The American Civil War - Questions & Answers
I. Name the following:
1. The two Houses of the US Congress.
(a) Senate (b) House of Representatives
2. Two candidates who stood for the US Presidential election in 1860.
(a) Abraham Lincoln (b) Stephen Arnold Douglas
3. Two southern states which seceded from the federation.
(a) South Carolina (b) Mississippi
4. Two signatories who ended the Civil War.
(a) General Lee (b) General Ulysses S. Grant
II. Fill in the blanks:
1. The southern states wanted to have
tax-free trade with Britain.
2. The abolitionists advocated the repeal of
Fugitive Slave Act of 1850.
3. Uncle Tom's Cabin, was written by
Harriet Beecher Stowe.
4. The Confederate States elected
Jefferson Davis as their President.
5. January 1, 1863, Abraham Lincoln
abolished slavery in the areas still in rebellion against the USA.
III. Match the following:
1. Southern States
(d) Plantation Economy
2. Northern States
(e) Industrialised Economy
3. Fort Sumter
(c) The place attacked by the Confederates in 1861.
4. Gettysburg Address
(a) Freedom and democracy.
5. Treaty of Paris
(b) England recognised the independence of 13 American colonies.
IV. Multiple-Choice Questions (MCQs)
A. Choose the correct option.
1. Why were free states so called?
(c) They had abolished slavery
2. The northern states were economically superior to the southern states because
(d) All of the above.
3. The slaves in the southern states were captured from Africa and brought to work in
(b) plantations.
4. With reference to the slavery in the Americas which of the following is incorrect?
(a) Slaves had equal rights as their owners.
5. Abolitionists pioneered the abolition of slavery. They demanded
(a) Repeal of Fugitive Slave Act
6
. With reference to Harriet Beecher Stowe's book which of the following are true?
(d) All of the above.
7. The State X in America supported the Fugitive Slave Act and wanted tax free trade with Britain. It took control of federal forts at its borders and elected Jefferson Davis as its President. Which did group X belong to?
(a) Confederate States
8. Confederate Army: (A) :: Union Army: (B)
(b) A: General Lee; B: General Grant
9. Abraham Lincoln's contribution to humanity was the abolition of slavery. In this context which of the following statements is/are incorrect?
(b) All slaves were set free to return to Africa.
10. Lincoln in his Gettysburg Address
(d) All of the above
B. Given below are two statements (P) and (Q). How are they related?
1. (P) Confederate army offered tough resistance to the federal army in the early 1860s. (Q) Lincoln issued the Proclamation of Emancipation.
(a) (P) is the reason for (Q).
2. (P) Abraham Lincoln stood for freedom and emancipation of slaves. (Q) Abraham Lincoln defined democracy as the government of the people, by the people and for the people.
(c) (P) and (Q) are true.
V. Answer the following questions:
1. Distinguish between free states and slave states in the 19th century in the USA.
In the 19th century, northern states were known as "free states" because they were industrialized, relied on paid laborers, and had abolished slavery by 1804. Southern states were known as "slave states" because their economy was based on large plantations (cotton, tobacco, sugarcane) that depended on the labor of enslaved people captured from Africa.
2. What were the main issues that caused a division between the southern and northern states of the USA?
The main issues included the difference in economic structures (industrial North vs. agricultural South), the moral and legal problem of slavery, conflicts over whether newly explored western territories should be free or slave states, and the fear in the South of Republican political control.
3. With reference to the problem of slavery in the USA, answer the following questions:
(a) What was the role of slaves in the US economy?
Slaves acted as cheap, convenient, and efficient labor for the development of large plantations, which provided essential raw materials for the growing industries in both England and the northern states.
(b) When and under which circumstances was slavery abolished in the USA?
Slavery was abolished in the northern states in 1804. Nationwide abolition in rebel areas occurred on January 1, 1863, when Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation during the Civil War to weaken the rebellion.
