American History Homework Five Answers - Student Fourteen

DuncanB

American History Homework 4

1. The Know-Nothing Party was founded as an attempt to keep immigrants from the United States. Thus, the answer would be (b).

Correct.

2. Two of the key premises of the Whig Party were:

A. The National Bank

B. Tariffs

Excellent.

3. The cause of the Mexican War was the 1845 fighting between Mexican troops and Americans on the banks of the Rio Grande River, allegedly on American soil. Whether it was on American land or not is debatable. The Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo, signed in 1848, ended it.

Good, but also add how Polk wanted new territory, which was the real cause. (Minus 1).

4. Stephen Douglas was an extremely important figure in the 1840-1860 period. The Kansas-Nebraska Act, his brainchild, which allowed the inhabitants of each new territory to decide for themselves whether or not they wanted to allow slavery in that territory, was perhaps the biggest reason for the Civil War (other than the existence of slavery itself.) He was a brilliant speaker who always tried, usually unsuccessfully, to compromise between pro-slavery and anti-slavery forces.

Superb, so good that I will include as a model answer. Update: I changed my mind after seeing the model answers; we have this point covered already. Instead, I want to use your Dred Scott answer in the model.

5. “Bleeding Kansas” was the entire conflict between pro-slavery and anti-slavery settlers in the state of Kansas in the 1850s. It began when pro-slavery forces attacked an abolitionist newspaper headquarters and destroyed the building and equipment. A man was killed by the pro-slavers.

Excellent, could have added how the abolitionists (especially John Brown) responded violently also.

6. This cartoon shows Liberty, representing the United States, thrashing Stephen Douglas. Liberty is saying “You have been a bad boy, Steve, ever since you had anything to do with that Nebraska Bill….” The cartoon illustrates many people’s discontent and opposition for the Nebraska Bill and Stephen Douglas; its date would be about 1854.

Good analysis, but the discussion of the Nebraska Bill implies that happened in the past. So I think the date would be after 1854. (Minus 1).

7. The Civil War was inevitable; an all-out faceoff between the pro-slavery forces and the abolitionist forces was unavoidable. The state of “troubled peace” could not continue forever, causing political and physical battles, keeping the Union in two separate factions. Although for the first fifty years of its existence, the United States managed to stay together and at peace, it was an armed truce.

Superb analysis!

H1. The South had no chance, ever, of winning the Civil War. It depended on the North for much of its food. Although the South had a good deal of growing land, those broad acres were dedicated to growing cotton and tobacco, neither of which fed any of the South’s soldiers. The North had twice the population of the South’s 9 million people, 3.5 million of which were slaves. Northern factories and factory workers outnumbered Southern ones five to one and ten to one, respectively; they also controlled more than eighty percent of the railroads. The Union controlled most of the Navy and naval bases. The grim mathematics of time and lives meant that the South eventually had to lose.

Terrific, will include as a model answer. That's your second one in the model answers!

H4. John Brown did not help his cause very well. He gave all abolitionists a name of violence and bloodshed in the South, and his rebellion failed.

Good.

H5. In the Dred Scott vs. Sanford case, the job of the judges was merely to decide whether or not Dred Scott was free or not. Instead, they handed down an aggressive decision which was not within their rights at all. According to their decision, slaves could not even sue in court and were mere property. All they were supposed to do was decide if he was free or not.

Terrific answer.

Fantastic answers. Score: 98/100. Well done!--Aschlafly 11:59, 18 October 2008 (EDT)