Question 1

Why was sculptor Thomas Crawford's original "Freedom" sculpture on the left, which was intended for the top of the United States Capitol building, rejected by Secretary of War Jefferson Davis?

Accepted Answer

The original design featured a cap known as a "liberty cap," which was associated with freed slaves in ancient Rome. Jefferson Davis objected to this symbol because it was seen as a symbol of emancipation, which conflicted with his pro-slavery stance.

Question 2

What was one outcome of the Kansas-Nebraska Act?

Accepted Answer

The Kansas-Nebraska Act led to a violent conflict known as "Bleeding Kansas," where proslavery and antislavery forces clashed, highlighting the deep divisions in the country over the issue of slavery.

Question 3

-This woodcut represents what proslavery view?

Accepted Answer

The proslavery argument often claimed that slave labor was more humane than Northern wage labor, suggesting that slaves were better cared for than Northern workers.

Question 4

The creation of interchangeable parts benefited American industry by making it possible to

Accepted Answer

The answer of The creation of interchangeable parts benefited American...

Question 5

-What does the political cartoon Immigrants as a Threat to Democracy indicate about nativist views toward Irish and German immigrants in the 1850s?

Accepted Answer

The cartoon suggests that nativists viewed Irish and German immigrants as a threat to the well-being of the republic, often depicting them as prone to alcohol abuse and as gaining undue political influence, which could undermine democratic values and institutions.

Question 6

-These political cartoons depicting attacks on Senator Thomas Hart Benton of Missouri (top) and Senator Charles Sumner of Massachusetts (bottom) by Southern politicians indicate that events in Congress in the 1850s provide evidence of the .

Accepted Answer

The cartoons reflect the intense emotions and disagreements surrounding the issue of slavery during the 1850s, illustrating how deeply divisive and contentious the topic was, making compromise challenging.

Question 7

-This 1862 advertisement for Colt's Patent Fire Arms Manufactury suggests that manufacturing was .

Accepted Answer

The advertisement likely portrays manufacturing as powerful but not threatening to appeal to potential customers and investors by emphasizing the strength and reliability of the products without suggesting any negative consequences.

Question 8

Why did poor white Southerners support a slave society in which they had so little power?

Accepted Answer

Poor white Southerners supported a slave society partly because they believed in the racial superiority of whites over African Americans. This belief in racial hierarchy helped justify the system of slavery and their own place within the societal structure, even if they did not own slaves themselves.

Question 9

-What message does the cartoon Popery Undermining Free Schools, and Other American Institutions, 1855, send to viewers?

Accepted Answer

The cartoon "Popery Undermining Free Schools, and Other American Institutions, 1855" suggests that Catholics, under the direction of the Pope, aimed to undermine and control the American government and its institutions by first taking control of the public education system. This reflects the anti-Catholic sentiment prevalent in the United States during the mid-19th century, where Catholics were often viewed with suspicion and their loyalty to the American state questioned.

Question 10

What political party emerged for the first time after the 1854 congressional elections and had an overriding commitment to oppose future concessions to Southern slave interests?

Accepted Answer

The Republican Party emerged after the 1854 congressional elections with a primary focus on opposing any further concessions to Southern slave interests, marking its entry into the political landscape of the United States.

Question 11

-Both the illustration criticizing the Fugitive Slave Act and the image of Dred Scott portray the fugitives as .

Accepted Answer

Both the illustration criticizing the Fugitive Slave Act and the image of Dred Scott portray the fugitives in a dignified manner, aiming to evoke empathy and support for their cause by presenting them as respectable individuals deserving of rights and freedom.

Question 12

In the Lincoln-Douglas debates, Abraham Lincoln asserted that blacks .

Accepted Answer

Lincoln argued that blacks were entitled to rights enumerated in the Declaration of Independence, such as life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, though he did not advocate for full social or legal equality with whites at the time of the debates.

Question 13

-What do the map and chart addressing the importance of cotton imply about the political relationship between the North and the South in the 1850s?

Accepted Answer

The map and chart likely show the significant economic value of cotton produced in the South and its importance to the economy, suggesting that Southerners felt confident in their economic viability independent of the North, particularly if disputes over slavery led to secession. This reflects the belief in the South's ability to stand alone due to its cotton production.

Question 14

George Fitzhugh was best known as being a _ .

Accepted Answer

George Fitzhugh was best known for his strong defense of slavery, arguing that it was a beneficial system that provided security and care for the enslaved, in stark contrast to the conditions of workers in the North.

Question 15

-How did many Northern abolitionists respond to the 1856 political cartoon Liberty, the Fair Maid of Kansas-in the Hands of the "Border Ruffians," which depicts Democratic politicians Senator Lewis Cass, President Franklin Pierce, and Senator Stephen Douglas as the violators of liberty in that territory?

Accepted Answer

The political cartoon highlighted the violent struggle over slavery in Kansas, galvanizing Northern abolitionists to support antislavery forces in Kansas financially and materially, often by sending money or guns.

Question 16

In the controversial Dred Scott decision, the Supreme Court declared that .

Accepted Answer

The Dred Scott decision, made by the U.S. Supreme Court in 1857, declared that neither enslaved nor free African Americans could become citizens of the United States. This ruling effectively denied African Americans any claim to citizenship and the rights associated with it.

Question 17

-What conclusion about the presidential election of 1856 can be made by interpreting this graph?

Accepted Answer

James Buchanan, a Democrat, won the 1856 presidential election largely by securing support from the South, despite being from the North. The Republican Party, newly formed and opposing the expansion of slavery, garnered significant support in the North but had little presence in the South. The American Party, or Know Nothings, did not demonstrate strength across all regions uniformly.

Question 18

-What does the architecture and design of the 1853 Crystal Palace at New York City's "Exhibition of the Industry of the World" reveal about American progress?

Accepted Answer

The Crystal Palace, constructed for the 1853 Exhibition of the Industry of the World in New York City, was a showcase of modern architectural and construction techniques of the time, particularly the use of cast iron and glass. This reflected the progress and innovation in American architecture, emphasizing the country's industrial and technological advancements.

Question 19

Members of the American Party were also known as .

Accepted Answer

Members of the American Party were known as "Know-Nothings" because when asked about their secretive party activities, they were supposed to say they knew nothing.

Question 20

Who were the "border ruffians"?

Accepted Answer

The "border ruffians" were proslavery activists from Missouri who crossed into Kansas to vote illegally for a proslavery government, significantly influencing the political landscape in favor of slavery during the period leading up to the American Civil War.

Quiz 12: Slavery and Sectionalism: the Political Crisis of 1848-1861