Name __________________________________
Class Period: 1 2 3 4 5 7
Unit Review: Westward Expansion and Sectionalism
1. What is Manifest Destiny?
The belief that Americans were fated or destined to expand borders to the Pacific Ocean
2. Label the regions as they existed in 1853.
United States
Original 13 Colonies
Louisiana Purchase
Oregon Country
Florida
British Territory
Texas Annexation
Mexican Cession
Gadsden Purchase
3. Label the following on the map:
Mississippi River – blue
Rocky Mountains – purple
Appalachian Mountains – brown
4. What was President James Polk’s policy regarding territorial expansion?
He wanted to complete Manifest Destiny NO matter what it took+
5. Why did the U.S. go to war with Mexico in 1846?
There was a border dispute about Texas. Mexico thought Nueces River. USA thought Rio Grande
River. Polk ordered Taylor to stake out at disputed territory.
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6. What climate and geographical features contributed to the development of the plantation
system in the South?
Long, year-round growing season, warm climate, rich fertile soil
7. Why did many settlers rush to California in 1849?
They were going in hopes of finding GOLD
8. The Mexican Cession includes which states of today?
Arizona, Utah, New Mexico, Nevada, California
9. How was the issue of slavery decided in the land acquired in the Mexican Cession?
Compromise of 1850, Popular Sovereignty in those territories
10. The Gadsden Purchase includes parts of which states of today?
Arizona for the best route to build the Transcontinental Railroad
11. What river did Texas and President Polk regard as the Texas-Mexico border?
Rio Grande
12. How did the U.S. acquire Florida?
The British ceded it in 1819
13. What is sectionalism?
The belief that your part of the country is the BEST. You put your part of the country’s needs in
front of what is best for the WHOLE nation. The regions are South, North, and West.
14. What was the economy based on in the South?
Agricultural, farming
15. What was the economy based on in the North?
Manufacturing, Factories
16. What are THREE elements of The Missouri Compromise?
Missouri as Slave state, Maine as free state, No slavery above 36’30 line
17. Why would southern states find it so important to keep a balance of slave states and free
states?
So there is equal power in the government, specifically Congress
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18. What was the impact of The Missouri Compromise on the issue of slavery?
Slavery was limited to below the line and in Missouri. It was a temporary fix that lasted for 30
years
19. What are FOUR elements included in The Compromise of 1850?
California as free state, Mexican Cession split into New Mexico and Utah having popular
sovereignty, DC slave trade is closed, Stricter Fugitive Slave Law
20. What was the impact of The Compromise of 1850 on the issue of slavery?
It upset the Northerners because they felt like they were being forced to participate in slavery
with the Fugitive Slave Law. Many abolitionists did not like how slavery was spreading through
the west
21. What elements of The Compromise of 1850 did the North favor? What elements of The
Compromise of 1850 did the South favor?
North—California as Free State and No more slave trade in DC
South—Popular Sovereignty in territories, Fugitive Slave Law
22. Explain the Kansas-Nebraska Act.
Louisiana Territory was split into Kansas and Nebraska having popular sovereignty
23. What was the social impact of the Kansas-Nebraska Act?
Abolitionists and slaveholders rush to Kansas to vote for or against slavery
24. Why did a newspaper columnist refer to the Kansas Territory as “Bleeding Kansas”?
Many people were killing, protesting, and burning buildings. It was pretty chaotic
25. Who was Dred Scott?
Slave who fought for his freedom and his case went to the Supreme Court known as one of the
most significant cases in American history, Dred Scott v. Sandford
26. What were the THREE main points in the Supreme Court ruling in Dred Scott v. Sandford?
Dred Scott was a slave, not a citizen, so he cannot sue through the court
Africans could never be citizens
Slavery cannot be prohibited in new territories
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27. What was the northern reaction to the Dred Scott ruling? What was the southern reactions to
the Dred Scott ruling?
North—was appalled at the ruling and many became abolitionists because of this ruling
South—Rejoiced at the ruling because slavery was now free to spread
28. Who was John Brown?
White abolitionist who used violence to fight for slaves freedom
29. What was his impact on the riots in the Kansas Territory?
He lead riots in hopes of starting slave uprisings, got national attention
30. What happened in John Brown’s Raid at Harpers Ferry, Virginia?
John Brown wanted to get control of an arsenal to give weapons to slaves for revolts
31. What was the northern reaction to the hanging of John Brown? What was the southern reaction
to the hanging of John Brown?
North—He was a hero and a martyr
South—He was a villain, killing innocent men, women, and children; they started creating
militias to protect themselves
32. How was the Republican Party formed in the 1850’s?
A group of Free-Soilers, Northern Democrat, and Antislavery Whigs joined together to create
this new party
33. What was the goal of the Republican Party?
To STOP the spread of slavery
34. What was the reaction in both the north and the south to the formation of this new party?
North was glad to have a political party which wanted to deal with the issue of slavery. South
called them Radical Republicans and thought their ideas were crazy and too extreme.
35. What was the southern reaction to Lincoln’s election in 1860?
South felt like they lost their voice in the government, so they SECEDED from the Union in 1861.
South Carolina was the first.
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