A Short History of the United States for School Use Part 42

[Sidenote: Civil war in Kansas. _McMaster_, 357.]

[Sidenote: John Brown.]

[Sidenote: The slave const.i.tution.]

[Sidenote: Douglas opposes Buchanan.]

359. "Bleeding Kansas."--Meantime civil war had broken out in Kansas, Slavery men attacked Lawrence, killed a few free-state settlers, and burned several buildings. Led by John Brown, an immigrant from New York, free-state men attacked a party of slave-state men and killed five of them. By 1857 the free-state voters had become so numerous that it was no longer possible to outvote them by bringing men from Missouri, and they chose a free-state legislature. But the fraudulent slave-state legislature had already provided for holding a const.i.tutional convention at Lecompton. This convention was controlled by the slave-state men and adopted a const.i.tution providing for slavery. President Buchanan sent this const.i.tution to Congress and asked to have Kansas admitted as a slave state. But Douglas could not bear to see the wishes of the settlers of Kansas outraged. He opposed the proposition vigorously and it was defeated. It was not until 1861 that Kansas was admitted to the Union as a free state.

[Sidenote: John Brown's Raid, 1859. _Higginson_, 286-289; _Source-Book_, 294-296.]

[Sidenote: He seizes Harper's Ferry.]

[Sidenote: His execution, 1859.]

360. John Brown's Raid, 1859.--While in Kansas John Brown had conceived a bold plan. It was to seize a strong place in the mountains of the South, and there protect any slaves who should run away from their masters. In this way he expected to break slavery in pieces within two years. With only nineteen men he seized Harper's Ferry, in Virginia, and secured the United States a.r.s.enal at that place. But he and most of his men were immediately captured. He was executed by the Virginian authorities as a traitor and murderer. The Republican leaders denounced his act as "the gravest of crimes." But the Southern leaders were convinced that now the time had come to secede from the Union and to establish a Southern Confederacy.

QUESTIONS AND TOPICS

CHAPTER 31

-- 323.--_a_. Why were the people of South Carolina so opposed to any limitation of slavery? How did they show their opposition?

_b_. Had slavery disappeared in the North because people thought that it was wrong?

---- 324, 325.--_a_. What suggestions were made by some in the North for the ending of slavery? What do you think of these suggestions?

_b_. For what did Garrison contend, and how did he make his views known?

Why were these views opposed in the North?

-- 326.--_a_. Why were the Southerners so alarmed by Nat Turner's Rebellion?

_b_. What power had Congress over the mails? How would you have voted on this question?

---- 327, 328.--_a_. Why is the right of pet.i.tion so important? How is this right secured to citizens of the United States?

_b_. Why should these pet.i.tions be considered as insulting to slaveholders?

_c_. Why were the Southerners so afraid of any discussion of slavery?

CHAPTER 32

---- 329, 330.--_a_. Show by the map the extent of the Mexican Republic.

_b_. Why did Texas wish to join the United States? What att.i.tude had Mexico taken on slavery?

---- 331, 332.--_a_. Explain carefully how the Texas question influenced the election of 1844.

_b_. What was the Liberty party? How did its formation make the election of Polk possible?

_c_. What is a "joint resolution"?

-- 333.--How did the Mexicans regard the admission of Texas? What dispute with Mexico arose? Did Mexico begin the war?

---- 334, 335.--_a_. What was the plan of Taylor's campaign? Of Scott's campaign?

_b_. Mention the leading battles of Taylor's campaign. Of Scott's campaign.

---- 336, 337.--_a_. What action did the American settlers in California take? With what result?

_b_. Explain by a map the Mexican cessions of 1848 and 1853.

---- 338, 339.--_a_. What was the extent of Oregon in 1845?

_b_. How was the dispute finally settled? Explain by a map.

_c_. What was the extent of Oregon in 1847? Is it the same to-day?

_d_. Of what value was this region to the United States?

CHAPTER 33

---- 340, 341.--_a_. Why was there little question whether Oregon would be slave or free?

_b_. Explain carefully Wilmot's suggestion. What would be the arguments in Congress for and against this "proviso"?

_c_. What is meant by "squatter sovereignty"? What do you think of the wisdom and justice of such a plan?

---- 342, 343.--_a_. Describe the discovery of gold in California and the rush thither. What difference did _one year_ make in the population of California?

_b_. What att.i.tude did California take on the slavery question? Why?

---- 344, 345.--_a_. How had the question of slavery already divided the country?

_b_. What extreme parties were there in the North and the South?

_c_. Why was the question about the territories so important?

_d_. What action did President Taylor take? Why? What do you think of the wisdom of this policy?

---- 346, 347.--_a_. State the provisions of Clay's compromise plan. Which of these favored the North? The South?

_b_. What law had been made as to fugitive slaves? Why had it not been enforced? Why was the change made in 1850 so important?