Vocabulary

• manifest destiny
• Know-Nothing Party
• Gettysburg
• Kansas-Nebraska Act
• local autonomy
• Reconstruction
• Abolition
• secession
• Progressives
• Popular sovereignty
• Daguerretype
• populist
• Free-soilers
• whistle-stop tour
• orator

Discussion Questions

1. What were the interests that made up the new Republican party ? In what regions was the republican party the strongest? What about the Democrats?
2. How many candidates ran for president in the election of 1860? What did each candidate represent?
3. What is the difference between ending the spread of slavery and ending slavery itself? Do you think the Union could have been saved without ending slavery? Why or why not?
4. What was the outcome of Lincoln's election? How could secessionists argue that "resistance to Lincoln is obedience to God?"
5. How did Lincoln's second campaign for president benefit from the Union army's victories during the Civil War ? What role do immediate events have on any election?
6. What was happening in the American economy in the early 1890's? How did this effect the voters?
7. Who was William Jennings Bryan? Why was he important? Why did he support the silver standard for money? What was his "Cross of Gold" speech?
8. Why is Marcus Hanna important in the history of American political campaigns ? What did William McKinley's platform represent? How did economic developments help McKinley?
9. How did Teddy Roosevelt first become president? What did the Progressives believe in? Why did Roosevelt not run for re-election in 1908?
10. Why was Roosevelt critical of President Taft? How did Taft respond? How did Roosevelt's showing in the primaries effect later party nominations? What was the role of the nominating convention prior to this time?
11. Compare Roosevelt with Woodrow Wilson. How were they similar? How were they different?

Research Projects

1. Three American presidents were assassinated in the 19th century. Who were they? What were the motives of the assassins? How did the nation respond to the different assassinations? In outline form, explain your findings.
2. One of the great "What ifs?" in American history is : What if Lincoln had survived? Imagine what Reconstruction would have been like if Lincoln had lived until the end of his second term. Be prepared to support your theories.
3. Create a campaign poster for Teddy Roosevelt's "Bull Moose" party. What accomplishments would you emphasize?
4. Research Woodrow Wilson's administration. On a timeline, indicate important legislation that was passed during his tenure in office.