1.
The author of Uncle Tom’s Cabin.
Correct Answer
C. Harriet Beecher Stowe
Explanation
Harriet Beecher Stowe is the correct answer because she is the author of Uncle Tom's Cabin. This novel, published in 1852, had a significant impact on the abolitionist movement and is considered a key factor in raising awareness about the horrors of slavery. Stowe's powerful portrayal of the characters and their experiences helped to humanize enslaved individuals and contributed to the growing anti-slavery sentiment in the United States. Her work is still widely studied and recognized for its historical and cultural significance.
2.
An informal network of abolitionists that helped fugitive slaves.
Correct Answer
A. Underground Railroad
Explanation
The Underground Railroad was an informal network of abolitionists that helped fugitive slaves escape to freedom. It consisted of a series of safe houses and secret routes that slaves could travel along, guided by conductors who were sympathetic to their cause. The network operated in the United States during the 19th century, particularly in the years leading up to the American Civil War. The Underground Railroad played a crucial role in assisting thousands of slaves in their journey to freedom, often risking their own lives in the process.
3.
A New York abolitionist who massacred five pro-slavery settlers in Kansas.
Correct Answer
A. John Brown
Explanation
John Brown is the correct answer because he was a New York abolitionist who committed a violent act known as the Pottawatomie massacre in Kansas. He and his followers killed five pro-slavery settlers in an effort to fight against slavery. Brown's actions were seen as extreme by some, but he became a prominent figure in the abolitionist movement and is often remembered for his radical stance against slavery.
4.
The state statutes that nullified the Fugitive Slave Act.
Correct Answer
A. Personal Liberties Laws
Explanation
Personal Liberties Laws were state statutes that were enacted in response to the Fugitive Slave Act. These laws aimed to protect the personal liberties of individuals, including escaped slaves, by providing them with legal rights and protections. By nullifying the Fugitive Slave Act, these laws allowed escaped slaves to find refuge in states where they were enacted, effectively undermining the federal law and the institution of slavery.
5.
A Maryland born slave was known as “Black Moses”.
Correct Answer
A. Harriet Tubman
Explanation
Harriet Tubman, a Maryland born slave, was known as "Black Moses" due to her role as a conductor on the Underground Railroad. She led numerous slaves to freedom, earning her the nickname for her bravery and leadership. Tubman's efforts to fight against slavery and help others escape made her a prominent figure in the abolitionist movement.
6.
The characterization of violent outbreaks in 1856 that occurred in and around Lawrence, Kansas.
Correct Answer
A. Bleeding Kansas
Explanation
The correct answer is Bleeding Kansas. This term refers to the violent outbreaks that took place in and around Lawrence, Kansas in 1856. These outbreaks were a result of the ongoing conflict between pro-slavery and anti-slavery forces in the region. The term "Bleeding Kansas" is used to describe the state of violence and bloodshed that occurred during this time, which ultimately contributed to the tensions leading up to the Civil War. The other options mentioned, such as the Civil War, Battle of the Fugitive Slaves, and Pottawatomie Creek Massacre, are all related to the broader context of the events in Bleeding Kansas.
7.
A group whose main goal was to keep slavery out of the western territories.
Correct Answer
A. Free Soil Party
Explanation
The Free Soil Party was a group that aimed to prevent the expansion of slavery into the western territories. They believed that allowing slavery in these territories would harm the economic interests of white laborers. The party gained support from those who opposed the spread of slavery but did not necessarily advocate for its abolition. They argued for "free soil, free labor, and free men," meaning they wanted the territories to be free from slavery so that white laborers could have better economic opportunities. The Free Soil Party was active in the mid-19th century and eventually merged with the Republican Party.
8.
A proposed law that prohibited slavery in any lands won from Mexico.
