In the early to mid 1800s, there were debates between political parties, social groups, people with different ways of life, and more. The goal of these debates varied from wanting to get laws passed, wanting certain taboos to be eliminated, or just wanting to be left alone. However, these debates always sought to get the other side to agree, which almost never happened. In the 1830 to 1860 era, debates over slavery weren’t the most important factors that led to the Civil War. The most significant factors that led to the American Civil War were political, economic, and social issues of the time; the debates over slavery, at this time, were not the most important things that people of that era had to worry about. In 1860, there was a controversial presidential election that changed the course of American history forever. This election ended with Abraham Lincoln winning …show more content…
The most important social issues during the antebellum era were the issues regarding the South’s perceived oppression from the federal government and the differing ideas over how black people should be viewed on federal, state, and social levels. Though debates over slavery were one of the issues separating them, the North and the South had a plethora of different issues that overshadowed the ones regarding slavery. The actual issue over slavery was just another one of the subjects that Northerners and Southerners argued about. Though, nowadays, it seems like slavery was one of if not the main debate topic that led to the American Civil War, it doesn’t seem that way when taking a closer look. Though slavery wasn’t as much of a mainstream issue that led to the Civil War as many today believe, there is no doubt that slavery was a significant issue at the time. Some of the seceding states even wrote that the federal government’s hostility towards slavery was a reason for them leaving in their official
Douglas argument against this was that the country had always been divided by slavery since it existed because what was best for one part of the country may not be best for the other. Throughout the debates, support of both Lincoln and Douglas fluctuated. however Douglas was elected senator at that time. Two years later, during the presidential election of 1860, Abraham Lincoln was able to defeat Stephen Douglas and become president of the United States by utilizing the information acquired from the debates.
The only way that Americans sought peace and equality throughout the country was through Civil War. Slavery was the most considerable issue when dealing with the disputes of the 1800s. The majority of the South wanted to secede for one reason being Abraham Lincoln thought of as an abolitionist who wants to benefit the North. States threatened to secede from the county because of an unbalance between free and slave states. The majority of people in the South believed that slavery
Notably, Senator Henry Clay gave a speech to the Senate that he could not imagine that a slave state, in this case, South Carolina, actually wanted to secede from the Union in 1833 (Document A). The growing tension between the North and South seemed to not phase the Republicans, Henry Clay’s party. Perhaps if the idea of secession had been taken carefully from the beginning, the Civil War would have been different. Nonetheless, the ever-growing debate on slavery was growing. In 1834, an annual report from the American Anti-Slavery Society labeled slave owners as thieves of humans and that slaves should be freed immediately (Document B).
During the mid 1800’s ‘the controversy over the extension of slavery into western territories played a significant role in the coming of the Civil War. The issue of slavery had been a source of conflict in the United States since the country was founded, and tensions had been mounting in the decades leading up to the civil war. Issues that helped fuel this conflict was fighting between the states that wanted to decide whether a certain state were to be a slave state or not. This included states that were bought after the battles in Texas against Mexico. Along with this certain compromises were questions such as the Kansas Nebraska Act and the Compromise.
The election of 1860 was one of the most influential in the history of the U.S. Tensions were high between democratic and republican parties. The democratic party itself was divided. Laws regarding slavery were conflicting with each other causing outrage on both sides of the issue. Something needed to be done and the election was the answer to it. A firm foundation needed to be set on slavery and it would drive the entire nation in the direction of the Commander and Chief’s choosing.
In the end, Abraham Lincoln “accomplished a huge Electoral College victory, with a considerable margin of 55 percent of the popular vote as well” (“Abraham Lincoln, 1809–1865” 1); he was to become the sixteenth president of the United States of
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.
Although many try to argue that slavery is not the primary cause of the Civil War, they use other reasons such as states’ rights and tariffs, which are ironically linked to
This election also showed that regional voting was taking place. The North and South both based their vote on their position on slavery. The North wanted to get rid of slavery so they picked Lincoln. The South wanted to keep slavery so they voted for Breckinridge. This regional voting was part of why some of the states seceded.
The 1856 election was a turbulent time in politics for America. Slavery was the key issue on everyone’s mind and many other political viewpoints were belittled in comparison to the more pressing question: should slavery expand? Should slavery be abolished? Should slavery be contained? Southerners and northerners were divided in their opinions, which would soon lead to the American Civil War.
To start, The Civil war was a pivotal moment in American history. The civil war continues to shape our nation to this day. Although the war had many causes, the issue of slavery was the biggest reason for the civil war. The north and the south had different viewpoints on slavery. These different perspectives led to the American civil war.
The two out four questions that I choose are to 1.) Discuss the causes of the civil war. Cite as many facts as possible to back up your analysis. And answer 2.) If the enduring vision of America is embodied in the Declaration of Independence's statements about equality and universal rights to justice, liberty, and self-fulfillment, how much progress toward those ideals had blacks and women made by 1877?
After the Mexican-American war, America claimed an expanse of land in the west. The question of whether this new land would be slave-states or free soil, was a hot topic and highly controversial and was in fact, the main cause of the Civil War. Even some of the other issues that may have led to the war can relate back to slavery. For instance: The south wanted to succeed from the union and have less control from the federal government, because they were trying to outlaw slavery not only in the southern states, but also keep the newly acquired land slave-free. Lincoln, in the beginning of his presidential campaign attempted to tone down slavery position and said the war was to “preserve the union” which was part of the cause of the war, however,
Debates over slavery in the period from 1830 to 1860 played a significant role in leading the United States into the Civil War. The issue of slavery was a major source of tension between the northern and southern states, and it was a key factor in the rising tensions between the two regions. The northern states were largely anti-slavery, and many abolitionists were active in calling for the immediate end of slavery. In contrast, the southern states were largely pro-slavery, and many slaveholders were deeply committed to maintaining the institution of slavery. One of the major debates that contributed to the outbreak of the Civil War was the question of whether slavery should be allowed in the territories acquired by the United States.
Slavery was one of the biggest problems between 1820 and 1860. Sometimes two states had to be added to the Union at the same time, to make things fair. The North and the South fought almost constantly over the issue of slavery, sometimes things were able to be worked out about it, but as the years passed, the problems with slavery and territory started to become too big to ignore or