Sectionalism and the Civil War test
Sectionalism refers to the loyalty or support of a particular region or section of a country, often at the expense of national unity. In the context of United States history, sectionalism played a significant role in the period leading up to the Civil War (1861-1865). Different regions, primarily the North and the South, developed distinct economic, social, and political systems, which led to conflicts over issues such as slavery, the right of states to nullify federal laws, and the balance of power between state and federal governments.
Key points about sectionalism and the Civil War that might appear on a test include:
1. The Missouri Compromise (1820) - This early attempt to deal with the expansion of slavery into new territories admitted Missouri as a slave state and Maine as a free state to maintain the balance in the Senate, while also drawing a line (36° 30' latitude) across which slavery was prohibited in the remainder of the Louisiana Purchase.
2. The Compromise of 1850 - This series of laws admitted California as a free state, included the Fugitive Slave Act, and allowed residents of New Mexico and Utah territories to determine the status of slavery among themselves (popular sovereignty), thus attempting to defuse regional tensions.
3. The Kansas-Nebraska Act (1854) - This act created the territories of Kansas and Nebraska and allowed the settlers there to decide the issue of slavery through popular sovereignty. It resulted in a violent clash known as "Bleeding Kansas" as pro-slavery and anti-slavery settlers rushed to the area.
4. The Dred Scott Decision (1857) - A Supreme Court case in which the Court ruled that African Americans were not U.S. citizens and that Congress did not have the power to prohibit slavery in the territories. This decision further inflamed the sectional conflict.
5. The Election of Abraham Lincoln (1860) - Lincoln's presidency was seen as a threat to the institution of slavery, leading to the secession of Southern states and the eventual formation of the Confederate States of America.
6. State's Rights and Sovereignty - Sectional tensions also resulted from debates over the rights of states to nullify federal laws or to leave the Union. The Southern states' insistence on the doctrine of states' rights was a key ideological component of their secession.
7. Economic Differences - The North's economy was more industrialized and favored a high protective tariff, while the South's economy was based on plantation agriculture and opposed tariffs that would raise the price of imported goods.
8. Abolitionist Movement - The rise of the abolitionist movement in the North and its demands for the end of slavery contributed to the fear and resentment among many Southerners.
9. Harriet Beecher Stowe's "Uncle Tom's Cabin" - This influential novel, which depicted the harsh realities of slavery, helped galvanize anti-slavery sentiment in the North and was seen as an affront by the South.
10. Secession and the Start of the Civil War - Following Lincoln's election, eleven Southern states seceded from the Union, leading to the Civil War. The first shots were fired at Fort Sumter in Charleston, South Carolina, on April 12, 1861.
These key points only scratch the surface of the complexities leading up to and surrounding the American Civil War, but they should provide a solid foundation for a test on the subject. Remember to review the specific materials provided by your instructor, as the focus and depth of questions may vary.