4. Why did the southerners fear the Republican control over the US government as a threat?
Southerners feared that a Republican President, like Abraham Lincoln, would fulfill promises to stop the expansion of slavery or abolish it entirely, which would destroy the Southern plantation-based economic system.
5. Discuss the role of Abraham Lincoln in the abolition of slavery in the USA.
Abraham Lincoln was a champion of human liberty who stood for the integrity of the Union and the freedom of slaves. He issued the Emancipation Proclamation in 1862, which legally freed slaves in rebel areas, and his leadership ensured the unification of the nation and the ultimate end of the institution of slavery.
6. Explain the significance of the American Civil War.
The Civil War put an end to the institution of slavery, abolished the idea of state secession, and welded the USA into a strong, unified nation. It also led to rapid industrial growth, the regulation of the banking system, and the introduction of modern military technologies.
7. What is the importance of the Emancipation Proclamation?
The Emancipation Proclamation was important because it abolished slavery in areas still rebelling against the federal government, shifted the purpose of the war toward human rights, and inspired other nations to end the slave trade.
8. Give any two points of importance in Lincoln's Gettysburg Address.
Two key points are: (i) it emphasized the task of preserving a Union dedicated to freedom and democracy, and (ii) it famously defined democracy as the "government of the people, by the people, and for the people."
9. How did Lincoln establish the concept of democracy and the unity of America?
Lincoln maintained unity by refusing to recognize the right of states to secede and fighting to keep the nation together. He established the concept of democracy by ensuring equal rights for all citizens and articulating the principles of popular sovereignty.
VI. Picture Study
Study the picture and answer the following questions:
(a) Name the event depicted in this picture.
The event depicted is Abraham Lincoln signing the Emancipation Proclamation.
(b) What is the significance of this event in American history?
This event is significant as it marked the formal commitment of the United States government to ending slavery and transformed the Civil War into a struggle for human freedom.
(c) Explain briefly the role of the person in the picture (sitting on the left) in abolishing the institution of slavery in the USA.
Abraham Lincoln, sitting on the left, used his executive authority as President to issue the Proclamation, advocated for the 13th Amendment, and led the Union to victory, ensuring that the principle of "all men are created equal" became a legal reality.
Project Work
"It takes a great visionary to make a difference in history". Make a project to bring out the truth of this statement by referring to the life and work of Abraham Lincoln. How can you conclude that he was a lover of freedom and equality? Abraham Lincoln demonstrated he was a lover of freedom and equality by rising from a background of extreme hardship to become a leader who prioritized human rights over political compromise. His unwavering commitment to ending slavery, his refusal to let the Union dissolve, and his vision of a government "for the people" prove his dedication to equality for all mankind.
Question 1In what year did England recognize the independence of its 13 colonies?
Question 2Which treaty recognized the independence of the 13 American colonies?
Question 3The 13 colonies converted their loose confederation into which type of system?
Question 4What is the name of the legislative body through which colonies participated in the federal government?
Question 5Which house of the US Congress provided equal representation for each colony regardless of population?
Question 6Between which years did the American Civil War take place?
Question 7The American Civil War was primarily a struggle between which two groups?
Question 8What was the primary economic characteristic of the Northern States before the war?
Question 9Why did the Northern States want to impose tariffs on imported goods?
Question 10What was the primary economic characteristic of the Southern States?
Question 11Which crop was the main raw material provided by Southern plantations to Northern and English industries?
Question 12Why did the Southern States want tax-free trade with Britain?
Question 13From which continent were thousands of people captured and forced into slavery in America?
Question 14By 1804, what action had most Northern states taken regarding slavery?
Question 15Settlers from which countries significantly contributed to industrial growth in the North?
Question 16What was the main disagreement regarding newly settled territories in the West?
Question 17What were the people who demanded the immediate end of slavery called?
Question 18What did the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 require?
Question 19Who wrote the novel 'Uncle Tom's Cabin'?
Question 20What was the impact of the novel 'Uncle Tom's Cabin'?
