There were many attempts in the United States to reduce tension between Northern and Southern states.

Mark scheme

Marking points from the official mark scheme (Oct/Nov 2023). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.

1. [1-4] Level 1 One mark for each relevant point; additional mark for supporting detail
2. [1] Missouri applied to be admitted as a state to the Union.
3. [1] At the time there was an equal balance of free and slave states.
4. [1] There was opposition to accepting Missouri as a slave state because it would give the slave-owning states a majority.
5. [1] Maine was accepted into the Union as a free state in 1820 and, therefore, Missouri was accepted as a slave state to bring balance.
6. [1] A northerly limit was fixed for slavery.
7. [1] The line of latitude was fixed above which slavery was not allowed.
8. [1] This was the Mason-Dixon Line.
9. [6] Level 4 Explains TWO reasons
10. [4-5] Level 3 Explains ONE reason
11. [4] The Missouri Compromise broke down because new territory was being added to the US. For instance, the Californian Gold Rush had given California the inhabitants it needed to qualify as a state. This would clearly be a free state, although the South proposed splitting California at parallel 35 degrees north to provide a southern territory, but this was not approved.
12. [2-3] Level 2 Identifies AND/OR describes reasons
13. [1] In 1848 the acquisition of the Mexican territories caused a problem.
14. [1] Utah and New Mexico had been ceded after the 1846-48 war.
15. [1] California had enough inhabitants to qualify as a state.
16. [1] Texas became a state in 1845.
17. [1] Level 1 General answer lacking specific contextual knowledge
18. [1] The Compromise broke down because it pleased nobody.
19. [10] Level 5 Explains with evaluation of 'which was more important'
20. [7-9] Level 4 Explanation of both sides
21. [4-6] Level 3 One-sided explanation OR one explanation of both sides 5 to 6 marks
22. [4] "Uncle Tom's Cabin" was important as it captured the imagination of many Americans. Some argued that it helped to focus the anger of the Northern abolitionists against the injustices of slavery and the Fugitive Slave Law. It is reported that when Lincoln met the author, he stated that she was the 'little lady' who had started the war with her book.'
23. [4] John Brown's raid on Harpers Ferry was important as it gained attention about the issue of slavery. During the raid, Brown tried to persuade slaves to join a rebellion against slavery. This inspired anti-slavery groups. Brown was hailed as a man who had killed slavery and the Civil War broke out less than a year after his raid. Although John Brown was executed, many saw him as a martyr.
24. [2-3] Level 2 Identifies AND/OR describes
25. [1] "Uncle Tom's Cabin" was an anti-slavery novel.
26. [1] The main theme of the book is the cruelty of slavery.
27. [1] The book was read by many Northerners.
28. [1] The raid on Harpers Ferry made John Brown famous.
29. [1] Brown tried to organise slaves into a rebellion against plantation owners.
30. [1] The raid on Harpers Ferry failed.
31. [1] Level 1 General answer lacking specific contextual knowledge
32. [1] One raid and one book were not enough to cause a Civil War. There must have been lots of other reasons.