Exam 15: The Union Broken 1850-1861

Correct Answer:

Answered by Examlex AI Copilot

The debate over slavery was the most central issue to provoking the Civil War. The 1850s saw multiple events that highlighted the growing tensions over slavery, including the Compromise of 1850, the Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854, and the Dred Scott decision of 1857.

The Compromise of 1850, which included the Fugitive Slave Act, intensified the debate over slavery by requiring Northern states to return escaped slaves to their owners. This led to widespread resistance and increased tensions between the North and South.

The Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854 further exacerbated tensions by allowing settlers in the Kansas and Nebraska territories to decide for themselves whether to allow slavery. This led to violent conflicts between pro-slavery and anti-slavery forces, known as "Bleeding Kansas."

The Dred Scott decision of 1857 also fueled the fire, as it declared that African Americans, whether free or enslaved, were not citizens and could not sue in federal court. This decision outraged abolitionists and heightened the divide between the North and South over the issue of slavery.

While the debate over states' rights and economic differences were also contributing factors to the Civil War, it was ultimately the issue of slavery that was most central in provoking the conflict, as evidenced by the events and tensions of the 1850s.