8th grade SS Causes of the Civil War Test 3/25/2014
Some questions (c) 2013 by TEKS Resource System.
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1
All of the following contributed
3
How did U.S. tariff policies contribute
to sectionalism EXCEPT—
to sectionalism prior to the Civil War?
A
A
B
C
attitudes toward private
Northern states benefited from
ownership of land
the tariffs, while Southern states
feelings about slavery as an
considered them an economic
economic institution
burden.
B
degree of industry in different
Western states wanted tariffs to
pay for improved infrastructure,
areas of the country
while Northern states wanted to
D different uses of land in different
reduce the national debt.
areas of the country
C
Northern states gained European
investment in industry, while
2
Use the events and your
Southern plantations had to rely
knowledge of social studies to
on trade with Latin America.
answer the following question.
D Southern states benefited from
tariffs on raw materials, while
1. Kansas­Nebraska Act
Northern and Western states
2. Missouri Compromise
disapproved of higher prices for
3. Compromise of 1850
imports.
4. Nullification Crisis
Which sequence correctly orders the
4
Where was the first battle of the Civil
events chronologically?
War fought?
F
F
1, 2, 4, 3
Richmond, Virginia
G 3, 2, 1, 4
G Fort Jefferson, Florida
H 2, 4, 3, 1
H Fort Sumter, South Carolina
J
J
4, 3, 2, 1
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Appomattox Court House, Virgina
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5
Use the table and your knowledge of social studies to answer the following
question.
Positions of Political Parties Prior to the Civil War
Supported Abraham Lincoln in 1860
Split over slavery; had 2 candidates in
1860
No extension of slavery
Individual states should decide the
slavery issue
Legislation needed to protect the rights of Need to maintain the current way of life
slaves
Which pair of political parties best completes the table?
A
Democrats, Republicans
B
Republicans, Democrats
C
Republicans, Know Nothings
D American Party, Democrats
6
Which of the following was a result of
the Missouri Compromise?
F
The slave trade ended.
G Slavery was declared
unconstitutional.
H Only slave states were admitted
into the Union.
J
Political power was balanced
between slave and free states.
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Use the excerpt and your knowledge of social studies to answer the following
two questions.
. . . [W]e are satisfied, upon a careful examination of all the cases decided in the
State courts of Missouri referred to, that it is now firmly settled by the decisions of
the highest court in the State, that Scott and his family upon their return were not
free, but were, by the laws of Missouri, the property of the defendant; and that the
Circuit Court of the United States had no jurisdiction, when, by the laws of the State,
the plaintiff was a slave, and not a citizen.
—Dred Scott v. Sandford (1857) 7
How did this decision affect the lives of enslaved people?
A
It restricted slavery to states alone and not territories.
B
It allowed enslaved people to sue for their freedom in state courts.
C
It confirmed enslaved people were property and cannot bring a case to a federal
court.
D It determined enslaved people could travel across state lines when seeking
freedom.
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8
Use the table and your knowledge
of social studies to answer the
following question.
Economic Differences
Prior to the Civil War
Northern States
Southern
States
Textile
Cotton
manufacturing
plantations
Large urban
Rural labor force
labor force
Support high tariffs Oppose high
tariffs
Which inference is best supported by
the table?
F
The South's population primarily
lived in large cities.
G The South had a higher standard
of living than the North.
H The North depended upon foreign
imports to feed its population.
J
The North was more industrial
while the South was mostly
agricultural.
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9
Use the excerpt and your knowledge of social studies to answer the following
question.
The great and leading principle is, that the General Government [came] from the
people of several States, forming distinct political communities, and acting in their
separate sovereign capacity, and not from all the people forming one political
community; that the Constitution of the United States is, in fact, a compact to which
each State is a party, in the character already described; and that the several States,
or parties, have a right to judge of its infractions; and in the case of
deliberate, palpable, and dangerous exercise of power not delegated, they have the
right, in the last resort, to use the language of the Virginia Resolutions, “to interpose
for arresting the progress of evil, and for maintaining, within their respective limits,
the authorities, rights and liberties appertaining to them.”
—Vice President John C. Calhoun, “The Fort Hill Address,” July 1831
How did the ideas expressed by Vice President Calhoun contribute to the outbreak of
the Civil War?
A
He claims the Constitution only applies to the national government.
B
He claims that state government has the right to reject federal laws.
C
He claims the federal government does not have the power to regulate slavery.
D He claims individuals formed the national government and they can vote to change
the rights and liberties the government protects.
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10
Use the information in the box
11
How did many Southern
and your knowledge of social
slaveholders view the issue of
studies to answer the following
slavery?
question.
A
an economic issue.
B
California becomes a free
Slavery was considered immoral
and should be abolished.
state.
Strict fugitive slave law
C
Slavery was considered a
adopted.
historical tradition that should be
Slave trade, but not slavery,
maintained to keep cultural ties
banned in District of Columbia.
with the past.
