How important was the issue of slavery in causing the American Civil war? Due to slavery America was divided into two halves, the North and the South, both had very different and in some cases radical views. Firstly the more industrialised North generally was through and through against slavery as many felt it was immoral but also realised that if you paid your workforce you would increase your means of production and efficiency which helped them become more industrialised. However the south was reluctant to give up their slaves and felt that they were doing the slaves a favour in keeping them, housing them and feeding them. They were like children and would not survive by themselves.
At this time there was a struggle between northern states(anti-slave states) and southern states(slave states). Both wanter to maintain power of government without the other trying to as well. This was shown when Tallmadge and Thomas both came up with amendments for congress’ conundrum. Tallmadge was a northerner who didn’t want slavery to exsist in the newly found state. Not because of the morality of it all but because he didn’t want the south to maintain more power.
“(pg. 53-54) Lincoln did not want the South to be afraid of his Republican Presidency either. From the start of the Civil war, Lincoln clarified that the goal of the war was not to “put down slavery, but to put the flag back”, and he refused
To balance the problem the north created and made Maine a free state, as Missouri had become slave. The Missouri compromise did ease tension at the time but the question had been asked about if slavery was right or wrong and the balance would have to be constantly equal to stop tension and conflict in the future. Westward expansion was also a great area of concern, Democrat James Polk was very committed to the idea, he wanted to annex California and New Mexico from Mexico and let the Americans settle there. He believed it was ‘manifest destiny’ to control the whole continent. The idea of westward expansion was a good one because it would enable people to live in more room and to grow the population, however many northerners merely saw the idea of westward expansion to spread slavery.
McNamara’s advice to withdraw military personnel prior the coup was no longer an option as instability in Vietnam posed a threat to national security. Although McNamara concedes the conflict was a civil war, he presses the importance of understanding the conflict as an element of the Cold War. Out of fear for further spread of communist interest, the US began to unilaterally support South Vietnam militarily. McNamara however argues that had the US been more able to empathize with and to better understand the Vietnamese, large-scale military intervention could have been avoided. America’s duty to act where others can not or will not stems from McNamara’s belief that there’s something beyond oneself.
Even to today, this is still happening, a superior race, we try to say that everyone is equal but no African Americans would believe this, but this is all starting to change now that the US have a African American president. Reconstruction In the Southern states, many African Americans demanded equality in 1865 - they felt they were unequal in economic, social, political and legal aspects. Durings 1865 Reconstruction Confederate style was
But this did not end slavery in the nation. This is why Lincoln then came up with the 13th amendment to abolish slavery. It was a very controversial amendment. With this other situations came up for the United States. In the south the Union wanted slavery and in the North they were against slavery.
The Civil War was basically the only thing of importance at the time. He says that everyone wanted to avoid the war at all costs yet both sides were ready to go to war. He point out the self contradicting attitudes of both sides of the war. If the entire nation was so focused on not fighting a war, which they weren’t, then there wouldn’t have been a war at all. Lincoln points out that he, as well as the rest of the country, did not want to go to war but realized that it was the only way out of the problems arising.
I understand where Freeman is coming from, but he doesn’t seem to fully grasp or understand the meaning of Black History Month. It means more than sharing stories and history about famous important black Americans. It means more than the rights they well deserved, or the freedoms they overcame. It’s the important picture behind all of it. I think it’s the celebration of change, the month that sets hope for other issues that strike our country daily.
Abolitionist 1848 was not a year commonly associated with monumental advancements or changes in the anti-slavery cause in the United States of America. Most individuals today see slavery and the abolitionist movement as an issue that had its beginnings and endings in the 1860s. That particular decade was a complete turning point in the history of our country; however, the long hard road that finally led to the emancipation of slaves tends to be overlooked. From the moment that the first slave stepped foot upon American soil, there were individuals who believed in a greater cause – humanity. Considered radicals at the time because of their comparatively reprehensible ideals, abolitionists traveled across the United States spreading a message