US History Crossword Puzzle
1. 9 letters; areas of Mississippi and Alabama characterized by black soil and excellent cotton-growing conditions
2. 13 letters; cotton-producing region of the southern United States
How did the Free-Soil Party propose to handle of the question of slavery in territories?
In 1848, Whig General Zachary Taylor, a potential Southern ally, was elected president. Sectional passions were aroused, however, when a gold rush prompted the new territory of California to apply for early admission as a free state in 1849. If accepted, this would upset the delicate North-South sectional balance, then existing of 15 states each. Southerners were concerned about what they called the fugitive slave problem (facilitated by people like Harriet B. Stowe and the "Underground Railroad" to Canada). Does this worry appear to have been a practical one or more a matter of the principle of protecting property rights and Why?
Have you read your assigned materials? If so, what are your answers to these questions?
1. Black Belt
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_Soil_Party
To get the answer to the first part of the crossword puzzle, you would need to think of regions in Mississippi and Alabama known for their black soil and ideal conditions for growing cotton. One such region is the "Black Belt," which fits the description of being 9 letters long.
For the second part of the crossword puzzle, you would need to come up with a 13-letter term that refers to a cotton-producing region in the southern United States. The answer is "Cotton Belt," which is a term used to describe the area where cotton was historically grown.
Regarding the question about the Free-Soil Party and their proposal on handling the issue of slavery in territories, the party was formed in 1848 and advocated for the non-extension of slavery into the western territories. They proposed that any new territories admitted to the United States would be free-soil, meaning they would prohibit slavery. The party believed that by preventing the spread of slavery, they could eventually lead to its gradual demise.
In 1849, California's application for admission as a free state raised concerns among Southerners. It threatened to upset the balance between free and slave states, as there were already 15 free states and 15 slave states at the time. Southerners worried that the admission of California as a free state would upset this balance and potentially lead to limitations on slavery in other territories.
The concern raised by Southerners at the time can be seen as both practical and a matter of principle. On one hand, they were worried about the practical impact of losing political power in Congress and potential restrictions on slavery. On the other hand, protecting property rights, including the ownership of slaves, was a deeply entrenched principle for many Southerners. They believed it was their right to own and control their property, including slaves, and any threat to this principle was a significant concern for them.