Question

Which of these events led to Northern suspicion that Southerners had too much power in the federal government? (Choose ALL that apply.)

a.The Fugitive Slave Act
b.The passage of the Wilmot Proviso
c.The Supreme Court's decision in the Dred Scott case
d.Northern support and sympathy for John Brown

Answer 1

The events that led to Northern suspicion of Southern power in the federal government were the Fugitive Slave Act, the Dred Scott decision, and Northern support for John Brown.

Step-by-step explanation:

The events that led to Northern suspicion that Southerners had too much power in the federal government were:

1. The Fugitive Slave Act: Introduced as part of the Compromise of 1850, this law required Northern states to cooperate in the capture and return of escaped slaves, which many Northerners saw as an expansion of federal power that benefited the slaveholding South.
2. The Supreme Court's decision in the Dred Scott case: In this 1857 decision, the Supreme Court ruled that enslaved people were property and had no rights, while also stating that Congress had no authority to ban slavery in the territories. This decision further reinforced the belief that Southern interests were being protected at the expense of Northern concerns about slavery.
3. Northern support and sympathy for John Brown: John Brown's raid on Harper's Ferry in 1859, aimed at sparking a slave uprising, stirred Northern sympathy for the abolitionist cause. Southern fears of Northern support for radical antislavery actions increased their suspicion of Northern power within the federal government.