Gavin Hoben Mrs. Hanzlik American Studies I Honors 12/15/17 During the years of 1830-1860, many Americans began expressing their mixed feelings about a very controversial topic, slavery. Americans in the North believed that slavery was morally wrong and unconstitutional. However, the South felt believed that slavery was good for the economy as well as for commerce. Due to the differences in beliefs between the North and the South, threats of a civil war erupted. Overall, the North’s views on slavery is the correct way of thinking because slavery is evil, unconstitutional. And morally wrong. The North saw the idea of slavery as evil. They believed that slavery was an impurity that became accustomed to life in America, in which other systems of commerce forgotten. In a nation where freedom and equality is given, owning people as property is wrong. In Document E, Hinton stresses the economic effects of slavery to the …show more content…
America was supposed to be land that guaranteed newcomers freedom to pursue their dreams. Even on the U.S. declaration of independence, it states that every citizens is guaranteed life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. However, that entry on the declaration of independence is quite ironic. The idea of slavery violates all three “unalienable” rights. Slaves are not given life, liberty, nor the pursuit of happiness. The Northern supporters realized that this whole action was unconstitutional. Even Abraham Lincoln touched on this subject during a speech in Peoria, Illinois. (October 1854) The main takeaway of this speech is “In our greedy chase to make profit of the Negro, let us beware lest we “cancel and tear in pieces” even the white man’s charter of freedom.” (Doc. D) In this quotation, Lincoln is trying to convey the idea of freedom and liberty for all. Due to the fact that slavery violates everything America offers as a nation, it should clearly be deemed