We are not enemies, but friends. We must not be enemies. Though passion may have strained it must not break our bonds of affection. The mystic chords of memory, stretching from every battlefield and patriot grave to every living heart and hearthstone all over this broad land, will yet swell the chorus of the Union, when again touched, as surely they will be, by the better angels of our nature.

(A) Lincoln-Douglas Debates, 1858(B) Cooper Union Address, 1860(C) First Inaugural Address, 1861(D) Gettysburg Address, 1863(E) Second Inaugural Address, 1865

(C) First Inaugural Address, 1861

Explanation: As Lincoln took office in March 1861, the Union was already disintegrating as Southern states established the Confederate States of America. Lincoln, while not wanting to endorse their secession in any way, also sought to reach out in hopes of peaceful reconciliation.

I. The market for northeast manufacturers expanded both domestically and internationally.II. The California gold rush added as much as $50 million a year in gold to the economy each year.III. As the plantation system spread, the U.S. supplied most of the world's cotton.IV. Western agriculture experienced growth with the expansion of railroads and the opening of European markets.V. Protective tariffs climbed steeply during the decade to reach their highest levels since the nation's founding.

(A) I, II, and IV only(B) I, II, and III only(C) I, III, IV and V only(D) I, II, III, and IV only(E) all of the statements are true

(D) I, II, III, and IV only

Explanation: The 1850s  witnessed tremendous growth in the American economy. Foreign and domestic markets expanded for both manufactured goods and  agricultural products with the spread of railroads and the introduction of clipper ships to Europe. By 1860, the U.S. supplied 7/8 of the world's cotton as the plantation system, while morally reprehensible, was economically productive. The gold rush added capital to the economy and spurred western migration.  Tariffs, however, which had been a huge issue of contention between the pro-tariff North and anti-tariff South during earlier decades, declined to their lowest level since their implementation in the Federalist Era.

Which of the following statements about the 1854 Kansas-Nebraska Act is not accurate?

(A) it repealed the Missouri Compromise's restriction on slavery north of the 36°30' line(B) it was proposed by Illinois Senator Stephen Douglas(C) its passage helped reduce tension in the Kansas region between pro- and anti-slavery forces(D) it was based on the concept of popular sovereignty, which stated that a territory's voters should decide on slavery's fate(E) opponents of the bill helped form the Republican Party

(C) its passage helped reduce tension in the Kansas region between pro- and anti-slavery forces

Explanation: The Kansas-Nebraska Act allowed residents of the Kansas and Nebraska territories to select or reject slavery, thus overturning the restriction on slavery's expansion in the 1820 Missouri Compromise. Proposed by Stephen Douglas, it led to the first set of Lincoln-Douglas debates in 1854, the creation of the Republican Party by opponents, and an increase in violence in Kansas as pro- and anti-slavery forces poured into the region.

Which of the following political parties of the 1840s and 1850s was strongly anti-immigrant and anti-Catholic and limited its membership to Anglo-Saxon Protestants?

(A) Free Soil (B) Whig (C) Republican (D) Know-Nothing(E) Liberty

(D) Know-Nothing

Explanation: The Know-Nothings, strongly anti-German and anti-Irish, received their nickname from the practice of members to say "I know nothing" about their group if non-members asked them about it. They joined former Whigs in 1854 to form the American Party. Their platform in the 1856 presidential election included lengthening the period for naturalization to 21 years, restricting public school teacher positions and public offices to Protestants and mandating daily Bible readings in public schools. 

Which controversial antebellum figure was described by Henry David Thoreau as "an angel of light" and by Frederick Douglass as one whose  "...zeal in the cause of my race was far greater than mine —it was as the burning sun to my taper light mine was bounded by time, his stretched away to the boundless shores of eternity. I could live for the slave, but he could die for him."

(A) Abraham Lincoln(B) William Lloyd Garrison(C) John Brown(D) John C. Frémont(E) Stephen Douglas

(C) John Brown

Explanation: Brown led an 1859 raid in Harper's Ferry, Virginia, attempting to start a slave insurrection throughout the South. The raid failed and Brown was quickly tried, convicted, and executed. His life and death took on symbolic value, however, for both the  North and the South in the next tumultuous decade.

