#AP US History: Road to Civil War - A Last-Minute Review 🚀

Hey there! Let's make sure you're feeling super confident about the events leading up to the Civil War. This guide is designed to be your best friend tonight, helping you quickly grasp the key concepts and ace that exam tomorrow. Let's do this!

#1. The Kansas-Nebraska Act (1854)

#1.1. What Happened?

• Repealed the Missouri Compromise: The Kansas-Nebraska Act essentially threw out the 36°30′ line, which had previously limited the spread of slavery. 🤯

• Popular Sovereignty: Instead, it introduced the idea that residents of each territory could decide for themselves whether to allow slavery. This was supposed to be democratic, but...

• Sponsored by Stephen Douglas: Senator Douglas wanted to build a transcontinental railroad through the area, and this was his way of getting Southern support.

#1.2. The Impact

• Sectionalism Intensified: The act further divided the nation, with the North largely opposing it and the South supporting it. 😠
• End of the Second Party System: The Whig Party collapsed, and new parties emerged, most notably the Republican Party. 👋
• Third Party System: The political landscape shifted to regional parties, with the Republicans in the North opposing the expansion of slavery. 🗺️

#1.3. Party Breakdown

• Whig Party Split:
  • Conscience Whigs: Northern Whigs who opposed slavery on moral grounds.

* **Cotton Whigs:** Southern Whigs who supported slavery for economic reasons. * **Rise of the Republican Party:** Formed from Conscience Whigs, Free Soilers, and other anti-slavery groups. 🐘

#1.4. Visual Aid

Caption: Map showing the Kansas and Nebraska territories created by the Act.

#2. Bleeding Kansas (1854-1861)

#2.1. What Happened?

• Violent Conflict: The Kansas-Nebraska Act led to a violent struggle over whether Kansas would be a free or slave state. ⚔️
• Border Ruffians: Pro-slavery activists from Missouri crossed into Kansas to influence elections.
• Free-Soilers: Anti-slavery settlers also moved to Kansas to oppose slavery.

#2.2. Key Events

• Election Fraud: Pro-slavery forces used violence and intimidation to rig elections.
• Guerrilla Warfare: Both sides engaged in violent clashes and raids.
• Caning of Senator Sumner: A Southern congressman attacked a Northern senator on the floor of the Senate. 🤕 *

* **Lecompton Constitution:** A pro-slavery constitution was proposed for Kansas, but was ultimately rejected. 👎

#2.3. Visual Aid

Caption: Illustration of the violence during the Bleeding Kansas period.

#3. Dred Scott Decision (1857)

#3.1. The Case

• Dred Scott's Claim: An enslaved man sued for his freedom, arguing that his time in free territories made him free. 🧑🏾‍⚖️
• Supreme Court Ruling: The Supreme Court ruled against Scott, stating that:
  • African Americans were not citizens and could not sue in federal court.
  • Congress had no power to prohibit slavery in the territories.

#3.2. The Impact

• Missouri Compromise Invalidated: The ruling declared the Missouri Compromise unconstitutional. 🚫

• Increased Sectionalism: The decision inflamed tensions between the North and South. 🔥

• 14th Amendment: The Dred Scott decision was eventually overturned by the 14th Amendment, which granted citizenship to all persons born or naturalized in the U.S.

#3.3. Visual Aid

Caption: Portrait of Dred Scott.

#4. John Brown's Raid on Harpers Ferry (1859)

#4.1. What Happened?

• Abolitionist Raid: John Brown, an abolitionist, led a raid on a federal armory in Harpers Ferry, Virginia. ⚔️
• Goal: To incite a slave rebellion.
• Failure: The raid failed, and Brown was captured and executed.

#4.2. The Impact

• Martyr for Abolitionists: Brown became a martyr for many in the North. 🙏

• Fear in the South: The raid heightened fears of slave revolts in the South. 😨

• Further Division: The event deepened the divide between the North and South.

#4.3. Visual Aid

Caption: Portrait of John Brown.

#Final Exam Focus

#High-Priority Topics

• Kansas-Nebraska Act: Understand its impact on popular sovereignty and the party system. This is a crucial turning point!
• Bleeding Kansas: Know the causes and consequences of the violence.
• Dred Scott Decision: Understand its impact on the legal status of slavery and the Missouri Compromise.
• John Brown's Raid: Recognize its significance as a catalyst for the Civil War.

#Common Question Types

• Multiple Choice: Expect questions that test your understanding of the causes and effects of these events.
• Short Answer Questions (SAQs): Be prepared to explain the significance of key events and their impact on sectionalism.
• Free Response Questions (FRQs): Practice writing essays that analyze the causes of the Civil War and the role of these events in contributing to the conflict.

#Last-Minute Tips

• Time Management: Don't spend too long on any one question. Move on and come back if you have time.

* **Common Pitfalls:** Avoid oversimplifying complex issues. Show that you understand the nuances of each event. * **Strategies:** Use the documents provided in the FRQs to support your arguments.

#Practice Questions

#Multiple Choice Questions

Practice Question

1. The Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854 was controversial because it: (A) upheld the principles of the Missouri Compromise. (B) introduced the concept of popular sovereignty, which could lead to the expansion of slavery. (C) guaranteed the admission of Kansas as a free state. (D) strengthened the power of the federal government over the states.

2. The Supreme Court's decision in Dred Scott v. Sandford (1857) had which of the following effects? (A) It upheld the Missouri Compromise. (B) It declared that enslaved people were citizens of the United States. (C) It declared that Congress had no power to prohibit slavery in the territories. (D) It led to the immediate abolition of slavery in the United States.

3. John Brown's raid on Harpers Ferry in 1859 was significant because it: (A) led to the immediate secession of Southern states. (B) demonstrated the effectiveness of armed slave revolts. (C) further polarized the North and South over the issue of slavery. (D) resulted in the passage of legislation to protect slavery.

#Short Answer Question

Practice Question

Explain how the Kansas-Nebraska Act and the Dred Scott decision contributed to the growing tensions between the North and South in the years leading up to the Civil War.

#Free Response Question

Practice Question

Analyze the ways in which the events of the 1850s, including the Kansas-Nebraska Act, the Dred Scott decision, and John Brown’s raid on Harpers Ferry, contributed to the outbreak of the Civil War. In your response, consider the political, social, and economic factors that fueled the conflict.

Scoring Rubric:

• Thesis (1 point): A clear, historically defensible thesis that addresses the prompt.
• Contextualization (1 point): Describes a broader historical context relevant to the prompt.
• Evidence (2 points): Provides specific examples of the Kansas-Nebraska Act, the Dred Scott decision, and John Brown's raid, and explains how they contributed to the conflict.
• Analysis and Reasoning (2 points): Explains how the events led to increased sectionalism and contributed to the outbreak of the Civil War. Connects political, social, and economic factors.
• Synthesis (1 point): Extends the argument by connecting it to a different time period, geographic area, or historical context.

You've got this! Remember, you've studied hard, and you're ready to show off what you know. Relax, take a deep breath, and go ace that exam! 🌟