DTW GED PREP

In the early 1800s, the United States was deeply divided by regional differences, which led to a phenomenon known as sectionalism. The country’s regions—particularly the North and South—developed distinct economies, cultures, and political preferences, which created tensions over policies and governance. In the North, the economy was increasingly industrialized, and many northern states relied on manufacturing and trade. This economic shift led Northerners to support policies such as high tariffs that protected emerging industries from foreign competition. In contrast, the Southern economy was largely agricultural, dependent on the labor of enslaved people to produce crops like cotton, tobacco, and rice. As a result, Southerners favored policies that protected slavery and supported agricultural exports. They also opposed high tariffs, as these raised the cost of manufactured goods, which they relied on.

The growing differences between the North and South led to increased sectionalism, where loyalty to one’s region often overshadowed loyalty to the country as a whole. The most contentious issue between the two regions was slavery. As new territories were added to the Union, there was fierce debate over whether these territories should allow slavery. Southerners, who relied on slavery for their agricultural economy, pushed for new territories to be designated as “slave states,” believing that each state should have the right to decide its own policies, including the right to maintain slavery. This belief in states’ rights, the idea that states should have the power to govern themselves without federal interference, became a rallying cry for many in the South. On the other hand, many in the North, including abolitionists, believed that slavery was morally wrong and should be banned in new territories, though they did not necessarily call for the immediate abolition of slavery where it already existed.

The sectional conflict intensified as compromises were attempted but ultimately failed to provide a lasting solution to the issue of slavery. In 1857, the Dred Scott decision by the Supreme Court further deepened the divide. Dred Scott, a slave who had lived in a free territory, sued for his freedom. The Court ruled that slaves were property and had no legal rights, effectively protecting the institution of slavery and angering many in the North. This decision emboldened the South and intensified the sense of injustice felt in the North. The election of Abraham Lincoln in 1860 further escalated tensions. Lincoln, representing the newly formed Republican Party, promised not to interfere with slavery in states where it already existed but opposed its expansion into new territories. The South saw this as a threat to their way of life, and several Southern states responded by seceding from the Union, forming the Confederate States of America under the leadership of Jefferson Davis.

The Civil War began in April 1861 when Confederate forces attacked Fort Sumter in South Carolina, marking the start of a brutal conflict. The North had many advantages, including a larger population, a more established army, better financial institutions, more industry, and superior railroad infrastructure. However, the South had the advantage of fighting on familiar terrain. The war, which lasted for four years, was devastating, resulting in the deaths of over 600,000 soldiers. In 1862, President Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, which declared all slaves in Confederate-held territory to be free. This decree not only changed the moral and political landscape of the war but also led to the enlistment of 180,000 African American soldiers in the Union army.

The war ended in April 1865 when Confederate General Robert E. Lee surrendered to Union General Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox Court House. However, the country was left deeply divided, and the process of rebuilding the South and integrating it back into the Union, known as Reconstruction, was fraught with challenges. Lincoln had developed a Reconstruction plan that sought to reintegrate the Southern states with leniency, but his assassination in April 1865 threw the process into turmoil. His successor, Andrew Johnson, pursued a more conciliatory approach, which angered many Radical Republicans in Congress. These Radical Republicans believed that the South should be punished for seceding and waging war against the Union. They pushed for stronger protections for former slaves and passed the Freedmen’s Bureau to assist them in their transition to freedom.

When Southern states enacted Black Codes, which severely restricted the rights of African Americans, Radical Republicans took further action. They passed the Fourteenth Amendment in 1868, granting citizenship to all people born in the United States, including former slaves, and the Fifteenth Amendment in 1870, which prohibited voting restrictions based on race. These constitutional amendments were crucial steps in ensuring civil rights for African Americans, but they also led to intense political struggles during Reconstruction. Johnson vetoed many of the Radical Republicans’ measures, but Congress overrode his vetoes, pushing through significant changes to protect the rights of former slaves and ensure the South’s reintegration into the Union. Despite these efforts, the legacy of slavery and racial discrimination continued to shape American society for many years.

Directions: Choose the best answer to each of the following questions.

 1.  Place an X before each phrase that names an issue that led to the Civil War.

 _____ Lack of farmland for a growing population

 _____ The expansion of slavery into new territories

 _____ War with Mexico

 _____ Differences between North and South on economic issues

 _____ The election of President Abraham Lincoln

 _____ New amendments to the U.S. Constitution

 Question 2 is based on the following timeline:

2.  Which statement is true, based on the information in the timeline?

 A.   January was the most deadly month of fighting in 1865.

 B.   More Civil War battles were fought in 1865 than in any other year.

 C.   President Lincoln was assassinated less than a week after the end of the Civil War.

 D.   Much of the military action in the last few months of the war took place in North Carolina

1. Place an X before each phrase that names an issue that led to the Civil War:

✅ Correct Answers:

• ⛔ Lack of farmland for a growing population (Incorrect – not a major cause of the war)
• ✅ X The expansion of slavery into new territories
• ⛔ War with Mexico (Incorrect – this war ended in 1848 and was not a direct cause of the Civil War)
• ✅ X Differences between North and South on economic issues
• ✅ X The election of President Abraham Lincoln
• ⛔ New amendments to the U.S. Constitution (Incorrect – new amendments were made after the war, not a cause of it)

Explanation:
Key causes of the Civil War included slavery’s expansion, sectional economic differences, and Lincoln’s election, which led southern states to secede. The lack of farmland, Mexican War, and new amendments were not core reasons for the conflict.

2. Which statement is true, based on the information in the timeline?

✅ Correct Answer: C. President Lincoln was assassinated less than a week after the end of the Civil War.

Explanation:
General Robert E. Lee surrendered at Appomattox Court House on April 9, 1865, effectively ending major fighting in the Civil War. President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated on April 14, 1865, making this statement accurate. The other options are not supported or are incorrect based on historical records.