Enduring Vision Chapter 15 Short Essay Questions

Chapter 15 Short essay Questions

1.      How and why did the Dred Scott decision, the Lincoln-Douglas debates, and the election of 1860 move the nation toward the civil war?

                   I.            Dred Scott, a slave, was taken from the slave state of Missouri to the Free State of Wisconsin.  When his master died, he sued for his freedom on the grounds of his residence in a free territory. In this case the Court faced two key issues: (1) did Scott’s residence in free territory during the 1830s make him free and Regardless of the answer to the above question (2) did Scott, again enslaved in Missouri have the right to sue for his freedom in federal courts. Since the Supreme Court was composed mostly of southerners, they ruled against Scott. They ruled that blacks (slave or free) were not citizens of the United States Also ruled that the Missouri Compromise had always been unconstitutional because Congress had no right to exclude slavery from any territory. To do so would violate the 5th Amendment protection of property and property holders. The Republicans denounced the decision and prepared to ignore it

Ø  The Dred Scott pleases the South, but displeases the North. In fact many Northerners ignored it. The fact that the Supreme Court ruled the Missouri Compromise unconstitutional angered many Northerners.  It cancelled out the compromise and broke the bandage that kept the North and South at peace.

                II.            The Lincoln-Douglas Debates

·         During the senate campaign Lincoln challenged Douglas to a series of debates now titled the “Lincoln-Douglas Debates”. Lincoln began with his famous “House Divided” speech.- a nation cannot exist permanently half slave and half free. Douglass used the debates to portray Lincoln as a virtual abolitionist and an advocate of racial equality. However, in the debates, Lincoln attacked slavery as morally evil but denied that Congress had the right to abolish it in the South or that he favored equality for black. Rather, he stuck to his position that barring slavery from the territories. Although Douglas won the IL Senate seat, the election further split the Democratic Party. It also made Lincoln “famous in the North and infamous in the South”

Ø  The South was displeased that Slavery could be excluded from territories if special law are not made to protect slavery. This is the Freeport Doctrine. During these debates, Lincoln was called an abolitionist because he did not believe in a country divided over slavery. He did not approve of extending slavery, but nor did he believe in eradicating from the south. Still the South did not like him.

             III.            The election of 1860

·         In the The election of 1860 the Republicans broadened their appeal in the free states in 1860 by supporting a protective tariff, federal aid for internal improvements, and a homestead act. They nominated Lincoln for President. The northern and southern Democrats were unable to agree on a platform so they split giving Lincoln the chance to win.

·         Since the South had already hated Lincoln, they were really upset he was elected. In fact he did not receive any votes from the south and still he got elected. This meant that the South did not equal representation to the North. Also many of the Southern Ballots did not even have Lincoln’s name so many Southerners were mad to have a president that wasn’t even on the ballot.

   

2.      How did the North and South attempt to bring their economic resources to bear to win the civil war? Why was the North more successful in the end?

a.       The South tried to use Cotton diplomacy to win the war. It was the biggest cotton producer. England and other textile countries needed the cotton to for their textile industries. The South hoped to win the support of England and France because they needed the South’s cotton.

b.      The North used its massive industry to win. It had numerous factories that mass produced weapons and clothing. It also had a strong national government that could support raising taxes and printing paper money. The North eventually won because it could outlast the South’s resources.  The South eventually ran out of resources, while the North could replenish its resources with the massive factories.

3.      What was “cotton diplomacy” and why did it fail?

a.       The South tried to use Cotton diplomacy to win the war. It was the biggest cotton producer. England and other textile countries needed the cotton to for their textile industries. The South hoped to win the support of England and France because they needed the South’s cotton.

b.      The Cotton diplomacy failed for three reasons. First, because of slavery. Uncle Tom’s Cabin, touched the heart of the Queen of England, and convinced her to not support the South when Lincoln issued the Proclamation Emancipation, freeing the Southern slaves. France followed England’s suit. Second reason was the draw at Antietam. Since the South did not win the battle, France and England were convinced to not support the CSA. The third reason was because the South was no longer the only place to get cotton from Cotton could now be acquired from colonies in Egypt and other countries.

4.      Describe at least three major battles, campaign, or strategies that marked turning points in the war. Explain why they helped to ensure a Union victory.

a.       Battle of Antietam: the battle was a draw. It was one of the bloodiest battles in US history. It was because of the South’s inability to win, that France and England did not support the South. This victory led to Lincoln giving the Proclamation Emancipation, freeing the Southern slaves. This just gave the European countries another reason to not help the South. Also more slaves started to runaway. They joined the Union army and added to manpower, thus giving the North a huge advantage.

b.      The next turning point battle took place in 1863. In the battle of Vicksburg, the Union gained the Mississippi River. After a long siege, General Ulysses Grant takes full control of the Mississippi. This dealt a huge blow to the South. Not only did it split the South in half, but is also stopped the South’s trade and transportation. The South did not have railroads, so they depended on the river for transportation.

c.       The last thing that truly turned the tides was Sherman’s March to the Sea. General William T. Sherman started from Atlanta and went to Savannah, destroying everything in his path. He burned down everything in his path. This destroyed the morale of the South, and caused the men to leave the army to come back to families and the land. They came back to reconstruct the damage. After this the South no longer had the heart to fight.