln

d)

Henry Clay

5.

Define Popular Sovereignty as described in the context of the Election of 1848.

a)

The sovereign people of a territory, under the general principles of the Constitution, should determine the status of slavery in that territory.

b)

The federal government should decide the status of slavery in all territories.

c)

Only the President can determine the status of slavery in new territories.

d)

Slavery should be immediately abolished in all territories regardless of local opinion.

6.

Which party favored the Wilmot Proviso and was against slavery in the territories?

a)

Democrats

b)

Free Soil Party

c)

Whigs

d)

Republicans

7.

Who was the candidate for the Free Soil Party in the Election of 1848?

a)

Martin Van Buren

b)

Lewis Cass

c)

Zachary Taylor

d)

Millard Fillmore

8.

Who was the Whig candidate in the Election of 1848?

a)

Martin Van Buren

b)

Zachary Taylor

c)

Lewis Cass

d)

Millard Fillmore

9.

Zachary Taylor was known as the "Hero of _________."

a)

Buena Vista

b)

Gettysburg

c)

Yorktown

d)

Antietam

10.

The Whigs avoided the slavery issue during the Election of 1848.

a)

True

b)

False

11.

What did the Whigs do to promote their candidate in the Election of 1848?

a)

Criticized the opposition

b)

Extolled the virtues of the candidate

c)

Focused on economic issues

d)

Supported the abolition of slavery

12.

Taylor's ________ won him the election. Fill in the blank.

a)

popularity

b)

speech

c)

defeat

d)

scandal

13.

According to the map of the 1848 U.S. presidential election, which party won the state of New York?

a)

Whig (Taylor)

b)

Democratic (Cass)

c)

Free Soil (Van Buren)

14.

How many electoral votes did the Whig (Taylor) party receive in the 1848 election?

a)

127

b)

163

c)

290

15.

The total popular vote in the 1848 U.S. presidential election was _________.

a)

2,871,906

b)

1,234,567

c)

3,500,000

d)

2,000,000

16.

Which party won the majority of the Southern states in the 1848 election?

a)

Whig (Taylor)

b)

Democratic (Cass)

c)

Free Soil (Van Buren)

17.

What percentage of the popular vote did the Free Soil (Van Buren) party receive in the 1848 election?

a)

10%

b)

42.5%

c)

47.5%

18.

The state of Texas had ______ electoral votes in the 1848 election.

a)

4

b)

6

c)

8

d)

10

19.

In what year was gold discovered in Sacramento Valley, leading to the California Gold Rush?

a)

1849

b)

1855

c)

1836

d)

1862

20.

What was the main reason tens of thousands of people flooded into California in 1849?

a)

The discovery of gold in Sacramento Valley.

b)

The construction of the transcontinental railroad.

c)

The promise of free land for settlers.

d)

The search for religious freedom.

21.

The constitution drafted in California in 1849 excluded slavery.

a)

True

b)

False

22.

California applied for statehood in 1849. Did it bypass the territorial stage?

a)

True

b)

False

23.

Why were Southerners upset by the addition of California as a free state?

a)

It would upset the sectional balance.

b)

It would increase taxes in the South.

c)

It would lead to the abolition of slavery everywhere.

d)

It would force Southerners to move to California.

24.

Look at the posters and photograph. What historical event are these images related to?

a)

The American Revolution

b)

The California Gold Rush

c)

The Civil War

d)

The Industrial Revolution

25.

According to the posters, what was a common reason people traveled to California in the mid-1800s?

a)

To escape war

b)

To find gold

c)

To visit family

d)

To become farmers

26.

The photograph shows people ______ for gold during the California Gold Rush.

a)

panning

b)

digging

c)

sifting

d)

melting

27.

Based on the advertisements, what was one method of transportation to California mentioned in the posters?

a)

Steam ship (or clipper ship)

b)

Horse-drawn carriage

c)

Hot air balloon

d)

Automobile

28.

Many people were willing to travel long distances to California in 1849 because:

a)

They wanted to escape from the law.

b)

They were searching for gold and new opportunities.

c)

They were forced to move by the government.

d)

They wanted to visit family.

29.

Refer to the map of California Gold Rush areas. Which color on the map represents 'The Mother Lode'?

a)

Yellow

b)

Orange

c)

Light Brown

d)

Blue

30.

Refer to the map of California Gold Rush areas. What do the blue diamonds on the map represent?

a)

Major Gold Rush Cities

b)

Gold Mining Rivers

c)

Native American Settlements

d)

Railroad Stations

31.

If a city is located halfway between 0 and 200 miles, how many miles from the starting point is it?

a)

100 miles

b)

50 miles

c)

150 miles

d)

200 miles

32.

