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Pre-Civil War Test Review:
This is NOT all-inclusive but gives a good basis of what to
study!
Part 1: (PowerPoint notes part I)
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Define Manifest Destiny
o Does manifest destiny still exist today? Prove or Refute(disprove)
Define Missouri Compromise of 1820
o Successful? Why or why not?
Define the Gag Rule
o Successful? Why or why not?
Mexican-American War
o What was the purpose of the Mexican-American War?
o How did it start?
o What was James K. Polk’s role?
o What was Zachary Taylor’s role?
o Why do we remember the Bear Flag Revolt?
o What 3 states did Mexico have to give up and for how much in The Treaty of GuadalupeHidalgo?
o What did the US gain from Mexico in The Gadsden Purchase and for how much?
o Besides the treaty and ‘purchase’, describe how this war impacted the United States?
o Do you think we would have fought Mexico if they agreed to give us California and New
Mexico in 1845? Explain your reasoning
Part 2: (Materials: Reading and Questions on Compromise of 1850 and Fugitive Slave Act, Uncle Tom’s
Cabin activity 1 and 2)
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What was the Compromise of 1850?
o Why was it created?
o Who won and who lost in the deal? Explain.
o Why did this lead Harriet Beecher Stowe to write Uncle Tom’s Cabin?
Part 3: (Materials: Part II-IV PowerPoint notes, primary source on popular sovereignty from Douglas
and Chase- see T-chart, John Brown reading and questions + graphic organizer)
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Two goals Douglas had as senator of Illinois and how he would achieve those goals.
o 1)
o 2)
The Kansas-Nebraska Act
o Why did Douglas believe that this act made both the North and South content?
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Who was angry that Kansas and Nebraska would be decided based on popular
sovereignty and why?
Name 3 strong arguments for and against popular sovereignty.
What role did Free Soilers and border Ruffians play in ‘bleeding Kansas?’
What 2 events led to it being called ‘bleeding Kansas?’
Who was John Brown?
o What was the goal of Harper’s Ferry Raid?
o Was it successful? Why or why not?
o What evidence proves that John Brown died a villain or hero?
Part 4 ( Powerpoint notes, Taney Reading)
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Provide evidence that shows the slavery issue divided up the government.
When did the Republican party form and how?
o Name 3 things the Republican Party opposed:
James Buchanan believed that the Supreme Court would solve the issue of slavery? Did they?
Why or why not?
Why did Dred Scott sue?
o What resulted from his case?
o Who was Roger Taney and what was his argument?
o How did the Dred Scott decision declare the Missouri Compromise unconstitutional?
During the Lincoln vs. Douglas Debates what did they agree with and where did their differences
lie?
o “A house divided against itself cannot stand.” What is the “house,” and what does this
quote mean?
Part 5: Secession (PowerPoint and election of 1860 activity)
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Define Secession/secessionist
What did the results tell us about The Election of 1860?
Who were the border states?
Who was the first to secede and why?
How did the South try and create their own nation?
Part 6: Causes of the Civil War Schlessinger Video
Essay Question: Name at least SIX causes of the Civil War and Explain their significance in starting this
great conflict. Be prepared to rank those causes on a scale of one to five, with five being a very definite
cause and one being a non-factor and provide your reasoning with the scoring.