The Trail History and Civics for Class 8 ICSE Solutions – The American Civil War

The Trail History and Civics for Class 8 ICSE Solutions – The American Civil War

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The Trail History and Civics for Class 8 ICSE Answers

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A. Fill in the blanks:

1. In the first half of the 19th century the only available source of labour in the United States of America was slaves.
2. The issue of slavery posed a serious threat to the integrity of the American nation.
3. The famous book, Unde Tom’s Cabin was written by Harriet Beecher Stowe.
4. Abraham Lincoln, who became the president of the United States of America in 1860 was determined to save the slaves at all costs.
5. The American Civil War was fought on the issue of secession

B. Match the following:

Answer:

C. Choose the correct answer:

1. The anti-slavery movement began in the northern/southern/ eastern states of the United States of America.
Ans: The anti-slavery movement began in the northern states of the United States of America.

2. The book Uncle Tom’s Cabin exposed the horrors of slavery/ war/famlne.
Ans: The book Uncle Tom’s Cabin exposed the horrors of slavery.

3. Jefferson Davis/Abraham Lincoln/Stonewall Jackson was appointed President of the Confederate States of America.
Ans: Jefferson Davis was appointed President of the Confederate States of America.

4. Abraham Lincoln/Jefferson Davis/Ulysses Grant abolished slavery in America.
Ans. Abraham Lincoln abolished slavery in America.

5. The northern/southern/eastern states decided to break away from the Union and form a Confederacy of their own.
Ans. The southern states decided to break away from the Union and form a Confederacy of their own.

D. State whether the following are true or false:

1. The southern states of America began an anti-slavery movement.
   False.
   Correct: The north states of America began an anti-­slavery movement.

2. Abraham Lincoln became the 14th president of the United States in 1860.
   False.
   Correct: Abraham Lincoln became the 16th president of the United States in 1860.

3. The Civil War was fought over the issue of slavery.
   False.
   Correct: It was fought because the southern states had left the Union, i.e., on the issue of secession.

4. The American Civil War (1861-65) was one of the most bitter wars in the history of mankind
   True.

5. After the American Civil War Lincoln made plans to repair the damages of the war and heal the wounds of the South.
   True.

E. Answer the following questions in one or two words/ sentences:

Question 1.
What were the two major developments that took place in the United States of America in the first half of the 19th century?
Answer:
The two major developments that took place during this period were:

1. The great westward expansion and
2. Industrial growth and development.

Question 2.
Why was raw cotton from the southern states in America sent to Lancashire in England?
Answer:
Cotton was shipped to the cotton mills in Lancashire in England, where the Industrial Revolution had created a huge demand for raw material.

Question 3.
Why were slaves considered a ‘necessity’ in the southern states of America?
Answer:
The southern states claimed that they needed slaves for their cotton and sugar plantations. Thus, slaves who provided cheap labour were considered a ‘necessity’ in the predominantly agricultural southern states.

Question 4.
Why is Abraham Lincoln described as the ‘Great Emancipator’?
Answer:
Lincoln was determined to save the Union at all costs-at the cost of war, if necessary. Civil war broke out in 1861. In 1863,Lincoln-abolished slavery in the South. He remains enshrined in the hearts of free people as the ‘Great Emancipator’.

Question 5.
Why did Lincoln declare war on the southern Confederacy?
Answer:
Abraham Lincoln was determined to save the Union at all costs so he declared war on the southern confederacy.

Question 6.
Why was the southern Confederacy defeated?
Answer:
North with its superior resources wore down the Confederacy. Lee surrendered to the Union general, Ulysses Grant, in April 1865. The Civil War came to an end.

Question 7.
What fact was permanently established as a result of the Civil War?
Answer:
It had established the fact that the American federation was an indestructible Union of States and no state had the right to secede.

Question 8.
Why had the Civil War impoverished the southerners?
Answer:
The war had been fought mainly in the South, and had resulted in the impoverishment of the southerners.

F. Answer the following questions briefly:

Question 1.
One of the great changes that took place in the United States of America in the first half of the 19th century was industrial growth and development. In this context, discuss:
(a) The serious problems arising from the cotton-growing industry in the southern states
(b) The anti-slavery movement leading to the growing tensions between the slave states and the abolition states
(c) The impact of Harriet Beecher Stowe’s famous book on the north-south conflict.
Answer:
(a)
The cotton-growing industry gave rise to serious problems in the United States. As the plantations increased, so did the demand for labour. The only available source of labour in those days was the slaves brought in from Africa and living in America. The issue of slavery would eventually turn into an explosive problem that would threaten the very existence of the American Union.
(b)
An anti-slavery movement began in the northern states of America.
The industrialized northern states did not need slave labour in their industries and, on the whole did not approve of slavery. The southern states on the other hand claimed that they needed slaves for their cotton and sugar plantations.
Thus, slaves who provided cheap labour were considered a ‘necessity’ in the predominantly agricultural southern states.
The southerners were often needlessly cruel and harsh in their treatment of slaves. This outraged many northerners and the tension between the slave states of the South and the abolition states of the North began to grow.
(c)
Harriet Beecher Stowe published her famous book, Uncle Tom’s Cabin, which highlighted and exposed the horrors of slavery and the miseries of the slaves. This book had a profound influence on the northern states and their antislavery campaign began to gather momentum. The southern states threatened to secede or break away from the Union and form a confederacy of their own.