Refer to the map of California Gold Rush areas. Which of the following cities is NOT marked as a major Gold Rush city on the map?

a)

Placerville

b)

Los Angeles

c)

Sonora

d)

Jamestown

33.

What was the Underground Railroad?

a)

A real train system

b)

A virtual 'freedom train' with 'stations' (antislavery homes and businesses), 'passengers' (runaway slaves), helped by 'conductors' (abolitionists) to free-soil North/Canada

c)

A subway system in the South

d)

A military operation

34.

Who was Harriet Tubman?

a)

A former slave

b)

A president

c)

A conductor of a real train

d)

An inventor

35.

How many trips did Harriet Tubman make to the South? Harriet Tubman made ___ trips to the South.

a)

19

b)

5

c)

12

d)

25

36.

How many runaway slaves did Harriet Tubman rescue?

a)

Over 100

b)

Over 200

c)

Over 300

d)

Over 400

37.

What was the reward for Harriet Tubman's capture?

a)

$10,000

b)

$20,000

c)

$30,000

d)

$40,000

38.

According to the information about Harriet Tubman, Southerners wanted a new, more restrictive fugitive slave law that required which authorities to aid slaveholders?

4 lines
39.

According to the information about Harriet Tubman, the argument for the new fugitive slave law rested on which of the following?

a)

The Declaration of Independence

b)

The Constitution and laws passed by Congress

c)

The Bill of Rights

d)

The Emancipation Proclamation

40.

What is the name of the Underground Railroad quilt symbol shown as a wrench-like pattern?

a)

Bear's Paw

b)

Monkey Wrench

c)

Bow Ties

d)

Log Cabin

41.

What is the name of the Underground Railroad quilt symbol that looks like a bear's paw?

a)

Bear's Paw

b)

Crossroads

c)

North Star

d)

Tumbling Boxes

42.

What is the name of the Underground Railroad quilt symbol that looks like intersecting roads?

a)

Log Cabin

b)

Crossroads

c)

Flying Geese

d)

Bow Ties

43.

What is the name of the Underground Railroad quilt symbol that looks like a small house?

a)

Log Cabin

b)

North Star

c)

Tumbling Boxes

d)

Bow Ties

44.

What is the name of the Underground Railroad quilt symbol that looks like bow ties?

a)

Bow Ties

b)

Flying Geese

c)

Bear's Paw

d)

Crossroads

45.

What is the name of the Underground Railroad quilt symbol that looks like a group of geese flying?

a)

Flying Geese

b)

North Star

c)

Tumbling Boxes

d)

Monkey Wrench

46.

What is the name of the Underground Railroad quilt symbol that looks like a star?

a)

North Star

b)

Log Cabin

c)

Crossroads

d)

Bow Ties

47.

According to the reward poster, how much money was offered for the return of the runaway boys?

a)

$300

b)

$100

c)

$500

d)

$50

48.

Who were the three runaway boys mentioned in the reward poster?

a)

Albert, Sam, and Bailey

b)

Tom, Jerry, and Max

c)

Luke, Mark, and John

d)

Eli, Noah, and Jack

49.

According to the historical marker, what did William Still do to help slaves?

a)

He was an Underground Railroad agent who helped slaves escape and kept records so relatives could find them later.

b)

He led a slave rebellion in the South.

c)

He wrote a famous novel about slavery.

d)

He was a politician who passed laws to end slavery.

50.

The images of hidden compartments and passageways suggest that the Underground Railroad was:

a)

a system that used secret methods to help enslaved people escape

b)

a network of actual trains and railways

c)

a government-sponsored transportation system

d)

a public and well-known route for travel

51.

According to the map, which color represents the free states and territories?

a)

Green

b)

Orange

c)

Purple

d)

Blue

52.

According to the map, which states and territories were open to slavery?

a)

Those colored green

b)

Those colored orange

c)

Those colored purple

d)

Those colored blue

53.

The map shows corridors of escape to free northern states/territories, British Canada, Mexico, Cuba, and the ________.

a)

Bahamas

b)

Azores

c)

Jamaica

d)

Bermuda

54.

Which of the following destinations is NOT shown as a corridor of escape on the map?

a)

British Canada

b)

Mexico

c)

France

d)

The Bahamas

55.

According to the map, which city is a starting point for an escape route to Mexico?

a)

San Antonio

b)

Boston

c)

New York

d)

St. Paul

56.

Who proposed a series of resolutions to resolve all issues during the Compromise of 1850?

a)

Henry Clay

b)

Daniel Webster

c)

John C. Calhoun

d)

Stephen A. Douglas

57.

