What were the four key factors that led the United States to civil war? What do you know about The Fugitive Slave Act of 1850? What were the Personal Liberty Laws and what were they meant to do? What do you know about John Brown? What was his goal and what became of him? Who was Fredrick Douglass? What part did he play in the fight against slavery? Critical Thinking Questions Please summarize the roles of African Americans in the Civil War. What was President Lincoln’s goal for compensated emancipation? What did the slave states think of this proposal? What is the difference between a free labor system and slavery? In what ways do you think the idea of banning slavery felt threatening to many in the South? Why do you think that westward expansion is important in the study of African-American history?