Nation Divides Study Guide
Name: Key
Removal of the Native Americans of the S.E. (Page 1 in binder)
 How did Native American groups such as the Cherokee assimilate into white American culture?
Living in houses on plantations, owning slaves, educating their children in American schools,
converting to Christianity, wearing the same clothing as whites, creating their own written
Constitution, creating their own alphabet

Why did the United States want the Native Americans to move from their tribal ground and head
to Oklahoma?
Because they wanted more Americans to spread west so that the Americans can grow more
cotton. Also, the Natives were living on a gold mine.
Who Went Where, When, and Why? (Page 2 in binder) or Frontier Family Facts paper
 Why would an average settler want to move/go to places like Oregon, Utah, or California?
To have a better life in the west; adventure; more fertile land to grow crops, to escape
religious persecution, to mine for gold.

What are challenges that someone on the trail would face?
Possible Native American attacks (especially if you would not pay a fee to pass through their
land). Diseases; Broken Bones; Snakebites; Drowning; Trail Robbers; small kids falling out of
wagons and being ran over; Giving birth while on the trail.

Why did some Native American groups and the government of Mexico fight against the Americans
that moved west?
Because we moved onto their land without their permission. More Americans were in parts of
Mexico (Texas) than Mexicans
California Gold Rush Questions (Page 4 in binder)
 Describe what life was like in a mining town?
They mainly lived in tents or used wooden materials off of other things. Lots of gambling,
drinking, and lawlessness. Gangs of people determined guilt or innocence. When the mine
went dry (no more gold) everyone left and this area became a ghost town.
 How did the gold rush help California?
It helped California’s economy and population. California was able to become a state
because of the growing population.
 What were the negative effects of the California gold rush?
The human and environmental costs of the Gold Rush were substantial. Native Americans
dependent on traditional hunting, gathering and agriculture, became the victims of starvation,
as gravel, silt and toxic chemicals from prospecting operations killed fish and destroyed
habitats
The Growth of Texas (Page 6 in binder)
 What is Stephen F. Austin best known for?
He brought 300 American families to live in the Mexican state of Texas.
 What is Santa Anna best known for?
General and President of Mexico during the rebellion of Texas. He closed the borders of
Texas in hopes that no more Americans would come to Texas.
 From Stephen F. Austin’s perspective, why was Texas a valuable place to live?
Cheap land for families to grow crops and raise cattle
 What was the conflict between the Americans in Texas and the Mexican government?
Many Americans crossed the border illegally into Texas/Mexico. The Americans living in
Texas were not following their agreement to become Roman Catholic and they were not
paying taxes to the Mexican government.
 What happened at the Alamo?
An old Spanish mission where almost 200 Texans/Americans fought bravely against over
5000 Mexican soldiers. After 13 days, the Texans/Americans lost the battle.
What Lead to the Mexican-American War (Page 7 in binder)
 How did a border dispute cause the Mexican-American War?
Regardless of its status (Was it an American state or a rebellious Mexican province?) the
United States maintained that the southern border of Texas was formed by the Rio Grande,
but Mexico argued that the traditional boundary was at the Nueces River farther north. When
the U.S. crossed the Nueces they were attacked by the Mexican army. We thought that they
were killing Americans on U.S. soil. Mexico thought that we were invading.
 What were the advantages of going to war?
We got more land from Mexico at a cheap price. This land includes the Southwestern part of
the U.S. California was a much needed Pacific port for the U.S. We achieved Manifest
Destiny through this war.
 What were the reasons given for the opposition towards the war?
This war was illegally started by the U.S. Another reason is the only thing the U.S. South
wanted from this war was more land for slavery.
Should Slavery be Allowed in the States that are Added to the U.S.? (Page 8 in binder)
 What was the Missouri Compromise (1820)? Why might it be important for our nation to
keep an equal number of free and slave states?
Under the arrangement that became law in 1820, known as the Missouri Compromise,
Missouri entered the state as a slave state, and Maine entered as a free state. With the
exception of Missouri, slavery was prohibited in states north of that line.It kept the peace for
30 years. This helped even the number of Senators in Congress so that neither side had all of
the power.
The Compromise of 1850 (page 10 in binder)
 What was included in the Compromise of 1850?
1) California was admitted to the union as a free state.