Who made a plea to leave slavery alone, respect Southern rights, return runaways, and keep political balance during the Compromise of 1850?

a)

John C. Calhoun

b)

Daniel Webster

c)

Henry Clay

d)

Stephen A. Douglas

58.

Who believed that compromise was the only solution and helped swing the North to compromise during the Compromise of 1850?

a)

Daniel Webster

b)

John C. Calhoun

c)

Stephen A. Douglas

d)

Henry Clay

59.

Which group attempted to reach an agreement on the issues of California, the Texas border, and fugitive slaves during the Compromise of 1850?

a)

The old guard of Congress (Clay, Calhoun, Webster)

b)

The Supreme Court

c)

The President's Cabinet

d)

The House of Representatives

60.

Who was William Seward?

a)

Senator from Illinois

b)

Senator from New York

c)

President of the United States

d)

Governor of California

61.

William Seward was unequivocally against ______ and concession to the South.

a)

slavery

b)

industrialization

c)

immigration

d)

expansionism

62.

Who backed Clay in an attempt to compromise during the Compromise of 1850?

a)

William Seward

b)

Stephen Douglas

c)

Abraham Lincoln

d)

Henry Clay

63.
Question Image

Match the names to the correct portraits. (Refer to the images provided.)

a)

Henry Clay

1.

Top left

b)

John C. Calhoun

2.

Top center

c)

Daniel Webster

3.

Top right

d)

William H. Seward

4.

Bottom left

e)

Stephen A. Douglas

5.

Bottom right

64.

Who opposed the Compromise resolutions but suddenly died?

a)

Millard Fillmore

b)

President Taylor

c)

Abraham Lincoln

d)

Franklin Pierce

65.

Who became President and strongly favored the Compromise resolutions?

a)

Millard Fillmore

b)

President Taylor

c)

Abraham Lincoln

d)

Franklin Pierce

66.

Both Northern and Southern radicals were opposed to compromise, but ________ won out.

a)

moderates

b)

abolitionists

c)

secessionists

d)

radicals

67.

As part of the Compromise of 1850, __________ was admitted as a free state.

a)

California

b)

Texas

c)

Florida

d)

Kansas

68.

Which territory was to be surrendered to New Mexico Territory as part of the Compromise of 1850?

a)

California

b)

Texas

c)

Territory disputed by Texas and New Mexico

d)

District of Columbia

69.

True or False: The Compromise of 1850 abolished slavery in the District of Columbia.

a)

True

b)

False

70.

According to the Compromise of 1850 – Concessions to the South, what was to be formed from the remainder of the Mexican Cession area?

a)

New states with restrictions on slavery

b)

Territories of New Mexico and Utah without restrictions on slavery (popular sovereignty)

c)

Territories of California and Nevada

d)

Free states only

71.

According to the Compromise of 1850 – Concessions to the South, Texas received $____ million from the federal government as compensation for ceded territory.

a)

10

b)

5

c)

20

d)

15

72.

According to the Compromise of 1850, what law was enacted that was more stringent than that of 1793?

a)

Kansas-Nebraska Act

b)

Missouri Compromise

c)

Fugitive Slave law

d)

Emancipation Proclamation

73.

According to the map, which color represents the Free states and territories?

a)

Green

b)

Blue

c)

Orange

d)

Yellow

74.

Refer to the 'Map of United States following Compromise of 1850.' Which state was admitted as a Free state in 1850?

a)

California

b)

Texas

c)

Utah

d)

New Mexico

75.

Refer to the 'Map of United States following Compromise of 1850.' The territories of Utah and New Mexico were classified as ________ according to the Compromise of 1850.

a)

Territory Open to Slavery by Principle of Popular Sovereignty

b)

Free States

c)

Slave States by Federal Law

d)

Unorganized Territories

76.

Refer to the 'Map of United States following Compromise of 1850.' True or False: The green color on the map represents Slave states.

a)

True

b)

False

77.

Refer to the 'Map of United States following Compromise of 1850.' Which territory was unorganized in 1850?

a)

Oregon Territory

b)

Minnesota Territory

c)

Unorganized Territory

d)

Indian Territory

78.

According to the conclusions of the Compromise of 1850, who was the clear winner?

a)

North

b)

South

c)

Texas

d)

California

79.

According to the conclusions of the Compromise of 1850, California permanently tipped Senate balance in whose favor?

a)

South

b)

North

c)

Texas

d)

New Mexico

80.

According to the conclusions of the Compromise of 1850, the territories of Utah and New Mexico were likely to be ________ states.

a)

free

b)

slave

c)

border

d)

neutral

81.

