All Flashcards
Define popular sovereignty.
The principle that the authority of a state and its government are created and sustained by the consent of its people, through their elected representatives, who are the source of all political power.
What is sectionalism?
Loyalty to the interests of one's own region or section of the country, rather than to the nation as a whole.
Define abolitionist.
A person who advocated for the end of slavery.
What is the Freeport Doctrine?
Stephen Douglas's argument that a territory could exclude slavery by refusing to pass laws protecting it.
Define states' rights.
The belief that states have the right to govern themselves and that the federal government should not interfere in state affairs.
Define secession.
The act of withdrawing formally from membership of a federation or body, especially a political state.
What was the Confederacy?
The Confederate States of America, formed by the Southern states that seceded from the Union.
Define 'preserve the Union'.
To maintain the United States as one unified country, preventing it from splitting apart.
What is a 'federal slave code'?
A set of national laws that would protect and enforce slavery in all territories of the United States.
What was the Fugitive Slave Act?
A law passed as part of the Compromise of 1850, which required that slaves be returned to their owners, even if they were in a free state.
What was the significance of the Lincoln-Douglas debates?
They brought Abraham Lincoln to national prominence and highlighted the differing views on slavery, particularly popular sovereignty vs. containment.
What was the outcome of the Election of 1860?
Abraham Lincoln won the presidency, triggering the secession of Southern states.
What was the Crittenden Compromise?
A failed proposal to prevent secession by extending the Missouri Compromise line and protecting slaveholders' rights.
When did South Carolina secede?
December 1860.
What happened at Fort Sumter in April 1861?
Confederate forces attacked Fort Sumter, marking the beginning of the Civil War.
What was the main issue debated during the Lincoln-Douglas debates?
The expansion of slavery into new territories.
What was the main goal of the Constitutional Union Party in the 1860 election?
To preserve the Union by avoiding the slavery issue.
What was the impact of Lincoln's victory in the North?
It demonstrated the North's political strength and the South's growing weakness.
What was the main motivation for Southern states to secede?
Fear that Lincoln would end slavery and disrupt their way of life.
What was the immediate impact of the attack on Fort Sumter?
It rallied Northern public opinion behind the Union and led to the call-up of Union volunteers.
Who was Abraham Lincoln?
Republican candidate in 1860, opposed the expansion of slavery, and became the 16th president of the United States.
Who was Stephen Douglas?
Northern Democrat candidate in 1860, supported popular sovereignty.
Who was John C. Breckinridge?
Southern Democrat candidate in 1860, supported the expansion of slavery and states' rights.
Who was John Bell?
Constitutional Union candidate in 1860, aimed to preserve the Union by avoiding the slavery issue.
Who was Jefferson Davis?
President of the Confederate States of America.
What was Abraham Lincoln's stance on slavery?
He opposed the expansion of slavery but was not initially an abolitionist.
What was Stephen Douglas's view on slavery in the territories?
He supported popular sovereignty, allowing residents of each territory to decide.
What was John C. Breckinridge's position on slavery?
He supported the expansion of slavery and the protection of states' rights.
What was John Bell's primary goal in the 1860 election?
To preserve the Union by avoiding the divisive issue of slavery.
What role did Jefferson Davis play in the Civil War?
He served as the President of the Confederacy, leading the Southern states in their fight for independence.