The years leading up to the Civil War (1830-1861) were marked by deep-seated conflicts and differences between the North and South over a range of issues, including slavery, states' rights, economic and cultural differences, and political conflicts. The country was expanding westward and undergoing rapid industrialization which shifted particular Americans perspectives on these topics. The North and South rapidly spread apart as their opinions differed particularly over slavery, and these tensions ultimately led to the outbreak of the Civil War in 1861. Douglass's speech, "What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July?" highlights slavery as the primary cause of the Civil War. He asserts that the existence of slavery contradicts the principles of …show more content…
Or Slaves Without Masters" is a book written by George Fitzhugh in 1857, in which he defended slavery as a necessary and beneficial institution. Fitzhugh argued that slavery was a form of "positive good" for both slaves and slave masters, and that it was necessary for the preservation of a stable and orderly society. Fitzhugh's arguments provided a new and more sophisticated defense of slavery, which reinforced the beliefs of many Southern leaders who saw slavery as an essential part of their economy and way of life. Fitzhugh's book helped to mobilize pro-slavery forces in the South, and made them more determined to defend slavery and maintain the institution in the face of growing opposition from the North. This growing divide between North and South over the issue of slavery further contributed to the outbreak of the Civil …show more content…
Stephens’s "Cornerstone Speech" clearly states that slavery was the "immediate cause" of the Civil War and that it was the "rock upon which the old Union would split." Stephens, who was a key leader of the Confederacy, acknowledges that the preservation of the institution of slavery was the main reason for the Confederacy's decision to secede from the Union.Stephens's speech emphasizes the Confederacy's commitment to maintaining the institution of slavery, stating that the new Constitution has "put at rest forever all the agitating questions relating to our peculiar institution" and that it was necessary for the preservation of a stable and orderly society. This demonstrates that the Confederacy saw the preservation of slavery as a central goal and a primary motivation for their decision to secede and go to