WORKSHEET CHAPTER 19
QUESTIONS
1. The text states in reference to Uncle Tom's Cabin that "no other novel in American history ..... can be compared to it as a political force." Explain.
Uncle Tom's Cabin was a book written by Harriet Beecher Stowe with the intent to show people the horrors of slavery in the South and how it separated black families. This novel greatly impacted the people of the North and became highly read and publicised in America and Europe. Many were stunned by the brutality done towards slaves and turned many people against slavery. Unlike any other book, Uncle Tom's Cabin caused tension amongst the North and South and strongly presented Northern beliefs on slavery.
2. What caused the book-burning of The Impending Crisis in the South?
The Impending Crisis was written by Hinton R. Helper who hated slavery and blacks. The book tried to prove how slavery most negatively affected nonslave-holding whites. Though these white disregarded the book, the book enraged the aristocratic elite in the South, scared that the poorer whites would abandon them. The book became taboo for its message and was banned in the South as well as burned at book burning parties.
3. How did the Kansas territory end up with two governments? What happened in Lawrence, Kansas?
In 1855 there was an election to decide whether Kansas would become a free or slave state. At the time there were only 1500 citizens but over 6000 votes. Many of these votes came from pro slavery ruffians from Missouri. Free-soilers in the state become outrages and make a new election. Because of this, Kansas gets 2 governments that opposed each other.
4. Who was John Brown? Why have his actions in Kansas become infamous?
John Brown was a militant abolitionist. When he and his sons moved to Kansas, they murdered 5 proslavery men. This became infamously known as the Pottawatomie Massacre. This led to mini civil war in Kansas and gave the state the nickname "Bleeding Kansas."
5. How did the actions of President Buchanan, Stephen Douglass, and the citizens of "Bleeding Kansas" divide the Democratic Party?
Unaware of the sharp division of the party, President Buchanan put his support under the Lecompton Constitution. Stephen Douglas, on the other hand, would not stand for this, and called for popular sovereignty to decide Kansas. This led to the Lecompton Constitution being up to popular vote and so many free-soilers flocked to the polls. President Buchanan had antagonized the Douglas Democrats of the North and the Democratic party was split.
6. Compare northern and southern reaction to Brooks' caning of Sumner.
The North considered Brooks as a coward and bully. The beating of Sumner made his insensitive speech popular, being sold in the tens of thousands and gaining the senator thousands of votes from Republicans. The South did not completely approve of Brooks' actions but were angry over Sumner's remarks on the South as well as how his speech was applauded in the North.
7. Describe the presidential candidates in the election of 1856. The text states that, "mudslinging splattered the candidates." Explain.
Democrats: James Buchanan, was a minister of London and so, generally without enemies, supported popular sovereignty
Republicans: Fremont, wanted no new slave states
Know Nothing Party: ex President Millard Fillmore, anti-Catholic and anti-immigrant
There was much mudslinging, with Buchanan being made fun of for still being a bachelor and Fremont's illegitimate birth in the South to his mother that ran away with a French explorer. The Republicans even sang a song showing their support of Fremont, which the Democrats would sneer at.
8. How was the Buchanan victory fortunate for the Union? What did the election of 1856 foreshadow?
Buchanan was bland but able to win because many people were coerced into voting for him. Southerners threatened to secede if Fremont were to become president. Many Northerners wanted to keep the Union together as well as keep their business with the South and so voted for Buchanan.
