b.  Why should these petitions be considered as insulting to slaveholders?

c.  Why were the Southerners so afraid of any discussion of slavery?

CHAPTER 32

Sec.Sec. 329, 330.—­a.  Show by the map the extent of the Mexican Republic.

b.  Why did Texas wish to join the United States?  What attitude had Mexico taken on slavery?

Sec.Sec. 331, 332.—­a.  Explain carefully how the Texas question influenced the election of 1844.

b.  What was the Liberty party?  How did its formation make the election of Polk possible?

c.  What is a “joint resolution”?

Sec. 333.—­How did the Mexicans regard the admission of Texas?  What dispute with Mexico arose?  Did Mexico begin the war?

Sec.Sec. 334, 335.—­a.  What was the plan of Taylor’s campaign?  Of Scott’s campaign?

b.  Mention the leading battles of Taylor’s campaign.  Of Scott’s campaign.

Sec.Sec. 336, 337.—­a.  What action did the American settlers in California take?  With what result?

b.  Explain by a map the Mexican cessions of 1848 and 1853.

Sec.Sec. 338, 339.—­a.  What was the extent of Oregon in 1845?

b.  How was the dispute finally settled?  Explain by a map.

c.  What was the extent of Oregon in 1847?  Is it the same to-day?

d.  Of what value was this region to the United States?

CHAPTER 33

Sec.Sec. 340, 341.—­a.  Why was there little question whether Oregon would be slave or free?

b.  Explain carefully Wilmot’s suggestion.  What would be the arguments in Congress for and against this “proviso”?

c.  What is meant by “squatter sovereignty”?  What do you think of the wisdom and justice of such a plan?

Sec.Sec. 342, 343.—­a.  Describe the discovery of gold in California and the rush thither.  What difference did one year make in the population of California?

b.  What attitude did California take on the slavery question?  Why?

Sec.Sec. 344, 345.—­a.  How had the question of slavery already divided the country?

b.  What extreme parties were there in the North and the South?

c.  Why was the question about the territories so important?

d.  What action did President Taylor take?  Why?  What do you think of the wisdom of this policy?

Sec.Sec. 346, 347.—­a.  State the provisions of Clay’s compromise plan.  Which of these favored the North?  The South?

b.  What law had been made as to fugitive slaves?  Why had it not been enforced?  Why was the change made in 1850 so important?

c.  How would you have acted had you been a United States officer called to carry out the Fugitive Slave Law?