Question 21Who was the Republican candidate in the Presidential election of 1860?
Question 22What was Stephen Arnold Douglas's stance on slavery in 1860?
Question 23What did the Southerners fear would happen if Lincoln became President?
Question 24How many Southern States declared their secession before Lincoln took office?
Question 25What was the name of the government established by the seceding Southern states?
Question 26On what date was the Southern government established?
Question 27Who was elected as the President of the Confederacy?
Question 28In his inaugural address, what did Lincoln state was his objective regarding slavery?
Question 29According to Lincoln's address, did a state have the right to secede from the Union?
Question 30Where were the first shots of the American Civil War fired in April 1861?
Question 31In which state is Fort Sumter located?
Question 32How many volunteers did Lincoln call for to suppress the initial rebellion?
Question 33What military strategy did Lincoln order against Confederate sea ports?
Question 34Which of these was an advantage of the Northern states during the war?
Question 35What was the name of the document issued by Lincoln in September 1862 regarding slavery?
Question 36According to the Proclamation, when would slaves in rebelling states be considered free?
Question 37Which battle, fought in July 1863, resulted in 50,000 casualties and a Union victory?
Question 38What was the purpose of the Gettysburg Address?
Question 39How did Abraham Lincoln define democracy in his Gettysburg Address?
Question 40Which Confederate general surrendered his army to end the war?
Question 41Who was the Union General who accepted the surrender of the Confederate army?
Question 42Where did the surrender that ended the Civil War take place?
Question 43In which state is Appomattox Court House located?
Question 44What was one of the most significant political results of the Civil War?
Question 45How did the war affect large-scale manufacturing in the USA?
Question 46Why did Western farmers begin using machines during the war?
Question 47Which act was passed by Congress in 1863 to regulate the banking system?
Question 48What was a primary reason for the National Banking Act of 1863?
Question 49Which of these weapons were introduced or used for the first time during the Civil War?
Question 50What forms of communication were used for the first time in warfare during the Civil War?
Statement 1England recognized the independence of its 13 colonies in 1783.
Statement 2The Treaty of Paris recognized the independence of the American colonies.
Statement 3The 13 colonies formed a federal system immediately without any prior confederation.
Statement 4In the US federal system, power is shared between the Centre and the colonies.
Statement 5The US Congress is composed of the Senate and the House of Representatives.
Statement 6The Senate is known as the Lower House of the US Congress.
Statement 7Representation in the Senate is based on the size of a colony's population.
Statement 8The American Civil War lasted from 1861 to 1865.
Statement 9The Northern states were primarily agricultural with huge plantations.
Statement 10The Northern states were heavily industrialized with textile factories.
Statement 11Railways and canals contributed to the rapid growth of Northern cities.
Statement 12Southern states wanted to impose high tariffs on imported goods.
Statement 13Northern states wanted tariffs to protect their industries from foreign competition.
Statement 14Southern states provided raw cotton to industries in England and the North.
Statement 15The South wanted tax-free trade with Britain to get cheap manufactured goods.
Statement 16Economic disparity between the North and South was a major cause of the Civil War.
Statement 17Thousands of slaves were captured from Africa to work on American plantations.
Statement 18Slaves in America were paid high wages for their labor on plantations.
Statement 19There were many laws in place to protect slaves from harsh treatment by their masters.
Statement 20The Northern states did not require slaves because people worked as paid laborers in factories.
Statement 21Slavery was abolished in the Northern states in 1804.
Statement 22The Southern states supported the abolition of slavery in the North.
Statement 23Settlers from Britain, Germany, and Ireland significantly contributed to Northern industrial growth.
Statement 24Northerners wanted newly settled Western states to be slave states.
Statement 25Southerners argued that Congress had no right to prevent them from bringing slaves into new territories.
Statement 26Abolitionists were people who demanded the immediate end of slavery.
Statement 27The Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 mandated that runaway slaves be returned to their masters.
Statement 28Abolitionists supported the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850.
