He leaned towards the support of the Union, frequently citing that slavery was a political and constitutional issue rather than a morality one. Critics argue that if “the Republican truly believed that slavery was morally wrong, they would have abolished slavery in all of the Union”. Slavery continued to persist even in the reign of the Union. This was because the Union was committed to restrict the expansion of slavery but not abolish it. In his views, Lincoln saw slavery as an unavoidable social evil that was essential to the economy .
The territorial expansion of the United States played a great role in the Civil war because it indirectly affected slavery. The United States expanding meant that the North and South would have to agree on whether the new territories would be admitted as free or slave territories. Before new states were added, there was balance among the country. Once new territories were added, the
The state’s rights issue was embedded in the issue of slavery; this, would lead our nation to war. In 1850, the Fugitive Slave Act would begin to strike conflict within both the North and South (The American Mosaic). This act would constitutionally require Northerners to return runaway slaves to their slave owners. Forcing the north to put aside an issue that most felt was unjust and/or immoral and participate in it immediately. While at first Southerners were very happy with this compromise, the reaction of the north would infuriate them.
Lesson 2 Journal Entry Objective 1 1. I would guess the main causes of the Civil War would be the issue of slavery and the opposing views of each section of the United States. Since Northerners were beginning to oppose slavery, the South saw that as a threat to their economy. While the North embraced change, the South wanted to continue the static lifestyle. These causes ultimately led to the Civil War, which was a turning point in American history because of its radical results.
Lincoln was of the opinion that while he would never accept the extension of slavery he would make no direct attempt to interfere with it where it existed. He and most other Northern political leaders believed slavery would die out, as long as there was no expansion. This is a key issue. When the US expanded its territory into the West there was fierce debate as to whether slavery should expand with it. Obviously the North were against it (believed would give extra power to South and lead to further expansion of slavery) and the South were for it.
General John Freemont of Missouri attempted to enact an order which would have freed all slaves. General David Hunter, aware of the potential slaves have to turn the tide to the war, also attempted to enact an order which would have abolished slavery in South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida. Lincoln stops all of these orders from being enacted due to stance of slavery. Lincoln felt that compensated emancipation or colonization for free Blacks in American was the best policy but Union victories increasing in number, Lincoln would enact the Emancipation Proclamation to officially shift the moral authority away from American unity to freedom. The Emancipation Proclamation, initially enacted as a war strategy had been held off for so long because Lincoln believed that making the war about freeing slaves would force slave holding states into seceding from the union but with the end of war in sight, the proclamation is officially
John Gunn HST 367 September 35, 2012 The North and South: Too Far Apart to Avoid War Although the Civil War was not originally fought to save or destroy the institution of slavery, the deep seeded tension between the slave and free states created over this topic of slavery made such a war inevitable. There were many factors that contributed to tensions which started the American Civil War however the most important of those factors was the institution of slavery. The American Civil War was inevitable due to the schisms ingrained within the nation that were created through fundamental differences in ideas and policies mostly concerning slavery and its expansion, People in the North and the South felt very differently about the topic
Northerners don’t want to annex Texas because it will throw off the balance of Free states and slave states. In Document B. Channing argued against annexing Texas because if Texas was annexed to the States, it will strengthen the power of slave states. Meanwhile, in Document C. McDuffie want to annex Texas because it will lead to an increase of slave population. War against Mexico was also a source of division. President Polk want to go to war with Mexico, while the Wig protested against going to war with Mexico.
What Role Did Compromise Play In Delaying The Civil War. Compromises were a way to stop or slow the spread of slavery to the northern states and to the territories to the west. It also was keeping the nation united by trying to give everyone something that they wanted. As of 1850 there were an equal number of free states and slave states. As territories were considered for statehood, the government wanted to be sure that there was an equal number of free and slave states admitted.
To quote from the Emancipation Proclamation, “ slaves within any State, or designated part of a State, the people whereof shall then be in rebellion against the United States, shall be then, thenceforward, and forever free.” This is saying that slaves should be free, if not, then they are to be free by military forces.” This is how Lincoln found a new motive for the Union army to fight. The election of 1664 was a important one for Abraham Lincoln. He thought that he himself will lose the election if he didn’t beat the South by the end of the year. Lincoln’s other opponent was Congress because when he suspended the habeas of corpus, the Judicial Branch thought the act was wrong.Atlanta in Georgia was captured by Union forces, this gave popularity to Abraham Lincoln from the Northers.McClellan, the other opponent thought this might turn against him in the election(1864). Lincoln barely won the presidency because again the electoral votes were separated by a few digits.