Question 1: When did the Civil War officially begin?

Answer: April 12, 1861

Question 2: Which event is often considered the immediate cause of the Civil War?

Answer: The attack on Fort Sumter

Question 3: Name one key figure associated with the abolitionist movement.

Answer: Frederick Douglass

Question 4: What was the main purpose of the Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854?

Answer: To allow territories to decide on slavery through popular sovereignty

Question 5: Which Supreme Court decision declared that African Americans could not be citizens?

Answer: Dred Scott decision

Question 1: Source: 'The Southern economy depended heavily on slavery, which was justified as a 'positive good' by many pro-slavery advocates.' What was the purpose of this source?

Answer: To justify slavery as beneficial for the Southern economy and society.

Question 2: Who was the intended audience for this source?

Answer: Pro-slavery advocates and Southern citizens.

Question 3: How reliable is this source in understanding pro-slavery attitudes?

Answer: It reflects pro-slavery perspectives, but may be biased; it highlights Southern economic dependence on slavery.

Question 1: Explain why the issue of states' rights was a significant cause of the Civil War.

Answer: States' rights were invoked to justify secession and oppose federal interference, especially over slavery. Southern states believed they had the right to govern themselves and resist federal laws they deemed unconstitutional, leading to increased tensions and conflict.

Question 2: Describe how the debate over the expansion of slavery into new territories contributed to sectional tensions.

Answer: Disputes over whether new territories would permit slavery heightened sectional tensions. Compromises like the Missouri Compromise tried to maintain balance, but disagreements over 'popular sovereignty' and the future of slavery increased animosity between North and South.

Question 3: Explain the significance of the Election of 1860 in causing the Civil War.

Answer: Abraham Lincoln's election, without any support from Southern states, signaled the shift in power and the threat to slavery. Southern states viewed his victory as a catalyst for secession, leading directly to the outbreak of war.

Question 1: To what extent was sectionalism the main cause of the Civil War?

Answer: A balanced answer should consider how sectional differences over slavery, economic interests, and political conflicts contributed to the war. While sectionalism played a significant role, other causes like states' rights and political failures also influenced the outbreak. A nuanced argument acknowledges the complexity of causes leading to the Civil War.

Question 2: Evaluate the importance of the Compromise of 1850 in delaying the Civil War.

Answer: The Compromise of 1850 temporarily eased tensions by admitting California as a free state and enacting the Fugitive Slave Act, but it also exposed deeper divisions. While it postponed conflict, it failed to resolve sectional differences, making war more likely in the long term.