Statement 29Harriet Beecher Stowe wrote the novel 'Uncle Tom's Cabin'.
Statement 30'Uncle Tom's Cabin' described the pleasant conditions of slaves in America.
Statement 31Abraham Lincoln was the Republican candidate in the 1860 Presidential election.
Statement 32Stephen Arnold Douglas was the candidate for the Republican Party in 1860.
Statement 33Abraham Lincoln stood for the freedom and emancipation of slaves.
Statement 34Southern states feared Lincoln would stop the expansion of slavery.
Statement 35Seven Southern states declared secession before Lincoln took office.
Statement 36The Confederate States of America was established on February 9, 1861.
Statement 37Jefferson Davis was elected as the President of the Confederacy.
Statement 38Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the USA.
Statement 39In his inaugural address, Lincoln said he intended to abolish slavery where it already existed.
Statement 40Lincoln declared that no state had the right to secede from the Union.
Statement 41The Civil War began with a Confederate attack on Fort Sumter.
Statement 42Fort Sumter was located in New York Harbour.
Statement 43Lincoln called for 75,000 volunteers to suppress the Southern rebellion.
Statement 44The Northern states had a stronger naval force than the Southern states.
Statement 45The Confederate army offered very little resistance to the Federal army.
Statement 46The Proclamation of Emancipation was issued by Lincoln in September 1862.
Statement 47The Proclamation of Emancipation freed slaves in all Northern states immediately.
Statement 48The Battle of Gettysburg took place in July 1863.
Statement 49Almost 50,000 soldiers were killed during the three days of fighting at Gettysburg.
Statement 50The Confederacy won a major victory at the Battle of Gettysburg.
Question 1England recognised the independence of its 13 colonies by the Treaty of ______ in 1783.
Question 2The 13 colonies initially formed a loose confederation which was later converted into a ______ system.
Question 3Under the federal system, power was shared between the government at the Centre and each of the ______ colonies.
Question 4The legislative body of the federal government in the United States is called the ______.
Question 5The Upper House of the US Congress is known as the ______.
Question 6The Lower House of the US Congress is called the House of ______.
Question 7Irrespective of population size, each colony was given ______ representation in the Senate.
Question 8The American Civil War lasted for ______ years.
Question 9The American Civil War was fought between the years ______ and 1865.
Question 10The northern states were largely ______ with many textile factories and manufacturing industries.
Question 11The introduction of ______ and canals in the North led to the rapid growth of cities and towns.
Question 12Northern states wanted to impose ______ on imported goods to protect their industries from foreign competition.
Question 13The southern states were primarily ______ with huge plantations.
Question 14Southern plantations provided ______ for industries in both England and the northern states.
Question 15The southern states wanted ______ trade with Britain to get cheap manufactured goods.
Question 16Economic disparity between the North and South created ______ between the two regions.
Question 17Slaves were captured from ______ and forced to work on American plantations.
Question 18In the South, slaves were forced to work in cotton, ______, and tobacco plantations.
Question 19Slaves were bought and sold like a ______ and had no rights.
Question 20Slavery was abolished in the northern states in the year ______.
Question 21Large numbers of settlers from Britain, Germany, and ______ settled in the northern states.
Question 22The northerners wanted newly explored western territories to be ______ states.
Question 23The southerners wished for new western territories to be ______ states.
Question 24People who demanded the immediate abolition of slavery were called ______.
Question 25The ______ Act of 1850 required runaway slaves to be returned to their masters.
Question 26The novel ______ Cabin described the miserable condition of slaves in America.
Question 27The author of Uncle Tom’s Cabin was ______.
Question 28In the 1860 Presidential election, Abraham Lincoln was the candidate of the ______.
Question 29The Democratic candidate who contested against Lincoln in 1860 was ______.
Question 30Abraham Lincoln stood for the ______ of slaves.
Question 31The state of ______ was the first to declare its secession from the Union.
Question 32Seven southern states established a government called the ______ States of America.
