Ever since America worked under the Constitution, compromise was a sufficient way to keep the unity of the states together. However, it was the increasing tensions surrounding slavery that eventually led to the fallout of compromise in 1860. Between 1820 and 1860, there were several attempts to make political compromises, but these ultimately failed. Attempts at compromise only postponed the issues at hand and resulted in even bigger disputes between the North and the South, which led to the Civil War. Due to conflicts relating to slavery and discrimination, disagreements were hard to settle.
SLAVERY AS A CAUSE OF THE CIVIL WAR There is no doubt that the civil war was the most brutal battle fought on American soil between the years of 1861 to 1865. The Union and Confederate states had many differences between them, which resulted in the Civil war including from the issue of the South and State Rights, to the issue of national unity and westward expansion. Although one of the most controversial causes of the civil war was the issue of slavery. It was the reason that many historians believe as to why the civil war broke out in the first place. The South were all for slavery: * Slaves would work on the cotton and tobacco plantations in the south, working the land.
Why was the Civil War really fought???? It is a commonly held view that President Lincoln fought the Civil War to free the slaves. Based on the video, in depth reading, and what we have gone through so far in class I must ultimately refute this assertion. Around the years of 1850 to 1861 the division of the north and south proved to be unstable as to leading to four years of bloodshed. During this time 11 southern slave states seceded from the United States and formed the Confederacy, witch fought against all states allowing slavery (free states) known as the Union.
The Mexican War was the direct result of “Manifest Destiny,” or the belief that the United States was ordained by God to control North America from coast to coast, which was introduced by the article used in Document 1. This article by John L. O’Sullivan was written to encourage the “reception of Texas...for the free development of our yearly multiplying millions.” Notice, in this excerpt, the use of the word “free.” At that point in time, the southern economy relied on the free labor of the slaves working on huge plantations. Therefore, Document A implies that Texas would be admitted as a slave state, which caused a great deal of tension because it would destroy the Slave/Free state balance. Document B, a declaration of war on Mexico by James K. Polk, provides a different view on the war, declaring it a defense of the “honor, rights and dignity of this country.” On the other hand, the abolitionists were preaching in defence of these
The plan would divide the remaining Louisiana Purchase into two territories –Kansas and Nebraska- and would allow the public to decide over the admission of slavery. Antislavery and Proslavery groups rushed to Kansas to turn the tide into their favor. Soon pro-slavery peoples had the majority, and Kansas became a slave state. But by early 1856, Kansas had two fiercely loyal governments, and the population grew angry. Soon federal congressional men came to Kansas to decide the dispute.
What caused the Civil War? Is it accurate to say that the Civil War was about slavery? If slavery or even the slavery extension issue caused the war then why was there not a war in 1820 or 1832 or 1846 or 1850 or 1854? The American Civil War was and is one of the most horrific casualty causing wars the United States has ever been involved in; it was a war that waged for over four years and caused over 600,000 casualties and dead. The war was due to a culmination of events ranging from the institution of slavery, its implications on society, and the economic impact slavery was having on society.
Some, especially Northerners who didn’t really adopt slavery had little slaves living there, apposed slavery, they were referred to as Abolitionists. Many Southerners supported slavery and believed the economy would collapse if slavery were to be abolished. The slavery issue remained and caused constant conflict between states. Few Southerners owned slaves, but those who did controlled the economy and governments of the Southern states. Some slaves were treated badly and suffered through many hardships, some were whipped and most were deprived of an education.
Political issue was one of the main causes of the Civil War. The Kansas-Nebraska Act repealed the Missouri Compromise in 1854, which proposed that the Nebraska territory be divided into the Kansas territory and Nebraska territory and that the settlers there ruled with popular sovereignty (Doc.7). Dred Scott sued for his freedom, since he argued his residency on a free soil land made him a free citizen. The court decided against him because slaves are property and had no right to sue (Doc.9). Another cause of the civil war was the actions of John Brown, who attacked on the federal arsenal at Harpers Ferry, Virginia.
Some could say because no other slavery country had been divided on the issue of slavery. The United States was divided on the issue of slavery, the North was anti-slavery because there was little to no need free labor, however the south depended heavily on slave’s free labor to maintain high profits and high levels of production. In early America, slaves were a minor portion of the labor force and later became a vital asset to the economy. The slave population in America had a dramatic increase from the late 1700s to the early 1860s. Expansion of the country, invention of the cotton gin, and greater demand for cotton were all contributing factors to the changes in the slave population in early America.
A). In April of 1846, President James K. Polk had an idea to expand the U.S from coast to coast and after Mexico denied selling land to Polk because they had Texas, Polk declared war on Mexico because they were weaker and would give more land. As a result of the Mexican War, the U.S acquired a lot of land. This acquisition of new land soon posed as a problem regarding slavery. The United States government did not know if slaves should or should not be allowed in the new land.