"When a sixth of the population of a nation which has undertaken to be the refuge of liberty are slaves, and a whole country is unjustly overrun and conquered by a foreign army, and subjected to military law, I think that it is not too soon for honest men to rebel and revolutionize. What makes this duty the more urgent is the fact that the country so overrun is not our own, but ours is the invading army...Under a government which imprisons any unjustly, the true place for a just man is also a prison.."

(A) Abraham Lincoln(B) Henry Clay(C) William Lloyd Garrison(D) Ralph Waldo Emerson(E) Henry David Thoreau

(E) Henry David Thoreau

Explanation: Thoreau, who spent a night in the Concord jail for not paying his taxes, developed  his concept of peaceful protest in "Civil  Disobedience." His writings inspired several Twentieth Century nonviolent social activists, including Gandhi and Martin Luther King, Jr.

I. Abraham Lincoln introduces the spot resolutions in Congress.II. The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo ends the Mexican War.III. The Oregon Treaty is approved.IV. Texas is annexed by the U.S.

(A) I, II, III, IV(B) IV, III, I, II(C) III, IV, I, II(D) IV, I, III, II(E) III, I, II, III

(B) IV, I, III, II

Explanation:  IV. Texas is annexed by the U.S. (1845);  III. The Oregon Treaty is approved. (1846);  I. Abraham Lincoln introduces the spot resolutions in Congress. (1847).  II. The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo ends the Mexican War. (1848).

(A) Kit Carson(B) Zebulon Pike(C) John C. Frémont(D) Davy Crockett(E) Jedediah Smith

(C) John C. Frémont

Explanation: Frémont led a small band of soldiers south from Oregon in June 1846 and assisted some American settlers who had declared the Bear Flag Republic in Sonoma, California by capturing the Mexican Commandant of Northern California.

I. Journalist John O'Sullivan first used the term in an essay in 1845 in which he encouraged the U.S. to annex Texas.II. It referred to specific territories that President James K. Polk intended to add to the U.S.III. Its philosophical base included the concept of American exceptionalism.IV. It is usually associated with the era from 1865-1900.V. Its concepts were generally opposed by Whigs such as Henry Clay and Abraham Lincoln who favored development of America's economy.

(A) I and V only(B) II, III, and IV only(C) I, III, and V only(D) III, IV, and V only(E) I, IV, and V only

(C) I, III, and V only

Explanation: First referred to in principle by O'Sullivan in 1839, manifest destiny was first identified in his 1845 essay "Annexation." While not referring to specific territories, it did rely on the spirit of American exceptionalism. It is usually associated with the years from 1812-1860. It was favored by Democrats such as Polk but usually opposed by Whigs who encouraged bolstering America's internal economy.

(A) it was accomplished during the administration of John Tyler(B) it featured a battle cry of "54 40 or Fight" from members of Parliament(C) it settled the border between the U.S. and Canada at the 49th parallel in the Oregon Territory(D) the Oregon Territory had a large number of British fur trappers living and working in its area when the Oregon Treaty was signed(E) the Oregon Treaty provided for joint control of the land until the year 1900

(C) it settled the border between the U.S. and Canada at the 49th parallel in the Oregon Territory

Explanation: The Oregon Treaty, concluded in James K. Polk's one-term administration in 1846, re-affirmed the U.S.-Canada border at the 49th parallel. The Treaty provided for joint control of the land for 10 years. In fact, very few British subjects lived in Oregon at the time of the Treaty. The cry of "54 40 or Fight" was made by American expansionists who sought a border for Oregon much farther north.

(A) volunteers, including former Congressman Davy Crockett, defending the Alamo against the Mexican army(B) an execution by Mexican troops of Texans at Goliad(C) following it, Texas elected Sam Houston as the president of the Republic of Texas(D) a speech by Congressman Abraham Lincoln demanding to know the spot of American soil on which American blood was spilt(E) a surrender of Mexican General Santa Anna at the Battle of San Jacinto

(D) a speech by Congressman Abraham Lincoln demanding to know the spot of American soil on which American blood was spilt

Explanation: Lincoln introduced his "spot resolutions" during the 1846 Mexican-American War.

