US_Ch1_Thinking-Questions


 * Thinking Questions For Chapter 1**

1. How did westward territorial expansion become intertwined with the slavery issue? 2. How did the slavery issue being involved with territorial expansion lead to sectionalism? 3. Which event do you think was the most defining event discussed in section 1? 4. Who made the biggest impact on America in this section/why?
 * Section 1 - Manifest Destiny**

1. Was it possible to compromise on slavery? Why or why not? 2. Should Northerners abide by the Fugitive Slave Act even though they don't like the law or should they ignore the law? Why? 3. Would you rate leaders in the 1850s such as Henry Clay, Stephen Douglas, and Millard Fillmore (all three were involved in getting the Compromise of 1850) as pinheads or patriots? Why? Information on each is on your Internet guide. 4. Thomas Jefferson called the Missouri Compromise the "knell of the Union." Knell means ringing of a bell solemnly as at a funeral. Do you agree or disagree with Jefferson (was this compromise the start of America being torn apart by slavery or was the compromise good since it tried to compromise over slavery)? Explain. 5. Why was the Compromise of 1850 one of the causes of the Civil War? 6. Did the North or South get the best deal in the Compromise of 1850? Why do you think the way you do?
 * Section 2 - Slavery, Still**

1. What letter grade would you give Presidents Taylor, Fillmore, and Pierce? 2. Was Henry Clay a hero (for trying to solve the slavery debate in the territories) or a goat (for the Fugitive Slave Act consequences) for the Compromise of 1850? Why? 3. Do you think the Compromise of 1850 prevented war from breaking out in the 1850s or did it hasten (hurry) the war due to the unintended consequences? 4. You already know about the unintended consequences of the Fugitive Slave Act. In addition to what was discussed last section, the act made slavery a federal issue and was expensive to enforce. Also, free blacks could possibly be put back into slavery under fraudulent claims. Why would this increase the number of abolitionists?
 * Section 3 - The Political Pendulum**

1. Which direction was the "pendulum" swinging going into 1860? Why? 2. Why did Kansas become a focal point of the slavery debate that would be the major issue the nation went to war in the Civil War?
 * Section 4 - Bleeding Kansas and the Continuing Crisis**

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