Question 33The Confederacy established its government on February 9, ______.
Question 34The President of the Confederate States of America was ______.
Question 35Abraham Lincoln became the ______ President of the USA.
Question 36Lincoln's objective was to prevent the spread of slavery in the ______ States of the West.
Question 37Lincoln warned that no state had the right to ______ after joining the Union.
Question 38The Civil War began when Confederates attacked federal troops at Fort ______.
Question 39Fort Sumter was located in ______ Harbour.
Question 40Lincoln called for ______ volunteers to suppress the southern rebellion.
Question 41Lincoln ordered a ______ of the confederate sea ports.
Question 42The North had a strong ______ force compared to the South.
Question 43The Confederate army offered tough resistance under its ______ generals.
Question 44In 1862, Lincoln issued the ______ declaring slaves in rebelling states to be free.
Question 45The effective date for the freedom of slaves under the Emancipation Proclamation was January 1, ______.
Question 46One of the bloodiest battles of the war was fought at ______ in July 1863.
Question 47Approximately ______ soldiers were killed in the three-day battle at Gettysburg.
Question 48Lincoln delivered his famous speech, the ______, in November 1863.
Question 49Lincoln defined democracy as the government of the people, ______ the people, and for the people.
Question 50The Civil War ended when General ______ surrendered his Confederate army.
Question 1
In what year did England recognize American independence?
Question 2
Which treaty ended the American Revolutionary War?
Question 3
What system of government was adopted by the 13 colonies?
Question 4
What is the legislative body of the US government called?
Question 5
What is the name of the Upper House of Congress?
Question 6
What is the name of the Lower House of Congress?
Question 7
How many years did the American Civil War last?
Question 8
What were the starting and ending years of the Civil War?
Question 9
Which states supported the federal government during the war?
Question 10
Which states opposed the federal government during the war?
Question 11
What was the primary economic structure of the Northern states?
Question 12
What was the primary economic structure of the Southern states?
Question 13
What did Northern states want to impose on imported goods?
Question 14
What was the main raw material produced by the South?
Question 15
Which country was the primary trade partner for Southern cotton?
Question 16
Where were American slaves primarily captured from?
Question 17
Name one major crop grown on Southern plantations besides cotton.
Question 18
In what year was slavery abolished in the Northern states?
Question 19
What were states that abolished slavery called?
Question 20
What were people who demanded the immediate end of slavery called?
Question 21
Which 1850 act required runaway slaves to be returned?
Question 22
Who wrote the novel 'Uncle Tom's Cabin'?
Question 23
Who was the Republican candidate in the 1860 election?
Question 24
Who was the Democratic candidate in the 1860 election?
Question 25
Which state was the first to declare secession?
Question 26
What was the government formed by the Southern states called?
Question 27
Who was elected President of the Confederacy?
Question 28
Abraham Lincoln was which number President of the USA?
Question 29
Where were the first shots of the Civil War fired?
Question 30
In which harbour was Fort Sumter located?
Question 31
How many volunteers did Lincoln call to suppress the rebellion?
Question 32
What did Lincoln order against Confederate sea ports?
Question 33
What military advantage did the North have at sea?
Question 34
What was the 1862 document that declared slaves free?
Question 35
On what date did the Proclamation of Emancipation take effect?
Question 36
What was the bloodiest battle of the war, fought in 1863?
Question 37
How many soldiers died in the three days at Gettysburg?
Question 38
Name Lincoln's most famous speech.
Question 39
Which general surrendered his army to end the war?
Question 40
Which Union general accepted the Southern surrender?
Question 41
Where did the final surrender take place?
Question 42
In which state did the war finally end?
Question 43
What political idea was abolished by the war?
Question 44
Which 1863 act regulated the US banking system?
Question 45
Name one new weapon introduced during the war.
Question 46
What communication system was used for the first time in warfare?
Question 47
In which state was Abraham Lincoln born?
Question 48
In what year was Abraham Lincoln born?
