The fate of their country by Michael Holt is a book made up of 3 to 4 sections, titled Pandora's Box, The Wilmot Proviso, The Compromise of 1850, The Kansas-Nebraska Act. Author Michael Holt examines what caused the Civil War and the Pandora’s Box of sectional dissent territorial slavery issue over slavery into all current and future western territories also the Missouri crisis debate. It wasn’t slavery per the book but the debates about the extension of slavery into new territories and states that sent the nation careening into civil war, argues writer Michael Holt. He gives his readers an analysis of the partisan political forces, on the great debate over the extension of slavery into the American West.
In my thesis, I embark on an exploration of the intricate landscape that emerged in the aftermath of the Civil War, spanning the late 1860s to the early 1870s. My research delves into the multifaceted repercussions of this defining period in American history, aiming to unravel the complexities that shaped the trajectory of American society and governance. From the abolition of slavery to the rise of sharecropping, from the fervent struggle for civil rights to the emergence of new political factions, I seek to illuminate the profound transformations that occurred in the post-Civil War era. The abolition of slavery marked a pivotal moment, yet it also ushered in a new era fraught with challenges and opportunities. Millions of formerly enslaved
In 1860, the U.S. was divided. It was divided into the North, South, and New Territories. It was also divided in terms of their views on slavery. The North believed that slavery was wrong, the South completely supported the idea, and the West was indifferent at the time.
Many years after the Government abolished the international slave trade, a great unrest period developed. For a decade the question of slavery was swept underneath the rug. The issue of slavery was not fully exploited until 1861, when the civil war broke out. The author, Joseph Ellis, from the book Founding Brothers, presents the founding brothers as worried about slavery and wanting to maintain the peace of the fledgling nation. Joseph Ellis suggests an inquiry that slavery split the country so extremely that it became unresolveable every time the argument was pushed further into the future.
The rapid increase of new territory displayed America’s desire to expand, but it also brought up the question of whether slavery should be allowed in the new land. Compromises
The institution of slavery had always been associated with America since the beginning of time dating back to the first English colony of Jamestown. In the early years, ignorance of this immoral practice was common in order to avoid conflict. However by the 19th century, popular sovereignty, manifest destiny, along with the sense of morality brought by the 2nd Great Awakening led to sectionalism and growing tensions concerning the issue of slavery. The status of new states, economic differences, and state’s rights were all contributing factors that ultimately fueled the start of the Civil War in which northern and western regions had contrasting views to that of the south.
The Northern and Southern states had disagreed upon many things between slavery. Even though they had felt the same fear in abolitionist . Thinking of the word and pay that would decrease by freeing the people. Jobs would soon become limited, because the simple fact that slave workers or now African Americans frre would work longer hours for less pay. The south said that the slaves were necessary for the development of the culture.
The Nation grew increasingly divided through the mid-1800’s over the issue of slavery, to the extent that it bled into other issues, primarily as a tensioned pretense to admis-sion of new states to the Union. Presidents prior to Polk either passively or actively re-sisted the annexation of new territories or promoting statehood, recognizing the issue of slavery and probable effects of spreading or denying slavery. The North’s ideological opposition to slavery was equally as legitimate as the South’s reasoning, but with slave labor accounting for up to 50 percent of the population in the South, there was also ac-ceptance on economical basis. Vast new lands became American territory throughout this period, while other disputed lands had boundaries
Northern State argued that their states rights were being oppressed when the federal government forced this upon them. This created conflict between Southerners and Northerners in congress over these issues leading to further separation in the
In the early 1800s, slavery was a controversial political issue between the northern and southern regions of the United States. Political compromises were necessary to prevent the United States from dividing in two as a result of the nation’s disputes over the slavery issue. Conflict and controversy did nothing but increase, and “Americans in all parts of the country realized that a final showdown was approaching” (Smith 19). Thus, the growing social and economic divide between the North and South had a substantial effect on the United States’ condition during the 1800s.
Throughout the mid-19th century,slavery catalyzed the reaction which left America broken as separatism divided her people in to the Northern free states and the Southern slave states. Which in turn, opened up problems in the election, secession and constitution disputes, thus amplifying the threat of potential secession and tensions which would eventually lead to the Civil War. Thus, the divide between Northerners and Southerners was evident as their views on slavery dissented each other as well as shaped their judgement. As a consequence to the internally generated political conflicts within America acquired from the implementation of slavery, the Civil War was an accumulation of problems that furthered the divide within America.
During 1820’s and 1860’s the Industrial North and the Agricultural South had opposing views on slavery. The Northern states believed slavery was negative because slaves did all the labor for the southern plantation owners. Southern states believed slavery was positive because the southern plantation owners benefited economically due to slavery. The most impactful cause of the Civil War was sectionalism, loyalty to a region, due to the fact that slavery lead to disagreements and conflict between to two regions having the result of sectionalism. For example, according to Abraham Lincoln while he was giving his speech when accepting the Republican nomination for U.S. Senator from Illinois, on June 16, 1858, in Springfield, Illinois, he stated
The 1850’s to 1860’s was a crucial decade that had detrimental effects on the unity of the country. Many events agitated and aroused secession of the South from the North and divided the country in two. The country’s highly divided views between the Northerners and Southerners could no longer be mended, and Southern states could only see secession as the most viable option. The greatest controversy that ruptured the unity of the country were the opposing views on slavery; the events that occurred in this decade, as well as the fear that the Southerners had toward the potential abolition of slavery in America was enough for them to leave the union and is what lead to the bloody battle of the Civil War. As America continued to advance and flourish geographically and economically, the country began dividing itself between Southern states that supported and relied heavily on slave labor, and Northern states that were more opposed to slavery.
Since colonial times the United States had been divided into two completely different parts. The Northern states were mostly free states who believed slavery should be put to end. On the other hand, the Southernern states were slaves states, meaning they were pro-slavery. Therefore, their two ideas about slavery clashed with one another causing great deal of problems such as battles, fights, and debates between the North and South. These disagreements eventually lead to the Southern states seceding from the Union.
The different views on Slavery and State Rights posed strains between both the South and North. Slavery was legal in the South but not in the North which created great conflict when it came to slave societies which are completely built on slavery, fugitive slaves, abolitionists and territorial expansion. Fugitive slaves were slaves who ran away from the South to the North in search of freedom. This was a big issue because when they would run away they were still considered a slave and would be captured and brought back. Northerners would have to see these runaway slaves being captured and being taken away from their newly formed lives.
