American historyLesson 1 of 4 in the course The Civil War, 1860–1865

Slavery, Secession, and the Outbreak of the U.S. Civil War

5 flashcards · 5 quiz questions · 5 match pairs · 5 fill-in sentences · English

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Summary

The Civil War grew out of decades of conflict between the North and South, especially over slavery and its expansion into western territories. Lincoln’s election accelerated the crisis, but it did not create the divisions that led to war.

As the United States expanded, each new territory raised a difficult question: would slavery be permitted there? The issue had appeared during debates over Missouri and Texas and returned after the Mexican-American War (1846–1848), when the United States acquired extensive western lands.

All flashcards

What is a confederation?
A union in which member states retain substantial autonomy while cooperating through a central government for selected purposes.
How did the Confederate Constitution treat slavery?
It explicitly protected slavery, including in Confederate territories, and protected the interstate slave trade.
What did the Corwin Amendment propose?
It proposed preventing Congress from passing a law abolishing slavery.
Why was Fort Sumter a flashpoint in 1861?
It was federal property in Charleston Harbor, held by a Union garrison as Confederate forces pressed to seize it.
Which four slave states remained in the Union?
Delaware, Maryland, Missouri, and Kentucky.

Quiz questions

  1. What most clearly distinguished the Confederate Constitution’s treatment of slavery from the U.S. Constitution’s?Answer: It explicitly protected slavery and guaranteed it in Confederate territories.
  2. What did the Corwin Amendment propose?Answer: It would prevent Congress from passing a law abolishing slavery.
  3. When did Confederate forces begin bombarding Fort Sumter?Answer: April 12, 1861.
  4. How did West Virginia become a state during the Civil War?Answer: Unionist counties separated from Virginia, and West Virginia entered the Union in 1863.
  5. What was Lincoln’s position on slavery in states where it already existed, as stated in his inaugural address?Answer: He said he had no intention or lawful authority to interfere with it there.

Based on U.S. History by P. Scott Corbett, Volker Janssen, John M. Lund, Todd Pfannestiel, Sylvie Waskiewicz, Paul Vickery (OpenStax), licensed CC BY 4.0. Adapted into a summary, flashcards and quizzes.

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