Question 49
Who assassinated Abraham Lincoln?
Question 50
Where was Lincoln assassinated?
Question 1
Explain the difference in economic structures of the Northern and Southern states that led to the American Civil War.
1. Northern States: These states were highly industrialised, featuring numerous textile factories and manufacturing units. The growth of cities was supported by a strong network of railways and canals. Consequently, they wanted to impose high tariffs on imported goods to protect their local industries from foreign competition.
2. Southern States: The South was primarily agricultural, relying on massive plantations of cotton, sugarcane, and tobacco. They produced raw materials for industries in the North and England. Because they relied on trade with Britain, they wanted tax-free trade to receive cheap manufactured goods in exchange for their raw cotton.
Question 2
Describe the miserable conditions and the legal status of slaves in the Southern states before the Civil War.
1. Transport: Slaves were captured from Africa and transported in miserable, unhygienic conditions.
2. Labor: They served as cheap and efficient tools for plantation development, working long hours without any wages.
3. Treatment: Slaves were badly treated by their masters, living in poor conditions and being bought and sold like commodities.
4. Legal Status: Slaves had no rights. Most significantly, there were no laws to protect them from the harsh treatment of their masters, and the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 even mandated that runaway slaves be returned to their owners.
Question 3
What was the significance of Harriet Beecher Stowe's novel, 'Uncle Tom's Cabin'?
1. It was inspired by the cruelty of the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850.
2. The book described the heart-wrenching and miserable conditions of slaves in America.
3. It succeeded in rousing public anger and moral indignation against the institution of slavery, helping to mobilize the Northern population against the Southern slave-holding system.
Question 4
Discuss the 'Fear of Republican Control' as a cause for the secession of the Southern states.
1. Abraham Lincoln contested as the Republican candidate, standing for the freedom and emancipation of slaves.
2. The Southerners feared that if Lincoln became President, he would fulfill his promise to stop the expansion of slavery into new territories.
3. Even if he didn't abolish it immediately, they believed the Northerners eventually would. Consequently, seven Southern states decided to quit the Union and form the Confederate States of America before Lincoln even took office.
Question 5
What were the immediate events that marked the beginning of the American Civil War in 1861?
1. Secession: Seven Southern states (South Carolina, Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, and Texas) declared secession and established the Confederate States of America on February 9, 1861.
2. Attack on Fort Sumter: In April 1861, the Confederates attacked federal troops stationed at Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbour, South Carolina.
3. Mobilization: In response to this attack, President Lincoln called for 75,000 volunteers to suppress the rebellion and ordered a blockade of Confederate sea ports.
Question 6
Compare the strengths of the Federal (Union) Army and the Confederate Army during the war.
1. Union (North): They had higher numerical strength due to a larger population. They possessed better scientific knowledge, more factories to equip the army, and a superior naval force for blockades.
2. Confederacy (South): Despite being outnumbered and less equipped, the Confederate army had very able generals and offered tough resistance. They managed to defeat federal forces in several regional battles during the early stages of the war.
Question 7
Analyze the importance of the Emancipation Proclamation issued by Abraham Lincoln.
1. Legal Freedom: It declared that slaves in states still in rebellion against the federal government were automatically free.
2. Military Shift: It turned the war into a moral crusade for human freedom, rather than just a war to preserve the Union.
3. International Impact: It set an example for the rest of the world to follow in abolishing slave trade and inhuman practices.
Question 8
Discuss the significance of the Battle of Gettysburg (1863).
1. Intensity: It was one of the bloodiest battles, with almost 50,000 soldiers killed in just three days of fighting.
2. Victory: The Federal Army won an important victory, which proved to be a major setback for the Confederacy.
3. Political Legacy: The battle provided the occasion for Lincoln’s famous Gettysburg Address, where he redefined the purpose of the war and the nature of American democracy.
Question 9
Explain the significance of the American Civil War in terms of national unity and sovereignty.
1. End of Secession: It abolished the idea of state sovereignty and the right of a state to secede from the Union for all time.
