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

Hey there! Let's get you prepped and confident for your APUSH exam. We're going to break down the critical events leading to the Civil War, focusing on what you really need to know. Let's dive in!

1. The Deepening Divide: Slavery and Sectionalism

1.1. The Lincoln-Douglas Debates (Jump to Section)

• Context: 1858 Illinois Senate race; Stephen Douglas (Democrat) vs. Abraham Lincoln (Republican).
• Key Issues: Slavery, popular sovereignty, and the expansion of the United States.

• Lincoln's Stance:

- "A house divided against itself cannot stand" - a nation cannot remain half slave and half free. - Not an abolitionist, but believed slavery should be contained. - **Douglas' Stance:** - - **Freeport Doctrine:** A territory could exclude slavery by not passing laws to protect it. 💡 - **Outcome:** Douglas won the Senate seat, but Lincoln gained national recognition.

Image: Lincoln and Douglas debating

1.2. The Election of 1860 (Jump to Section)

• Significance: A turning point; the election that triggered secession.
• Candidates & Platforms:
  1. Abraham Lincoln (Republican): Opposed the expansion of slavery; preserve the Union.
  2. Stephen Douglas (Northern Democrat): Popular sovereignty; opposed a federal slave code.
  3. John C. Breckinridge (Southern Democrat): Supported the expansion of slavery; states' rights.
  4. John Bell (Constitutional Union): Preserve the Union; avoid the slavery issue.
• Lincoln's Victory:
  • Won with 180 electoral votes (40% of popular vote).

- Southern states saw Lincoln as a threat to their way of life.

Image: Abraham Lincoln, 1860

1.3. The Crittenden Compromise

• Goal: To prevent secession by addressing Southern concerns.

• Proposal:

  • Extend the Missouri Compromise line (36°30') westward to California.
  • Slavery legal south of the line, illegal north of the line.
  • Constitutional amendment to protect slaveholders' rights.
  • Protect the Fugitive Slave Act.

• Failure: Rejected by both Northern and Southern politicians; too little, too late.

2. Secession and the Start of the War

2.1. Secession of Southern States (Jump to Section)

• Trigger: Lincoln's election.
• First State: South Carolina (December 1860), followed by the Deep South states.
• Confederacy: Formed by seceding states; Jefferson Davis as president.
• Motivation: Fear that Lincoln would end slavery and disrupt their way of life.

Image: Seceding states

2.2. Fort Sumter and the Beginning of the Civil War

• Event: Confederate attack on Fort Sumter (April 1861).

• Significance:

- Rallied Northern public opinion behind the Union. - Led to the call-up of Union volunteers. - Upper South states seceded in response to the call for troops.

3. Final Exam Focus

3.1. High-Priority Topics

• Lincoln-Douglas Debates: Understand the different viewpoints on slavery.
• Election of 1860: Know the candidates, their platforms, and the outcome.
• Secession: Be clear on the causes and the order of secession.
• Fort Sumter: Recognize its significance as the start of the war.

3.2. Common Question Types

• Multiple Choice: Expect questions on the causes of the Civil War, key figures, and events.
• Short Answer: Be prepared to explain the impact of events like the Lincoln-Douglas debates or the election of 1860. - Free Response: You might be asked to analyze the causes of secession or the failure of compromises like the Crittenden Compromise.

3.3. Last-Minute Tips

• Time Management: Don't spend too long on any one question. Move on and come back if needed.
• Common Pitfalls: Don't confuse different compromises. Pay attention to the chronology of events.
• Strategies: Read the questions carefully. Outline your essays before writing. Use specific historical evidence to support your points.

4. Practice Questions

Practice Question

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Which of the following best describes Abraham Lincoln's position on slavery during the Lincoln-Douglas debates? (A) He was an abolitionist who demanded the immediate end of slavery. (B) He believed slavery should be allowed to expand into all US territories. (C) He opposed the expansion of slavery but did not advocate for its abolition in existing states. (D) He supported popular sovereignty as a solution to the slavery issue.

2. What was the primary goal of the Crittenden Compromise? (A) To abolish slavery throughout the United States. (B) To establish a new system of popular sovereignty. (C) To prevent the secession of Southern states by addressing their concerns about slavery. (D) To ensure the election of a Republican president in 1860. 3. Which event is considered the start of the American Civil War? (A) The election of Abraham Lincoln in 1860. (B) The secession of South Carolina. (C) The attack on Fort Sumter. (D) The passage of the Kansas-Nebraska Act.

Free Response Question

Analyze the causes of secession of the Southern states from the Union between 1860 and 1861. In your response, be sure to: - Discuss the impact of the Election of 1860 on the South. - Explain the role of slavery in the decision to secede. - Evaluate the significance of the Crittenden Compromise and its failure.

Scoring Breakdown: - Thesis (1 point): A clear, historically defensible thesis that addresses the causes of secession. - Argument Development (2 points): - Discuss the impact of the Election of 1860 on the South, focusing on the perception of Lincoln as a threat to slavery. - Explain the role of slavery, including the fear of its abolition and the desire to protect the Southern way of life. - Evidence (2 points): - Provide specific historical evidence, such as the platforms of the 1860 presidential candidates, the secession declarations of Southern states, and the details of the Crittenden Compromise. - Analysis (2 points): - Analyze the significance of the Crittenden Compromise and its failure to prevent secession. Explain why it was rejected by both the North and the South. - Synthesis (1 point): - Connect the causes of secession to broader themes in US history, such as states' rights, sectionalism, and the debate over slavery. This could include a brief comparison to other historical events or compromises.

You've got this! Remember to stay calm, focus on the key concepts, and use your knowledge to tackle the exam. Good luck!