#1
Who authored 'Uncle Tom's Cabin,' a novel that heightened tensions over the issue of slavery?
Harriet Beecher Stowe
ExplanationStowe's novel exposed the cruelty of slavery, fueling abolitionist sentiments.
#2
Which political party was formed in the 1850s with an anti-slavery platform?
Republican Party
ExplanationRepublicans opposed the spread of slavery into new territories.
#3
Who was the President of the Confederate States of America during the Civil War?
Jefferson Davis
ExplanationDavis led the Confederacy in the fight against the Union.
#4
Which state was the first to secede from the Union?
South Carolina
ExplanationSouth Carolina seceded in response to Lincoln's election.
#5
What event marked the end of the Civil War?
The Appomattox Court House surrender
ExplanationConfederate surrender to Union forces effectively ended the war.
#6
Who led the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia during most of the Civil War?
Robert E. Lee
ExplanationLee's leadership was pivotal for the Confederate forces.
#7
What was the primary objective of the Confederate States of America during the Civil War?
To maintain and preserve states' rights and secession
ExplanationConfederacy fought to uphold the right to self-governance and secession.
#8
Which event directly led to the secession of Southern states from the Union?
The election of Abraham Lincoln
ExplanationLincoln's victory threatened Southern interests, leading to secession.
#9
What was the primary economic reason behind Southern secession?
Reliance on slave labor for agriculture
ExplanationThe South feared the loss of slave labor would undermine its economy.
#10
What was the significance of the Compromise of 1850?
It admitted California as a free state and strengthened the Fugitive Slave Law.
ExplanationAttempted to balance free and slave states but intensified tensions.
#11
What was the primary aim of the Free Soil Party?
To oppose the extension of slavery into new territories
ExplanationAdvocated for keeping new territories free from slavery.
#12
Who authored the 'House Divided' speech, which emphasized the growing tensions over slavery in the United States?
Abraham Lincoln
ExplanationLincoln's speech highlighted the nation's division over slavery.
#13
What was the main goal of John Brown's raid on Harpers Ferry in 1859?
To seize control of a federal armory and instigate a slave rebellion
ExplanationBrown aimed to start a slave uprising by arming them.
#14
Which document declared that all persons held as slaves within the rebellious states would be 'forever free'?
The Emancipation Proclamation
ExplanationLincoln's decree aimed to weaken the Confederacy and end slavery.
#15
Which event directly triggered the beginning of the Civil War?
The Battle of Fort Sumter
ExplanationConfederate attack on Fort Sumter marked the start of hostilities.
#16
What was the main cause of the Bleeding Kansas conflict in the 1850s?
Disputes over the legality of slavery in the territory
ExplanationViolent clashes ensued as pro and anti-slavery settlers vied for control.
#17
Which Supreme Court decision ruled that African Americans, whether enslaved or free, were not American citizens and had no standing to sue in federal court?
Dred Scott v. Sandford
ExplanationThe ruling deepened divisions by denying rights to African Americans.
#18
What was the significance of the Battle of Antietam (Sharpsburg) in 1862?
It was the bloodiest single-day battle in American history.
ExplanationAntietam's casualties highlighted the war's brutality and impact.