2. National Strength: It welded the diverse states into a single, strong nation with a centralized federal system.
3. Citizenship: After the war, residents of all states were granted uniform citizenship with equal rights to life, liberty, and property.
Question 10
How did the American Civil War influence the economy and industrialization of the United States?
1. Manufacturing: It led to the rapid growth of large-scale manufacturing industries to meet the needs of the war effort.
2. Agricultural Mechanization: Due to a shortage of labor (as people moved west or joined the army), farmers were compelled to use machines, which enhanced production and reduced labor costs.
3. Banking: To fund the war and organize the economy, Congress passed the National Banking Act in 1863, which stimulated the sale of war bonds and promoted the use of paper currency.
Question 11
Detail the role of Abraham Lincoln in preserving the Union.
1. Strong Leadership: He refused to accept the secession of Southern states and maintained that the Union was permanent.
2. Integrity: He balanced the war effort with political skill, issuing the Emancipation Proclamation to weaken the South while keeping the North focused on victory.
3. Vision: In his Gettysburg Address, he inspired the nation to ensure that 'government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth'.
Question 12
Describe the circumstances of Abraham Lincoln’s death and its aftermath.
1. The Incident: On April 14, 1865, while watching a play at Ford’s Theatre, he was shot in the head by actor John Wilkes Booth.
2. Death: He never regained consciousness and died the following day, April 15, 1865.
3. Legacy: He died as a champion of human liberty and a hero who had successfully saved the Union and abolished slavery, leaving a legacy of noble ideals and democracy.
Question 13
How did territorial expansion in the West contribute to the friction between the North and South?
1. New States: As population grew due to European migration, new territories were explored and absorbed into the USA as new states.
2. The Slavery Dispute: Northerners wanted these new states to be 'free states' to prevent unfair competition for free migrants. Southerners wanted them to be 'slave states' to maintain their economic system and political power.
3. Congressional Conflict: Slave-holders argued that Congress had no right to prevent them from bringing their 'property' (slaves) into new territories, leading to legislative deadlock.
Question 14
What were the 'Points to Remember' regarding the significance of the Civil War according to the text?
1. Institution of Slavery: The war put an end to slavery, which had long estranged Northern and Southern relations.
2. National Unity: It unified the USA into a strong nation and ended the debate over state sovereignty.
3. Industrial Growth: It led to rapid industrialization and the growth of large-scale manufacturing.
4. Financial Regulation: It resulted in the regulation of the banking system and the growth of nationwide business.
5. Military Innovation: It introduced new weapons (rifles, submarines) and used railroads and telegraphs for warfare.
Question 15
Explain the structure of the US Congress as described in the chapter.
1. Senate: This is the Upper House. Every state is given equal representation here, regardless of the size of its population.
2. House of Representatives: This is the second body of the legislature.
3. Power Sharing: This structure ensured that power was shared between the central government and the individual states.
Question 16
What was the significance of the Treaty of Paris (1783)?
1. Recognition: It was the agreement by which England officially recognized the independence of its 13 colonies on the eastern coast of North America.
2. Formation: It allowed these colonies to form a confederation, which eventually evolved into the federal system of the United States.
Question 17
Describe the military end of the Civil War.
1. Key Figures: The war ended when the Confederate General Robert E. Lee surrendered.
2. Recipient: He surrendered to the Union General Ulysses S. Grant.
3. Location: The surrender took place at the Appomattox Court House in Virginia, effectively ending four years of heavy casualties and fighting.
Question 18
How did the North’s population and scientific knowledge aid their victory?
1. Manpower: A large population, bolstered by immigrants from Britain, Germany, and Ireland, provided a steady supply of soldiers.
2. Equipment: Scientific knowledge led to better-equipped armies with modern weapons.
3. Infrastructure: The North’s superior network of railways and canals allowed for faster movement of troops and supplies compared to the South.
Question 19
Define 'Federation' and 'Confederate States' as per the chapter's glossary.