(A) Andrew Jackson(B) Martin Van Buren(C) Zachary Taylor(D) Franklin Pierce(E) James Buchanan

(B) Martin Van Buren

Explanation: Van Buren, who served as Andrew Jackson's Secretary of State and Vice-President, was an attorney and lifelong politician. Jackson was a general in the War of 1812, as were Taylor and Pierce in the Mexican-American War. Buchanan served as a volunteer during the War of 1812 in the defense of Baltimore.

(A) both moved west after their birth(B) both had a deep and abiding faith in American democracy(C) both were attorneys who had military experience in their resumes(D) both were at one time members of the Whig Party(E) both were activist presidents, using strong executive action to accomplish their goals

(D) both were at one time members of the Whig Party

Explanation: While Lincoln began his political career as an anti-Jackson Whig, Jackson was a Democrat. Jackson's military career was far more extensive than Lincoln's, as the latter served only briefly in the Black Hawk War. Both moved west, Jackson from South Carolina to Tennessee and Lincoln from Kentucky to Indiana and then Illinois. Both strengthened the office of the president by taking forceful executive action. Both men were firm believers in the importance of preserving the Union and the value of democracy.

I. the war added significant territory to the U.S.II. significant opposition to the war could be found in New England statesIII. naval blockades were a major part of the warIV. the war ended in a stalemate with the issues causing the war remaining unresolved

A) I, II, and III onlyB) II and III onlyC) II, III, and IV onlyD) all of the statement are trueE) none of the statements are true

B) II and III only

Explanation: While a great deal of territory was added to the U.S. at the end of the Mexican-American War, only Carleton Island in the St. Lawrence River became a U.S. possession as a result of the War of 1812. Both the War of 1812 and the Mexican-American War were unpopular in New England. Federalists generally opposed the War of 1812, while Whigs expressed their opposition to what they saw as a land-grab of Mexico by Southern Democrats. Following some early American naval victories, the British instituted a blockade of the eastern seaboard during the War of 1812 as the U.S. did to Mexico's east coast during the Mexican-American War. While the War of 1812 was settled by the Treaty of Ghent, which solved few of the problems leading to war, the Mexican-American War was concluded by the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo which resulted in huge land concessions being made to the U.S. by Mexico.

      (A)  the border states enthusiastically supported all Union policies      (B)  England and France openly supported the Union      (C)  slave rebellions were a constant worry among Confederate officials      (D)  the Union states were completely unified in their war aims      (E)  it was greatly outnumbered in population

(E) it was greatly outnumbered in population.

  Explanation: At the start of the war, the population of the Union numbered  22 million, while the Confederacy's population was nine million which included four million slaves. This meant that a long war of attrition favored the Union, as it could call up new recruits for its armies. Despite that fact, the Union resorted to a draft to fill quotas.

(A) stated that fugitive slave laws were unconstitutional(B) allowed slavery in territories north of the 36°30' line(C) provided for compensating slaveowners for runaway slaves(D) passed both the House and the Senate(E) allowed for the importation of new slaves from Africa

I. John Brown's raid at Harper's Ferry II. Lincoln elected president III. Passage of Kansas-Nebraska Act IV. Lincoln-Douglas Debates V. Dred Scott decision

(A) I-III-IV-V-II(B) III-IV-V-I-II(C) III-V-IV-I-II(D) IV-III-V-I-II(E) V-III-IV-II-I

(C) III-V-IV-I-II   Explanation: From the 1854 Kansas-Nebraska Act

until Lincoln's election in 1860, the U.S. witnessed a deteriorating political climate as the debate over slavery's existence and extension dominated discussion. The 1857 Dred Scott decision, in which Congress' right to control slavery in the territories was overturned, helped to further harden positions, which were debated by senatorial candidates Lincoln and Douglas in the 1858 Illinois contest. Brown's unsuccessful attempt in 1859 to launch a slave revolt in Virginia added more fuel to the fire. Within a month of Lincoln's election, South Carolina declared its intention to secede from the Union.

