Abolitionists faced bitter and violent opposition in both the North and South. The Civil War began due to the tension between the North and South, and only escalated after Lincoln’s election, as some feared he would restrict or end slavery. Lincoln delivered the “House Divided Speech” in Springfield, Illinois, on June 16th 1858, “I believe this government cannot endure, permanently, half slave
And Wilson used his Moral Diplomacy. During Theodore Roosevelt’s administration (1901-1909), President Roosevelt inherited the United States rising as an Imperial Power, rendering off any European presence in the Western Hemisphere, conquering the Philippines and Hawaii as an access point to get to China, and not to mention provoke Panama to gain their independence from Colombia, and gain the isthmus territory to build a canal connecting the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. Roosevelt showed the world that the United States was a very influential powerful country by sending the Great White Fleet on a world tour, demonstrating its military rise. Roosevelt believed that the underdeveloped countries of the world should be watched and policed, and his Roosevelt Corollary modified the Monroe Doctrine. His famous quote was “speak softly and carry a big stick”, which meant that you should negotiate in matter that both sides win, but if not in agreement then you should persuade the matter and use force if necessary.
John D. Rockefeller used his political and legal power, brought on by his great wealth, to increase his monopoly, buying out small companies to decrease competition, and forcing railroads to favor his corporation. As a consequence of these actions, the government sought to rein in his power by enacting the Sherman Antitrust Act, forever changing the laws by which corporations comply. Standard Oil not only encouraged more railroads being built near production factories, but the entire oil industry has had significant impact on our environment. According to the text “Standard Oil Trust and its successor companies have contributed between 4.7 and 5.2 percent of worldwide carbon dioxide emissions.” By the widespread use of high-quality kerosene brought on by Rockefeller, population’s entire lifestyles forever changed, too. People were free to enjoy activities after sundown, work into the night, and be increasingly productive.
But except in parts of Rhode Island, New Jersey, and New York's Hudson River Valley, slavery was a marginal institution in the North, and following the Revolution, each Northern state either abolished slavery or adopted a gradual emancipation plan. A related factor was the South's growing sense of isolation. By 1850, slavery was becoming an exception in the world and the South came to see itself as ringed around by enemies. It grew increasingly defensive as it was attacked as an economic backwater. Yet another factor was the breakdown of the party system, which had suppressed the slavery issue for more than half a century.
By 1914 over a third of British exports went to the empire. Empire also untied people with a sense of patriotism and national identity, people saw themselves as members of the greatest nation on Earth. Despite all of this, even before 1914 the empire was beginning to show signs of strain, the Boer War was one of the first significant impacts in Britain's (and the rest of the world’s) view on imperialism and Britain. The Boer War (1899-1902) was fought directly against the Transvaal and the Orange Free State, in which the Boers were defeated first in open warfare and then in a long and bitter guerrilla campaign. During the war controversial methods like concentration camps and scorched earth policy were used to win the war.
Having a huge leadership role in the League of Nations, Great Britain played the largest role in allowing Italy, Germany, and Japan to take advantage of other nations, and eventually take them over. Events/agreements that prove these notions are as follows; the Japanese Invasion of Manchuria, the Anglo-German Naval Agreement, the Second Italian-Ethiopian War, the Anschluss, the Czech Crisis, the occupation of the Rhineland, and lastly, the Munich Conference. The Japanese Invasion of Manchuria was very significant. Among other reasons, this event proves that appeasement was a major reason in starting WWII. Japan was attracted to Manchuria because it was large, had great forestry, and also other resources.
Uncle Tom’s cabin was a book written by Harriet Beecher Stowe. This book was about the life and hardships of a slave in the south. It contributed to political and economical arguments on slavery. Many believed that Stowe was wrong in writing the book which also led to more arguments. Also, another important cause of the civil war was issue of slavery in the territories that was dividing the North and South.
During the period 1896 – 1912 the Republicans were extremely dominant for several reasons. These can be summarised as the economic influences of Mark Hanna; the victory in the Spanish-American war and they were a reformist party. Alongside this were the weaknesses of the Democratic Party which include deep divisions; defeat of the civil war; failure to impose significant tariffs. The democrat party claim to be the oldest party, formed in 1796. Due to their defeat in the civil war between the times period 1861 – 1865, their reputation was starting to become slightly crumpled.
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. The American Civil War was also due to an uneasy alliance between the Northern and Southern congressman that after many decades of compromise and conciliation, their bipartisanship failed and in their views there could be no more compromise. Arguably the North and South both believed that they were fighting a war against political oppression and the condemnation of a way of life, the North believed they were fighting for free economic expansion and later the emancipation of a people, while the South believed they were fighting for their own rights and way of life. The American Civil War was more than a war about slavery, and the extension of slavery; it was a war of states’ rights over federal, it was also a technological push for industrialization over the continuing agricultural mode of living. The war did not erupt in 1820 because a compromise was reached.
This policy, along with Wilhelm ll’s decision to create a colonial empire, caused rivalry between the major European powers, particularly Britain. In the 19th century colonialism was very popular as major European powers tried to increase their territory, resources and power. By the 20th century the British Empire had 1/4 of the world’s land surface which gave them trade opportunities and transport advantages (McCallum and Ringer, 2005, p237). Wilhelm ll, with a nation only thirty years old, wanted an empire but had missed out on the overseas colonies such as India and Nigeria which belonged to Britain. Germany’s new colonies in China and Africa made Britain concerned.