New states in the Southwest
D As a source of controversy,
could vote to have slavery.
slavery was considered a political
Texas' debt paid in exchange
problem the federal government
for adjustment of the Texas
should solve.
boundary.
Which congressional action is
described above?
F
As a source of labor, slavery was
Tariff Act
12
Which abolitionist wrote the book
Uncle Tom's Cabin in an effort to
convince the American people that
slavery was wrong?
G Compromise of 1850
F
H Missouri Compromise
G Mercy Otis Warren
J
H Harriet Beecher Stowe
Kansas­Nebraska Act
J
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Harriet Tubman
Walt Whitman
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13
How did both the Missouri
14
How did economic opportunities for
Compromise and the Compromise
free African Americans differ from
of 1850 contribute to differences
enslaved African Americans during
between free and enslaved African
the early 1800s?
Americans?
F
A
The institution of slavery was
own property and had some
allowed in some new states
rights, while enslaved African
while other states allowed
Americans had no rights at all.
freedom for African Americans.
B
G Free African Americans had no
Both compromises expanded
rights to own property, but could
rights for enslaved African
operate a business, while
Americans, but limited the rights
enslaved African Americans had
of free African Americans in new
no rights at all.
free states.
C
Free African Americans could
H Free African Americans had the
Free African Americans gained
right to own businesses and
new rights to vote and hold
property, while enslaved African
office in new free states while
Americans only had the right to
enslaved African Americans
own personal property.
lacked any rights. D Both compromises limited the
J
Free African Americans could
own and operate their own
spread of slavery to east of the
business, while enslaved African
Mississippi River, allowing
Americans could not own but
enslaved African Americans who
could only operate a few small
escaped slavery to gain their
types of businesses.
freedom and political rights in
free states.
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How did Ely Whitney's Cotton Gin
17
Which of the following best
effect slavery?
summarizes Lincoln's ideas found in
A
The cotton gin reduced the
his First Inaugural Address?
number of slaves in the south.
A
Slavery should be abolished
The cotton gin expanded slavery
B
He is not wanting to end slavery,
B
C
because cotton production
but he will not allow states to
became more profitable.
secede.
Slavery expanded because
C
slaves were hired to work in
States have the right to do
whatever they want.
factories that produced the
D Lincoln is wanting to start a war
cotton gin.
with the south.
D The price of slaves more than
doubled as a result of the cotton
gin.
18
Chorus from "John Brown's
Body", a folk song
"John Brown's body lies a moudering
16
What effect did Uncle Tom's Cabin
in the grave, but his soul goes
have on public opinion?
marching on."
F
Northerners in general became
more sympathetic toward slave
Which of the following people would
owners
have been most likely to sing this
G More northerners began to
oppose slavery
H Southerners began to see
slavery as evil
J
song?
F
G a supporter of popular
sovereignty
Southerners called for
Northerners to abolish slavery
H an abolitionist
J
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a southern plantation owner
a border ruffian
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19
Which statement summarizes the
21
Which of the following made up the
outcome of the presidential election
smallest percentage of those living in
if 1860?
the south?
A
Overwhelming support from
A
Slaves
southern voters carried Lincoln
B
Poor whites
C
Small Farmers
to victory
B
Lincoln won despite the fact that
D Cottonocracy
he did not carry even one
southern state
C
Moderates helped Lincoln carry
enough southern votes to win.
D Lincoln lost to Stephen Douglass
22
Which of the following statements
correctly describes the issue that led
to the Compromise of 1850?
F
Admitting California to the Union
in 1850 restored the balance
20
Which state chose to secede first
starting the Confederate States of
America?
F
between free and slave states.
G Admitting Texas to the Union in
1850 gave slave states and
Texas
advantage that could not be
G Virginia
H South Carolina
J
reversed.
H Admitting California to the Union
in 1850 extended slavery into a
Georgia
territory acquired from Mexico.
J
Admitting California in 1850 gave
the free states an advantage
over slave states.
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What did the Supreme Court rule in
25
In what year did the Civil War begin?
the Dred Scott. V. Sandford case?
A
B
Dred Scott was set free since he
Record your answer and fill in the
lived in a free state.
bubbles on your answer document.
Dred Scott was property and not
a citizen.
C
Be sure to use the correct place
value.
Dred Scott's owners were guilty
of holding him against his will and
were arrested.
D Dred Scott's owners had to pay
Dred Scott for work he did while
living in a free state.
24
How did Abraham Lincoln and other
moderates feel about the spread of
slavery into the territories?
F
Lincoln believed slavery should
not be allowed to spread to the
territories.
G Lincoln believed Congress should
allow slavery in any state that
wanted it.
H Lincoln was on a mission to
abolish slavery in all states and
territories.
J
Lincoln believed we should
always maintain an equal balance
between slave and free states.
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