Question 2.
Abraham Lincoln became the president of the United States during a very critical phase of American history. In this context discuss:
(a) Lincoln’s views on slavery
(b) The Gettysburg address in 1863
(c) The secession of the southern states and its consequences
Answer:
(a)
Lincoln’s views on slavery were well known. He thoroughly despised slavery, which he believed was a vicious and brutal system. He was uncompromisingly opposed to slavery. Human bondage was a negation and gross violation of democracy.
(b)
In the famous Gettysburg address in 1863, Lincoln justified the abolition of slavery on grounds of the cherished principles of liberty and equality of the founding father of the United States of America. ‘Four score and seven years ago,’ he declared, ‘our fathers brought forth upon this continent a new nation, conceived in liberty and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal. . .It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us. . .that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.
(c)
The southern states seceded from the Union and formed the Confederate States of America. Jefferson Davis was appointed the President of the Confederacy.Lincoln was determined to save the Union at all costs-at the cost of war, if necessary. Civil war broke out in 1861.
The southerners fought with determination and courage. They had brilliant generals like Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson, under whose leadership they initially won a number of victories.

Gradually, however, the North with its superior resources wore down the Confederacy. Lee surrendered to the Union general, Ulysses Grant, in April 1865. The Civil War came to an end. It had established the fact that the American federation was an indestructible Union of States and no state had the right to secede. The war had been fought mainly in the South, and had resulted in the impoverishment of the southerners.

Question 3.
With reference to the American Civil War answer the following questions:
(a) Explain briefly the nature and fundamental cause of the Civil War.
(b) Give a brief account of the course of the Civil War.
(c) State the positive and negative results of the war.
Answer:
(a)
The American Civil War (1861-65) was one of the most bitter civil wars in history; nearly 7 lakh people lost their lives. The Civil War, however, was not fought over the issue of slavery. It was fought because the southern states had left the Union, i.e., on the issue of secession. According to Lincoln, no state had the right to secede from the Union. Therefore, the Confederacy had to be defeated and the Union restored.
(b)
Initially the Southern States became successful in the battle field under the president ship of Jefferson Davis, but afterwards Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863, for all slaves, so the South was deprived of the help of the slave population. Soon the Northern forces captured New Orleans followed by Vicksburg. So the Confederate States were cut into two parts and the Battle of Gettysburg in July 1863, proved a great blow to the Southern States and in 1865, General Lee was forced to surrender at Appomattox Court House. The Civil War came to an end in 1865 with the victory of the Northerns due to more wealth and resources along with the powerful Federal Navy.
(c)
Civil War of America caused a great loss of Men and Money, so remarkable changes occurred in the history of America. Now the phase of rapid economic growth started both in the North and South. Both industries and scientific farming were started for solid material development. Development of roads and railways, settlement of Tariff policy, foundation of banking system, abolition of slavery and the national unity, etc. are the who some results and America became an active participant in international affairs. Democracy and Federalism became the main features of the destiny of America.

G. Picture study:

This is a portrait of the 16th president of the United States of America.

1. Name the president.
Ans. Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States of America.

2. Discuss his views on the institution of slavery.
Ans. Linclon thoroughly despised slavery which he believed was a vicious and brutal system. He was uncompromisingly opposed to slavery.

3. How did he define democracy?
Ans. Lincoln defined democracy as “Government of the people, by the people and for the people.

4. Why did he declare war on the southern states?
Ans. He declared War on the southern states because these states had left the union i.e., On the issue of secession. According to Lincoln, no state had the right to secede from the Union. Therefore, the confederacy had to be defeated and the union restored.

OTHER IMPORTANT QUESTIONS

Question 1.
Briefly explain the differences between the northern and southern states of the America Union.
Answer:
Difference between northern and southern states:

1. The northern states developed as manufacturing and shipping centers. Whereas the southern states developed great plantation industries, the most important being the cotton­ growing industry.
2. The industrialized northern states did not need slave labour  in their industries and on the whole did not approve of slavery whole as the southern states on the other hand I  claimed that they needed slaves for their cotton and sugar plantations.

Question 2.
What role did the novel, Uncle Tom’s Cabin, play in the outbreak of the Civil War in 1861?
Answer:
This book had a profound influence on the northern states and their anti slavery campaign began to gather momentum. Due to this the southern sates break away from the union and formed conlederacy of their own. Which become the main cause of the civil war.

Question 3.
Why did the southern states decide to break away from the American Union?
Answer:
Due to northern states anti slavery campaigns against them, the sourthern states break away from the American Union.

Question 4.
Why did Lincoln abolish slavery?
Answer:
Lincoln abolish slavery because he believed slavery was a vicious and brutal system and he cherished principles of liberty and equality which were given by the founding fathers of the united states of Amercia.

Question 5.
What was the most important outcome of the American Civil War?
Answer:
The most important outcome of the American civil war was that slavery was abolished.