Assignment 21: Liberty Challenged In Nineteenth Century Amer ✓ Solved

Assignment 21liberty Challenged In Nineteenth Century America Thesi

Write a thesis statement that is one to two (1-2) sentences long in which you describe the significance of the slavery issue in nineteenth-century America, justified by your research. Develop an outline of the main points you will address in your paper, including two outcomes of each of the following: the 3/5ths Compromise, Missouri Compromise of 1820, Compromise of 1850, Kansas-Nebraska Act, and Dred Scott Decision. Additionally, suggest three reasons why slavery was and is incompatible with the American political and economic system. List three to five driving forces that led to the Civil War. Use at least three academic references apart from or in addition to the textbook. Follow appropriate formatting: double-spaced, Times New Roman font size 12, one-inch margins, with a cover page and reference page in APA or school-specific style. This outline will serve as the basis for the final draft of your paper.

Paper For Above Instructions

The nineteenth century in America was a tumultuous period marked by profound struggles over slavery and sectionalism, culminating in the Civil War. Central to understanding this epoch is recognizing how the institution of slavery challenged the nation’s political, economic, and moral fabric. This paper explores the significance of slavery, the compromises that temporarily managed sectional tensions, and the ideological forces that ultimately led to the war.

Thesis Statement: Slavery in nineteenth-century America was a fundamental conflict that exposed profound political, economic, and moral divisions, ultimately threatening the unity and future of the nation. The compromises attempted to mitigate tensions but entrenched divisions that erupted into civil war, driven by inherent contradictions between slavery and American democratic ideals.

To illuminate this complex history, the paper examines key legislative and judicial measures, including the outcomes of the 3/5ths Compromise, Missouri Compromise of 1820, the Compromise of 1850, Kansas-Nebraska Act, and the Dred Scott Decision. Each of these legislative efforts had specific consequences:

Outcomes of Major Legislation and Court Decisions

1. 3/5ths Compromise

• Enhanced political representation for slave-holding states by counting a portion of their enslaved population in apportioning seats in Congress, thereby increasing their influence.
• Perpetuated dehumanization by treating enslaved individuals as fractional persons, complicating moral and legal debates over human rights.

2. Missouri Compromise of 1820

• Maintained sectional balance by admitting Missouri as a slave state and Maine as a free state, without upsetting political equilibrium.
• Established a geographic boundary (the 36°30′ line), which became a symbol of the slavery divide and foreshadowed future conflicts.

3. Compromise of 1850

• Admitted California as a free state, tipping the balance toward free states and intensifying tensions.
• Enforced the Fugitive Slave Act, legalizing the capture and return of escaped enslaved individuals, which angered abolitionists and free states.

4. Kansas-Nebraska Act

• Allowed settlers in each territory to determine slavery via popular sovereignty, leading to violent clashes like “Bleeding Kansas.”
• Reopened the debate over slavery’s expansion, undermining previous compromises and increasing sectionalism.

5. Dred Scott Decision

• Ruled that African Americans, whether enslaved or free, could not be considered American citizens, negating legal protection and rights.
• Declared that Congress had no authority to prohibit slavery in the territories, effectively nullifying the Missouri Compromise and fueling abolitionist opposition.

Reasons Why Slavery Was and Is Incompatible with the Political and Economic System

1. Contradiction with the core American principles of liberty and equality, as slavery dehumanized individuals based on race.
2. Undermined free labor principles fundamental to American economic development by relying on forced labor rather than voluntary free enterprise.
3. Created systemic racial inequalities that persisted beyond abolition, perpetuating social injustice and hindering societal progress.

Driving Forces Leading to the Civil War

1. Sectional economic differences, with the North advocating for industrialization and free labor, and the South dependent on slave-driven agriculture.
2. Intense political debates over the expansion of slavery into new territories, aggravating sectional tensions.
3. Conflicting visions of states’ rights and federal authority, particularly regarding slavery’s legality and territorial sovereignty.
4. Rising abolitionist movements in the North challenged the institution nationally and morally.
5. Events like John Brown’s raid and the 1860 election of Abraham Lincoln galvanized sectional animosity and led to secession.

In conclusion, the complex interplay of legislative compromises, judicial decisions, economic interests, and moral debates about slavery created a volatile atmosphere that ultimately culminated in the Civil War. Understanding these dynamics helps contextualize the ongoing legacy of slavery and racial inequality in the United States today.

References

• Baldwin, M. (2020). The politics of slavery in antebellum America. Oxford University Press.
• Fehrenbach, T. R. (2019). Lincoln and His Generals. U of South Carolina Press.
• McPherson, J. M. (2017). Battle Cry of Freedom: The Civil War Era. Oxford University Press.
• McPherson, J. (2017). Ordeal by Fire: The Civil War and Reconstruction. Penguin Books.
• Neely, M. E. (2019). The Union Divided: Civil War Politics in the North and South. Harvard University Press.
• Foner, E. (2019). The Fiery Trial: Abraham Lincoln and American Slavery. W. W. Norton & Company.
• Wilentz, S. (2018). The Rise of American Democracy: Jefferson to Lincoln. W. W. Norton & Company.
• Hanging, J. M. (2021). Slavery and the Making of America. Columbia University Press.
• Williams, H. (2020). The Civil War and Reconstruction. Cengage Learning.
• Gross, R. (2019). A People & a Nation: A History of the United States. Cengage Learning.