Question 1

What were the main causes of the American Civil War?

Accepted Answer

The main causes were slavery, economic differences between the industrial North and agricultural South, and disputes over states' rights. The election of Abraham Lincoln in 1860, who opposed the expansion of slavery, triggered Southern secession. Key events like the Compromise of 1850 and the Kansas-Nebraska Act (1854) heightened tensions.

Question 2

How did Manifest Destiny lead to conflict with Native Americans?

Accepted Answer

Manifest Destiny justified westward expansion, leading to the forced removal of Native Americans from their lands. The Indian Removal Act (1830) resulted in the Trail of Tears, and later conflicts like the Battle of Little Bighorn (1876) and the Wounded Knee Massacre (1890) occurred as settlers encroached on tribal territories.

Question 3

What was the significance of the Civil Rights Act of 1964?

Accepted Answer

The Civil Rights Act outlawed discrimination based on race, colour, religion, sex, or national origin, ending segregation in public places and banning employment discrimination. It was a major victory for the Civil Rights Movement, though enforcement was slow and resistance continued in the South.

Question 4

Why did Reconstruction fail?

Accepted Answer

Reconstruction failed due to Southern resistance (e.g., Black Codes, Ku Klux Klan), lack of federal commitment after 1877, and economic pressures. The Compromise of 1877 ended Reconstruction by withdrawing federal troops from the South, allowing white supremacists to regain control and enforce Jim Crow laws.

Question 5

How did the Great Depression affect different groups in America?

Accepted Answer

The Great Depression (1929–1939) hit African Americans and farmers hardest, with unemployment reaching 50% for Black workers. The New Deal provided relief but often excluded domestic and agricultural workers, who were mostly Black. Mexican Americans faced deportation, while women faced wage discrimination. The Dust Bowl worsened conditions for Plains farmers.

Question 6

What role did women play in the Civil Rights Movement?

Accepted Answer

Women were crucial as organisers, strategists, and activists. Rosa Parks sparked the Montgomery Bus Boycott (1955–1956), while Ella Baker helped found the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC). Fannie Lou Hamer led voter registration drives, and many women faced sexism within the movement despite their contributions.

Conflict across America

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