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.
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. Although slavery was an attribute to the cause of the Civil War, it was not as simplistic as to just freeing the slaves. However there were more reasons that led to this grave battle like secession, as the War between the States emerged over tensions due to industrialization, state and federal rights, slave and non-slave provisions, and the election of Abraham Lincoln. During this time the North had a diverse and fast growing economy based on industry, mining, commerce and transportation like the railroad, with a large and growing population without the use of slavery north of the border states. However the South was driven by a workforce that thrived off the plantation system, which was basically the use of slaves.
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.
Slavery was the main cause of tension in the US in the 1800’s that led to the American civil war, the question over slavery was the initial and arguably one of the only causes to divide the north and the south starting in the 1820’s and ending years later in 1865. In 1819 there were 22 states in the US, 11 free and 11 slave and the balance of slavery and freedom was balanced, however Missouri applied to enter the Union as a slave state. The north were outraged and denied the request, which led to very heated debates in Congress causing great tension between the north and the south. It wasn’t until a year later that a compromise was completed which stated that no state or territory in the Louisiana Purchase Territory and above the 36 30 line could become a slave stated. To balance the problem the north created and made Maine a free state, as Missouri had become slave.
Instead of focusing on the obvious unconstitutional and emotional treachery of slavery which is very much overdone, the economic event was very much overlooked. Though its strong economic gain for the entire nation forever impacted our dominance, the negative effects will always pour through. It was the existence of slavery, with its negative impact on politics, economics, and social relations that fatally crippled the South in its bid for independence. The slave trade eventually played a central role in determining the fate of the South, as a business that created a unified South under proslavery ideology and encouraged western migration to preserve the institution of slavery. As mentioned by William Harper, “The cultivation of the great staple crop cannot be carried on without slaves.” (Harper, Memoir in Slavery, 1837) In a time of western expansion and the cotton boom, some slave traders were able to accumulate great wealth from the slave-trading business and sought opportunities to acquire higher social status and financial stability.
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
A Nation Divided America has gone through many tumults in history. Even before the civil war, the nation was divided, just not on boundary terms. Slavery being a big part to do with the tension, America has gone through drastic changes to become what it is today. My partner and I will be covering from the 1840s to right before the civil war. Many tense moments helped push the United States on, but these put it to war.
Many died to hands of whites for their participation in these rebellions. Whites of the Southern states tried hard to keep slavery the way it was but with the steady growing number of free educated blacks in the Northern states grew the desire for slaves to obtain the same. In the North, blacks were able to obtain an education, work as well as own their own stores. Eventually, Abraham Lincoln got into office and many Southern Whites believed he sided on the abolishment of slavery so they made their states separate from that of the Northern portion of the United States. Lincoln supported the Union, which were the Northern States which held free blacks, and gave the Confederate States an ultimatum to join back with the Union or war will begin.
This expansion, pushed by economic desires and feelings of American cultural superiority, led directly to the emergence of the divisive issue of slavery as the dominant issue in national politics.” Polk’s deliberate expansion on antislavery grounds reopened the issue of slavery in the territories. Northern Whig congressmen voted for military appropriation despite the misgivings they encountered. The door to sectional controversy was opened over the issue of expansion. David Wilmot, Democratic congressmen from Pennsylvania, proposed an amendment to a military appropriations bill in August 1846 during the time of the Mexican-American War. This bill suggested that slavery be banned in all territories acquired from Mexico.
The south had an extremely large amount of slaves. Over time slavery flourished in the upper south and failed to do so in the north. But there were certain parts of the north that was very important to slavery. The northern states were seeking to buy a greater volume of raw materials but the european trading house basically controlled the market. The northern states were the trade competitors of europe.