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Attempts to maintain the Union, c1845–1854
the origins of the American Civil War, c1845–1861: Attempts to maintain the Union, c1845–1854
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10
Flashcards
10
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88 min
Study time
AqaA LevelHistory2J America: A Nation Divided, c1845–1877
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4 objective pages available
Attempts to maintain the Union, c1845–18544 objectives
- Westward expansion and its impact on North and South: the ideas of Manifest Destiny; controversy over the new territories acquired by victory over Mexico.
- Attempts at political compromise: the Wilmot Proviso; the role of personalities such as Zachary Taylor, Stephen Douglas and Henry Clay; the Compromise of 1850; Texas and California; the Fugitive Slave Law.
- The growth of abolitionist sentiment in the North: political leaders such as William Seward; activists such as John Brown; popular literature and the press; the cultural and economic influence of European immigrants arriving in the northern states.
- Reactions against abolitionism in the South; political leaders such as Jefferson Davis; popular literature and the press.
Key terms
Fugitive Slave ActGold RushPopular SovereigntySectionalismAbolitionismRadical AbolitionismPro-slavery literature
Exam tips
- Use Specific Examples: When discussing the impact of westward expansion, always include specific events or legislation, such as the Compromise of 1850 or the Kansas-Nebraska Act.
- Use specific examples: When discussing compromises, always include specific provisions and their impacts.
Common mistakes
- Confusing Manifest Destiny with Imperialism: Clarify that Manifest Destiny was rooted in a belief of American exceptionalism and a divine right to expand, while imperialism typically involves domination over foreign territories.
- Overgeneralizing the Compromise of 1850: Acknowledge that while it temporarily eased tensions, it ultimately failed to resolve the underlying conflicts over slavery.
Practice preview
- What was the primary ideology driving westward expansion in the United States during the mid-19th century?
- Explain how the acquisition of new territories after the Mexican-American War contributed to tensions between the North and South.
- Using the data from the 1850 Census, evaluate the impact of westward expansion on the population distribution in the United States.
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