US History I Unit 4 Challenge 2

US History I Unit 4 Challenge 2 "I am Wallace Franklin: publisher, editor, reporter, and printer of The California Herald. Over the last years, I have done my best to inform the townspeople of political happenings in the East and South of our nation. I write this at the beginning of my memoir because our young nation is at a crossroads, and I feel it necessary to record events while I am still able. In today’s edition of the newspaper, I am including the image of a painting. As I study it, I think it may be representative of the beginnings of our current crisis." The painting portrays the West as an undeveloped wilderness with no other occupants. In this way, the painting reveals the element of manifest destiny that concludes (A) whites are destined to advance civilization. "I have taken to recording my thoughts each evening as I begin to write this chronicle of my life. "I am reminded of an earlier vision of the West. I recall Thomas Jefferson’s conviction that the future of the United States lay to the West and how he attempted to bring this about with his land ordinances and, of course, the Louisiana Purchase." That vision is being demonstrated in the idea of . ● the public domain ● federalism ● western expansion ● republicanism ● imperialism ● manifest destiny "As I continue to contemplate these past events and inscribe them in my journal, I would be remiss if I did not note the pivotal issue of slavery and its expansion into the West. I printed many articles about the controversies that were occurring in Washington, DC, at this time in our history. "I provided this information for my readers because of high interest and high stakes, as well. The country was quickly expanding to the West, and well-established practices, such as slavery, were being forced into the political arena. "To my mind, three events related to slavery and Western expansion contributed to the crisis that we see today." Place the events in the correct chronological order. 1. a. The United States formally annexed Texas. 2. c. James Marshall discovered gold in the American River in California. 3. b. A compromise was reached over California’s admission to the country as a free state. ● a. The United States formally annexed Texas. ● b. A compromise was reached over California’s admission to the country as a free state. ● c. James Marshall discovered gold in the American River in California. "After the war with Mexico and as the controversies about the spread of slavery continued, a new political party emerged: the Free-Soil Party. It put forth a candidate in the 1848 presidential election. Although that candidate did not win, the stage was then set for a new viewpoint about the direction the country should take. "I must make myself a note to further research the Free-Soil Party so that I may add to this section of my manuscript." Choose two true statements about the Free-Soil Party. ● Its members believed Southern slave owners had too much national political power. ● Its candidate for the 1848 presidential election was Martin Van Buren. ● It sought to protect free white laborers from unfair competition from immigrants. ● The party was made up of both Northern and Southern politicians. Its ideology was motivated by racial equality and humanitarian concerns. ● ● Its members demanded an immediate end to slavery in the South. "And then we came to the debates over the admission of our beloved California to the country. The same issues of slavery dominated our conversations and ultimately resulted in the Compromise of 1850, of which I wrote extensively at the time. "Here is an excerpt:" California was faced with a massive migration of people at this time as well. Gold had been discovered, and many miners feared the introduction of slave owners and their slaves to the region. If slaves worked for free, opportunities for individual prospectors dwindled. So there was much unrest in all parts of the country at this time, and many new terms entered our vocabulary. Because (A) the Fugitive Slave Act imposed heavy fines and prison sentences on anyone who refused to capture an escaped slave, many Northerners felt great resentment. “One of the worse elements of the Compromise of 1850, in my opinion, was the passage of the Fugitive Slave Act, which provided federal funds for slave catchers. Not only that, but the Act also imposed stiff fines and other consequences on anyone who attempted to help a slave escape or did not turn a slave over to authorities. I remember I traveled to New York City during this time and acquaintances told me of several incidents wherein free blacks were actually kidnapped and taken to the South as slaves. It was a horrific situation to imagine. The passage of this Act had many effects across the entire nation.” Choose "yes" if the statement is an effect of the Fugitive Slave Act. Choose "no" if it is not. = Correct Answer = Incorrect Answer yes no Some Northern states vowed to provide legal protection for any ● person arrested under the Act. "I find myself reliving these events as I write. Sectional divisions between the North and the South continued, and the next big battle took place in Kansas and Nebraska. These territories had adopted the principle of popular sovereignty, which meant the territories’ settlers would determine whether to adopt slavery. Generally speaking, chaos ensued." Match the name with the action associated with it in the 1850s. Roger Taney B John Brown A Charles Sumner D ● A. attacked and killed pro-slavery settlers ● B. determined that blacks were not American citizens ● C. beat a senator for insulting the South ● D. delivered a speech comparing slavery to prostitution "Two opposite factions had emerged based almost entirely on sectional divisions. One side pledged itself to preventing the expansion of slavery into the West, despite the perceived political dominance of the other side. Meanwhile, we had a physical attack on a Massachusetts Senator, and the Supreme Court handed down a momentous decision with far-reaching consequences. "I think of these things and I shudder a bit. This, we all watched happen in our country. None of us had witnessed such polarization before." Consider the political cartoon titled "Southern Chivalry: Argument versus Club’s [sic]." How did this incident contribute to the end of the second party system in America? ● The doctrine of popular sovereignty gained momentum across the country. ● Free-Soilers continued to move westward on behalf of racial equality, dividing the country. ● Support for the Kansas-Nebraska Act fell drastically in Congress. ● Both Southern and Northern Whigs moved to join the Democratic party. ● It widened political divisions and kept slavery at the forefront of American politics. "Just last year, we had another presidential election in which four individuals participated. In many ways, there appeared to be a competition between the two candidates in the North and the two candidates in the South. I posted editorials about each candidate in an effort to inform the voters, but I admit I displayed preference for one candidate above the others. "As a newspaperman I strive to be neutral, but as I write my memoir I can further explain my thinking on the candidates. "Meanwhile, the political debates still centered on slavery and Western expansion, which remained concerns for America." Match the 1860 presidential candidate with his position on slavery. Stephen Douglas B John Breckinridge D Abraham Lincoln C ● A. “I remain pro-union and will support the Constitution as written.” ● B. “I support the idea that individual states should decide their position on slavery.” ● C. “My moral views on slavery include preventing the expansion of slavery.” ● D. “My platform supports the protection of slavery in the West.” "After the 1860 election and before the new president was inaugurated, Southern states began to plan to move toward independence. Rather than accept the fact that they were now a minority, they determined to fight back against what they perceived to be a hostile government. In their eyes, their economic interests and way of life were threatened." All of the following statements are arguments in favor of Southern secession EXCEPT . ● “The Constitution derives its authority from the people, not from individual states.” ● “We insist on equality among white men and a continuance of the racial hierarchy we have established.” ● “The Constitution declared each state to be free, sovereign, and independent.” "So now we are on a precipice, and we do not know what the future will bring. Can we survive as two separate countries? Will we never achieve the honorable goal of living together as the United States? I find myself thinking about the viewpoints of our new president. I have faith in his wisdom, and I choose to believe our country will survive this crisis and continue to be a blessed nation. I will continue to record these observations as we await new developments, and I am hopeful my memoir will end on a positive note." All of the statements reflect Abraham Lincoln’s perspective on slavery and race prior to the Civil War, EXCEPT . Determine whether each statement about western expansion is True or False. = Correct Answer = Incorrect Answer True False The idea of "Manifest Destiny" applied to all Americans. ● Arguments about western expansion centered on the issue ● of choosing a unified national religion.