2) Washington D.C. banned the slave trade.
3) Slave trade was allowed between states.
4) The new territory won from Mexico would vote on the slavery issue.
5) Tougher fugitive slave laws.
 What was the fugitive slave law?
Anyone in the North must turn in a runaway slave. If you are a police officer and did not
help you would be fined. If you helped a runaway slave then you could be fined and
arrested. African Americans did not have a voice if they were accused.
 Why did the southern slave owners like the fugitive slave law?
It made it easier for them to find runaway slaves. It made the North return the slaves or
face punishments.
 How could the fugitive slave law be unfair?
The wrong person could be named/accused to being a runaway slave and be kidnapped
by the slave catchers. They had no say or rights in defending themselves.
 How could northerners be tempted into turning in someone that they suspect of being a
fugitive slave?
The large reward that was being offered in the North for a runaway slave. To the poor the
reward money was like a year’s worth of income. Also, they would receive harsh
punishments if they did not turn anyone in.
 What do abolitionists want to stop?
Slavery- Especially in the new territories
Underground Railroad vocab (and) The Adventures of Abolitionists (Pgs 11-12 in binder)
 How did a slave get from the south to the north/Canada on the Underground Railroad?
(Who was involved in helping the slave?
-Escape
-Run at night
-Hide in the day (possibly in safe houses of white abolitionists)
-Follow the rivers toward the North Star
The conductors would move slaves from station to station (free house to free house) in
the South and North. The station masters would hide and feed the runaway slaves.
Slaves would hide and sneak past the border into the North or Canada.
The Miniature Civil War: Bleeding Kansas (Page 13 in binder)
 What illegal thing happened during the “Free Territory vs. Slave Territory” election in
Kansas?
Pro-Slavery people from Missouri and anti-slavery people from the North illegally
voted on this issue in Kansas. There were more pro-slavery people from Missouri.
 What was the result of having a Pro-Slavery government and an Anti-Slavery government
in Kansas?
The people of the two sides started fighting and killing/murdering each other. This caused
a small war for two years known as “Bleeding Kansas”
 What are Blue Lodgers/Border Ruffians?
Pro-Slavery people from Missouri that illegally voted in Kansas
What happened after “Bleeding Kansas” and how did it impact the division between the
North and South? (Page 14 in binder)
 What happened in the Senate to cause one representative to beat a Senator?
A Senator spoke out against slavery and another Senator--- The disrespected Senator’s
nephew came to Senate floor to get revenge and defend the South.
 What was the main goal of the Republican Party?
Too stop the advancement of slavery in new territories and states
 What is Dred Scott best known for?
Sued for his freedom since he lived in the free territories during the time he was a slave. He
lost his case in the Supreme Court
 Which side got hurt by the Dred Scott ruling the most? Explain!
The North because the court decided to slavery was legal everywhere in the US because the
states didn’t have the right to take “property away”
 What is John Brown best known for?
Attacking and taking the armory at Harper’s Ferry, VA to start a slave revolt
 How did Southerners view John Brown? Why was this view different in the North?
South- view him a terrorist because of attacking the U.S. armory and trying to lead a Slave
Revolt in the South
North- Slave hero. Wanted to free slaves because it was wrong
Election of 1860 and the Succession of the Southern States (Page 15 in binder)
 What is Abraham Lincoln best known for in 1860?
First Republican to be elected President of the U.S. He had anti-slavery views which made
him the villain of the South
 Who won the 1860 election? What region did not vote for the winner?
Abraham Lincoln. The South – They broke away soon after.
 How did the Election of 1860 affect the unity of the United States?
The Southern states broke away from the U.S. because they have an anti-slavery Northerner
as President
 What would be some good reasons for the South leaving the United States?
They can now have their own state/local power in government. The state can make their own
decisions. A national government not telling them what to do
The beginnings of the Civil War (Page 16 in binder)
 What is Jefferson Davis best known for during the Civil War?
He was the President of the Confederate States of America during the Civil War
 What were the overall causes of the Civil War?
-National government not allowing the states to control themselves (states rights)
-Imbalance of power in the U.S.- North has more power in government than the south
because of population
-Economics- North is trying to take away slavery in the south
 What advantages did the North have over the South?
More people, industries, resources, weapons, control of the Ohio River