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Civil War Dbq Essay

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The Civil War was a significant event in American history that had many causes, including economic interests and disagreements about slavery. Abraham Lincoln played an essential role in shaping Northern opinions on slavery during this critical period. This essay explores the evolution of Lincoln's views and their impact on the North. It also discusses the perspectives of Frederick Douglass, a formerly enslaved African American, and George Fitzhugh, a Southern writer. These voices reflect the causes that fueled the Civil War from 1830 to 1861, amidst the context of westward expansion and the market revolution. To comprehend the causes of the Civil War, it is necessary to understand that westward expansion and the market revolution were significant …show more content…

This statement reflects the growing sentiment in the North that slavery was incompatible with the nation's evolving identity. Frederick Douglass's Fourth of July speech in 1852 provides a visceral perspective on the disparities exacerbated by westward expansion and the market revolution. Douglass questioned the relevance of Independence Day celebrations when enslaved individuals were excluded from justice, liberty, and prosperity. George Fitzhugh offers a provocative defense of Southern slavery in Document 4. Amidst the economic competition intensified by the market revolution, Fitzhugh argued that free laborers in the North were more enslaved than Southern slaves. This viewpoint adds a layer of complexity to the causes of the Civil War, highlighting the interconnectedness of economic interests, labor systems, and ideological differences. In his speech, Lincoln warned about the government becoming "all one thing or all the other," foreshadowing the impending clash. As the nation grappled with the consequences of westward expansion and the market revolution, these prophetic words reflected the deepening divide. Economic, geographic, and ideological factors converged, creating a nation on the brink of a profound and irreparable

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