Correct Answer
A. Wilmot Proviso
Explanation
The Wilmot Proviso was a proposed law that aimed to prohibit slavery in any lands that were acquired from Mexico as a result of the Mexican-American War. It was introduced by David Wilmot, a Democratic Congressman, in 1846. The Proviso was significant because it highlighted the growing tensions between the North and South over the issue of slavery expansion. While the Wilmot Proviso was not ultimately passed into law, it represented a major step towards the eventual abolition of slavery in the United States.
9.
Legislation based on Henry Clay’s proposal for concessions by both the North and the South.
Correct Answer
A. Compromise of 1850
Explanation
The Compromise of 1850 was a legislation that aimed to resolve the ongoing tensions between the North and the South regarding the issue of slavery. It proposed a series of concessions by both sides, including the admission of California as a free state, the enforcement of a stricter fugitive slave law, the organization of the Utah and New Mexico territories with no mention of slavery, and the abolition of the slave trade in Washington D.C. This compromise was an attempt to maintain the delicate balance between the free and slave states and postpone the outbreak of the Civil War.
10.
A law that required the return of runaway slaves to their masters.
Correct Answer
A. Fugitive Slave Act
Explanation
The Fugitive Slave Act was a law that mandated the return of escaped slaves to their owners. This law was a part of the Compromise of 1850 and was enacted to appease Southern slaveholders. It required citizens to assist in the capture and return of fugitive slaves, and imposed penalties on those who aided or harbored escaped slaves. The Fugitive Slave Act was highly controversial and intensified the tensions between the North and the South over the issue of slavery, ultimately contributing to the outbreak of the American Civil War.
11.
A policy that stated voters in a territory should decide whether to allow slavery there.
Correct Answer
A. Popular Sovereignty
Explanation
Popular sovereignty is the correct answer because it refers to the principle that the power and authority of the government comes from the consent of the people. In the context of this question, it means that the voters in a territory should have the right to decide whether to allow slavery in their territory or not. This principle was a key component of the political debates and compromises surrounding the issue of slavery in the United States during the mid-19th century.
12.
_______________ is known for visiting several homesteads along the Pottawatomie Creek and hacking to pieces pro slavery settlers.
Correct Answer
A. John Brown
Explanation
John Brown is known for visiting several homesteads along the Pottawatomie Creek and hacking to pieces pro-slavery settlers. This suggests that John Brown was a violent abolitionist who took extreme measures to fight against slavery. His actions were seen as radical and controversial, as he believed in using violence to achieve his goals. This sets him apart from the other options, who were not known for engaging in such violent acts.
13.
Why was Uncle Tom’s Cabin written?
Correct Answer
A. To generate concern and compassion for slaves.
Explanation
Uncle Tom's Cabin was written to generate concern and compassion for slaves. The novel, written by Harriet Beecher Stowe, aimed to expose the harsh realities of slavery and evoke empathy from readers. Stowe wanted to humanize slaves and shed light on their suffering, hoping to inspire people to take action against the institution of slavery. The book played a significant role in shaping public opinion and fueling the abolitionist movement in the United States.
14.
The Dred Scott decision stated that slaves in free territories.
Correct Answer
A. Were the property of their owners
Explanation
The Dred Scott decision stated that slaves in free territories were the property of their owners. This decision, made by the Supreme Court in 1857, declared that slaves were not considered citizens and therefore had no rights under the Constitution. The court ruled that slave owners had the right to take their slaves into any territory, regardless of whether it was a free or slave state. This decision further entrenched the institution of slavery and was a major factor leading to the American Civil War.
15.
Why did South Carolina secede from the Union?
Correct Answer
A. They believed that with the election of Lincoln, the federal government was hostile to slavery
Explanation
The correct answer is that South Carolina seceded from the Union because they believed that with the election of Lincoln, the federal government was hostile to slavery. This belief was based on Lincoln's stance against the expansion of slavery into new territories, which South Carolina saw as a threat to their economic and social system. They feared that Lincoln's presidency would lead to the eventual abolition of slavery, prompting them to secede in order to protect their interests.