EOC Spot Check Road to Disunion Day 01

Based on the quotes, how did many Northern abolitionists respond to the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850?

• They believed moral beliefs were more important than obeying unjust laws.

• They supported following all laws, even if they protected slavery.

• They prioritized economic growth over moral arguments against slavery.

• They believed only state laws should be followed, not federal ones like the Fugitive Slave Law.

Answer explanation

Northern abolitionists like William H. Seward and The Liberator argued that moral law was higher than the Constitution and that the Fugitive Slave Law forced Northerners to act against their conscience.

How did the Kansas-Nebraska Act’s use of popular sovereignty contribute to the violence shown in the images?

• It allowed settlers to decide the status of slavery, leading to violent clashes between pro-slavery and anti-slavery groups.

• It required Kansas to allow slavery, which caused conflict with nearby free states.

• It forced federal troops to patrol Kansas, increasing armed resistance.

• It banned slavery in Kansas, which angered Southern settlers.

Answer explanation

Popular sovereignty opened Kansas to a vote on slavery. This led to “Bleeding Kansas,” where both sides flooded the territory and violence broke out, as reflected in the militant tone of the Citizens of Lawrence notice and John Brown’s armed image.

Who is the individual shown in the second image, and what was his role in the violence in Kansas?

• John Brown, who led anti-slavery raids and attacks against pro-slavery settlers

• Stephen Douglas, who passed the Kansas-Nebraska Act and promoted compromise

• Jefferson Davis, who encouraged pro-slavery forces to occupy Kansas

• Abraham Lincoln, who condemned slavery but avoided direct conflict in Kansas

According to Chief Justice Taney’s ruling in Scott v. Sandford, what was the impact of the decision on the legal status of African Americans?

• • It ruled that African Americans could not be citizens and had no rights under the Constitution.

• • It granted African Americans the right to vote in federal elections.

• • It declared that African Americans were free in all states and territories.

• • It had no significant impact on the status of African Americans.

Answer explanation

Taney’s ruling stated that African Americans, whether free or enslaved, were not included under the term “citizens” in the Constitution. This denied them basic legal protections and fueled national outrage.

How did the Dred Scott v. Sandford decision impact Congress’s authority over slavery in the territories?

• Congress could not prohibit slavery in the territories because it violated the property rights of slaveholders.

• Congress had full authority to abolish slavery in the territories.

• It allowed each territory to decide on slavery through popular sovereignty.

• It required Congress to pass laws expanding slavery into all U.S. territories.

Answer explanation

The Court ruled that enslaved people were property, and the Constitution protected slaveholders’ rights. This meant Congress had no power to ban slavery in new territories, which invalidated the Missouri Compromise and inflamed sectional tensions.