(A) nominated Abraham Lincoln as its first presidential candidate in 1856(B) took a strong stand against protective tariffs in the 1850s(C) was formed in response to the Compromise of 1850(D) had both strong northern and southern wings in its first decade of existence(E) was comprised largely of former members of the Whig Party in the 1850s

(E) was comprised largely of former members of the Whig Party in the 1850s

 Explanation:  Formed in 1854 and comprised of a number of ex-Whigs, the Republican Party's first major position was in opposition to the Kansas-Nebraska Act which opened western territories to popular sovereignty and voided the Missouri Compromise's restriction on slavery. It was almost exclusively a northern party in the 1850s, nominating John C. Frémont for president in 1856 and electing Abraham Lincoln in 1860. Republican economic policies included support for strong protective tariffs.

(A) whether slaves should be sold in Washington, D.C.(B) the gag rule in Congress(C) the interpretation of slavery in the Bible(D) slavery in the western territories(E) California's entry into the Union as a free state

(D) slavery in the western territories

 Explanation:  Limiting or allowing the expansion of slavery into the territories west of the Mississippi River led to disagreements in Congress and violence in areas such as Kansas in the 1850s.

(A) increased ill-will between pro-slavery and anti-slavery forces(B) a rejection of the principles of manifest destiny(C) the addition of Florida to the U.S.(D) the annexation of Texas(E) the settlement of the Oregon Territory question

(A) increased ill-will between pro-slavery and anti-slavery forces

 Explanation:  The addition of the territory in the Mexican Cession added further tension to the discussion of slavery in the period following the Mexican-American War. California was admitted to the Union as a free state in the Compromise of 1850 with the assumption that the lands south of the 36° 30' line would be open to slavery, as was Texas.

(A) the U.S. had offered at least $25 million to Mexico for the purchase of California(B) internal opposition to the conflict came mostly from New England(C) while most of the fighting took place in Mexico, military engagements between U.S. and Mexican forces also took place in California(D) American troops outnumbered Mexican forces in each significant engagement of the war(E) one of the provisions of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo included Mexico giving up all claims to Texas

D) American troops outnumbered Mexican forces in each significant engagement of the war

 Explanation:  Despite facing a Mexican army greatly outnumbering his, General Zachary Taylor scored a major victory at Buena Vista in 1847. In the concluding battle at Mexico City later that year, General Winfield Scott's troops won, despite being outnumbered 25,000 to 10,000.

(A) was used by expansionists who sought major concessions from Great Britain in the disputed Oregon region(B) became the campaign slogan of Whig candidate Henry Clay in the 1844 presidential election(C) referred to the northern border of California which was disputed by the U.S., Great Britian, and Russia(D) referred to a border dispute between the U.S. and Mexico near the Nueces River(E) was used by the Whigs in 1840 along with "Tippecanoe and Tyler Too"

(A) was used by expansionists who sought major concessions from Great Britain in the disputed Oregon region

 Explanation:  Both the U.S. and Great Britain claimed possession of the Oregon Territory between the 42nd and the 49th parallel. Supporters of President James Polk agitated for war with Britain if their territorial demands weren't met, exclaiming "54° 40' or Fight." Not wanting to engage in another conflict while fighting the Mexican-American War, Polk quietly negotiated the Oregon Treaty of 1846 which set the border at the 49th parallel.

Which of the following ended slavery in the border states of Missouri, Kentucky, Maryland, and Delaware?

      (A)  Emancipation Proclamation      (B)  13th Amendment      (C)  Homestead Act      (D)  Kansas-Nebraska Act      (E)  Wilmot Proviso

(B)  13th Amendment

Explanation: The Emancipation Proclamation, which took effect on January 1, 1863, only applied to the states in rebellion against the Union and specifically excluded the border states, which retained slavery but did not join the Confederacy. When a woman shouted out "God is on our side, Mr. President," to President Lincoln, he reportedly responded "I hope to have God on my side, but I must have Kentucky." Later he explained to a U.S. senator: " “I think to lose Kentucky is nearly the same as to lose the whole game. Kentucky gone, we can not hold Missouri, nor, as I think, Maryland. These all against us, and the job on our hands is too large for us. We would as well consent to separation at once, including the surrender of this capital.” The 13th Amendment, ratified in 1865, ended slavery throughout the nation.