According to the conclusions of the Compromise of 1850, the territory taken from Texas was likely to be ________ territory.

a)

free

b)

slave

c)

neutral

d)

disputed

82.

According to the conclusions of the Compromise of 1850, the slave trade was removed from the nation’s capital. Was this the first step to abolition of slavery in the capital?

a)

Yes

b)

No

83.

According to the conclusions of the Compromise of 1850, the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 infuriated the North and changed Northern attitudes about slavery and abolitionists.

a)

True

b)

False

84.

According to the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850, who only had to identify a person as a runaway to arrest them?

a)

slave-catcher

b)

police officer

c)

judge

d)

plantation owner

85.

According to the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850, did a runaway have the right to testify or a right to trial?

a)

No, runaway could not testify/no right to trial

b)

Yes, runaway had the right to testify and a right to trial

c)

Runaway could testify but had no right to trial

d)

Runaway had a right to trial but could not testify

86.

According to the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850, how much did Federal Commissioners receive if a fugitive was freed?

a)

$5

b)

$10

c)

$15

d)

$20

87.

According to the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850, how much did Federal Commissioners receive if a fugitive was not freed?

a)

$10

b)

$5

c)

$20

d)

$15

88.

According to the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850, what were the consequences for those aiding slaves?

a)

Heavy fines and jail

b)

Public recognition and reward

c)

No consequences at all

d)

Land grants from the government

e)

Automatic citizenship

89.

What was the reward offered for the return of Emily, a runaway enslaved woman, according to the poster dated August 4, 1853?

a)

50 dollars

b)

100 dollars

c)

200 dollars

d)

300 dollars

90.

According to the reward poster from Prince George's County, Maryland, what was the name used by the runaway enslaved man?

a)

Joe Bond

b)

Peter Lee

c)

Thomas Williams

d)

John Nash

91.

Fill in the blank: The public meeting at Faneuil Hall was held to secure justice for a man claimed as a slave by a (a)   kidnapper.

92.

What law is referenced in the illustration showing people capturing an individual outside a building?

a)

The Emancipation Proclamation

b)

The Fugitive Slave Act

c)

The Missouri Compromise

d)

The Kansas-Nebraska Act

93.

Based on the anti-slavery almanac excerpt, what happened to Peter John Lee on November 20, 1839?

a)

Peter John Lee, a free man, was enslaved by northern bands and taken from Westchester County, NY, away from his wife and children.

b)

Peter John Lee was elected as a local official in Westchester County, NY.

c)

Peter John Lee escaped from slavery and fled to Canada.

d)

Peter John Lee was reunited with his family after years of separation.

94.

What do the historical photographs in the bottom center of the collage depict?

4 lines
95.

Read the following poster: 'CAUTION!! COLORED PEOPLE OF BOSTON, ONE & ALL, You are hereby respectfully CAUTIONED and advised, to avoid conversing with the Watchmen and Police Officers of Boston. For since

a)

It is safe to converse with the Watchmen and Police Officers.

b)

It is dangerous to converse with the Watchmen and Police Officers.

c)

The Watchmen and Police Officers are friendly.

d)

Conversations with the Watchmen and Police Officers are encouraged.

96.

According to the notice, what rights does the Fugitive Slave Law deny?

a)

Trial by Jury, Habeas Corpus, and Appeal

b)

Right to Vote, Freedom of Speech, and Right to Bear Arms

c)

Right to Education, Right to Property, and Right to Privacy

d)

Freedom of Religion, Right to Assemble, and Right to Petition

97.

According to the Fugitive Slave Law notice, what are the punishments for those who help fugitive slaves?

4 lines
98.

What does this notice suggest about the status of the man mentioned?

4 lines
99.

The advertisements in the image offer services for catching runaway slaves using dogs.

a)

True

b)

False

100.

What was the price offered by J.W. Horton for catching runaway slaves?

4 lines
101.

Which event is often considered the starting point of the California Gold Rush?

a)

The founding of San Francisco

b)

The completion of the Transcontinental Railroad

c)

The signing of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo

d)

The discovery of gold at Sutter's Mill

102.

What was the main goal of the Free Soil Party during the mid-19th century?

a)

To support the annexation of Texas

b)

To advocate for women's suffrage

c)

To prevent the expansion of slavery into the western territories

d)

To promote the expansion of slavery

103.

Which of the following was a significant impact of the California Gold Rush on the U.S. economy?

a)

It led to a decrease in the national population

b)

It caused a significant increase in the U.S. money supply

c)

It resulted in the abolition of slavery

d)

It led to the decline of the railroad industry