1. Federation: The formation of States into a single group with centralized control.
2. Confederate States: The 11 states of the South which seceded from the American Union to form their own government during the Civil War.
Question 20
What role did European immigrants play in the Northern states prior to the war?
1. Growth: Large numbers of people from Britain, Germany, and Ireland settled in the North, contributing to a rapid increase in population.
2. Innovation: These settlers brought scientific knowledge that was crucial for industrial growth.
3. Expansion: As the population grew, these individuals were instrumental in exploring and settling the western regions of North America.
Question 21
Why did the Southern states feel that tax-free trade with Britain was essential?
1. Export: They relied on selling raw cotton to British textile mills.
2. Import: They did not have their own manufacturing industries, so they needed to buy finished goods from Europe.
3. Cost: Tax-free trade ensured they could get these manufactured goods at the lowest possible price, whereas Northern tariffs made those goods expensive.
Question 22
What was the human toll of the American Civil War?
1. Duration: It dragged on for four long years (1861-1865).
2. Casualties: There were heavy casualties on both sides. In the Battle of Gettysburg alone, 50,000 soldiers were killed in three days.
3. Scale: It is described as one of the bloodiest periods in American history, requiring the mobilization of hundreds of thousands of volunteers.
Question 23
Examine the quote: 'A government of the people, by the people, and for the people.'
1. Meaning: It defines the core essence of democracy, where the power resides with the citizens.
2. Context: Lincoln used this phrase to encourage the nation to continue the war effort so that this form of government would not perish.
3. Legacy: It remains the most famous definition of democracy in the world today.
Question 24
Describe the early life and education of Abraham Lincoln.
1. Birth: Born in 1809 in the state of Kentucky.
2. Upbringing: He faced great hardship after his mother died when he was only nine years old.
3. Career: Despite his poor background, he studied law, became a distinguished lawyer, and a powerful orator, eventually being elected to Congress in 1847.
Question 25
How did the war change the status of citizenship in the USA?
1. Unified Citizenship: Before the war, state loyalty was often stronger than national loyalty. After the war, everyone became a citizen of the USA first.
2. Equal Rights: The post-war era ensured that citizens in all states were granted equal rights, specifically the protections of life, liberty, and property.
Question 26
What new technologies of warfare were used during the Civil War?
1. Weapons: Introduction of quick-loading rifles, which were more efficient than older muskets.
2. Naval: The use of armoured ships and even early submarines.
3. Logistics: The strategic use of railroads to move troops and telegraphs for instant communication between generals and the government.
Question 27
Why did the North abolish slavery in 1804, much earlier than the South?
1. Labor Needs: Most people in the North worked in factories as paid labourers.
2. Utility: The industrial economy did not rely on the massive, unskilled labor force required by Southern plantations.
3. Ideology: This economic independence allowed the North to adopt 'free state' status and eventually lead the abolitionist movement.
Question 28
Explain the significance of the National Banking Act of 1863.
1. War Bonds: Its immediate purpose was to provide a stimulus for the sale of war bonds to fund the Union army.
2. Currency: It gave a great impetus to the use of paper currency across the nation.
3. Business Growth: By regulating the banking system, it contributed to the growth of nationwide business and a more stable economy.
Question 29
What was the 'Proclamation of Emancipation' and when was it issued?
1. Issuance: It was issued by Abraham Lincoln in September 1862.
2. Term: It stated that if any state continued to rebel by January 1, 1863, the slaves in that state would be considered free.
3. Authority: It stripped Southern masters of their legal right over slaves in rebellious territories.
Question 30
Discuss the impact of the Civil War on American agriculture in the long term.
1. Westward Movement: During the war, thousands of people moved west to buy new lands for cultivation, increasing total production.
2. Mechanization: The labor shortage caused by the war forced farmers to adopt machinery.
3. Efficiency: These machines not only reduced the cost of labor but significantly enhanced the overall production capacity of American agriculture.