Assignment 21: Liberty Challenged In Nineteenth-Centu 272575

Assignment 21liberty Challenged In Nineteenth Century America Thesi

Write a thesis statement that:

- States your thesis on the significance of the slavery issue in 19th-century America, justified by your research.

- Is 1-2 sentences long, presenting your main idea.

Create an outline that:

- Describes two outcomes each of the following: the 3/5ths Compromise, Missouri Compromise of 1820, Compromise of 1850, Kansas-Nebraska Act, and Dred Scott Decision.

- Suggests three reasons why slavery was and is incompatible with American political and economic systems.

- Lists 3-5 driving forces that led to the Civil War.

Use at least three academic references besides or in addition to your textbook.

Format the assignment according to APA guidelines: typed, double-spaced, Times New Roman, size 12, with 1-inch margins. Include a cover page with the assignment title, your name, professor's name, course, and date. The cover page and references do not count toward the page limit.

Paper For Above instruction

The nineteenth century was a pivotal period in American history, characterized by intense debates over slavery and sectionalism that ultimately led to the Civil War. Central to understanding this era is analyzing how slavery influenced political, economic, and social developments. This paper explores the significance of slavery in shaping modern America, focusing on key legislative outcomes and the driving forces behind the nation’s descent into conflict.

Thesis Statement

The issue of slavery in 19th-century America was a fundamental human and political conflict that threatened the unity of the nation; its implications extended beyond moral considerations to deeply influence legislative decisions, economic practices, and sectional identities, ultimately precipitating the Civil War.

Analysis of Legislative Outcomes

The legislative measures of the period, including the 3/5ths Compromise, Missouri Compromise of 1820, the Compromise of 1850, Kansas-Nebraska Act, and the Dred Scott Decision, each yielded profound consequences that intensified sectional tensions.

3/5ths Compromise

• Outcome 1: It enhanced political power for slaveholding states by counting enslaved people as three-fifths of a person for representation, thereby increasing their influence in Congress.
• Outcome 2: It institutionalized racial disparities, reinforcing the dehumanization of Black Americans and delaying meaningful abolitionist progress.

Missouri Compromise of 1820

• Outcome 1: It maintained the balance between free and slave states by admitting Missouri as a slave state and Maine as a free state, temporarily quelling sectional disputes.
• Outcome 2: It set a geographic boundary (36°30' line) restricting slavery's expansion into certain territories, which later became a source of sectional contention.

Compromise of 1850

• Outcome 1: It admitted California as a free state, counteracting the balance of power but intensified debates over slavery's reach in new territories.
• Outcome 2: The Fugitive Slave Act enforcement increased tensions as it mandated that escaped slaves be returned, angering abolitionists in the North.

Kansas-Nebraska Act

• Outcome 1: It repealed the Missouri Compromise's restriction on slavery north of the 36°30' line, leading to violent conflict known as "Bleeding Kansas."
• Outcome 2: It intensified sectional differences, as it allowed territories to decide on slavery via popular sovereignty, resulting in pro- and anti-slavery violence.

Dred Scott Decision

• Outcome 1: It declared that African Americans, enslaved or free, could not be American citizens, denying them legal standing and exacerbating racial tensions.
• Outcome 2: It negated legislative efforts to restrict slavery's expansion, fueling abolitionist and anti-slavery movements in the northern states.

Reasons Why Slavery Was and Is Incompatible with American Systems

1. The contradiction between slavery and the fundamental American principle of equality: Slavery denied liberty and equality to Black Americans, fundamentally undermining constitutional ideals.
2. The economic dependency on slavery hindered technological innovation and diversification, making the Southern economy vulnerable and unsustainable long-term.
3. Slavery perpetuated systemic racial violence and social stratification, creating enduring inequalities that conflict with the modern ideals of justice and human rights.

Driving Forces Leading to the Civil War

1. The expansion of slavery into new territories sparked fierce political debates, dividing North and South.
2. Economic disparities between industrialized North and agrarian South fueled sectional tensions.
3. States' rights and sovereignty disputes, particularly over the authority to decide on slavery, heightened conflicts over federal authority.
4. Abraham Lincoln’s election in 1860, representing anti-slavery sentiments, provoked Southern secession.
5. The failure of compromise efforts, such as the Crittenden Compromise, led to increased polarization and conflict.

Conclusion

The escalation of conflicts over slavery, driven by legislative compromises, economic interests, and ideological disputes, culminated in the Civil War, shaping the trajectory of American history. Understanding these outcomes and motivations is essential to comprehending how slavery's legacy continues to influence the nation.

References

• Foner, E. (2010). The Civil War and Reconstruction: A Documentary Collection. W. W. Norton & Company.
• McPherson, J. M. (1988). Battle Cry of Freedom: The Civil War Era. Oxford University Press.
• Freeze, J. (2014). Years of Disunion: Western Migration and the Will to Extend Slavery. University of North Carolina Press.
• Harris, D. R. (2003). The Color of Law: A Forgotten History of How Our Government Segregated America. W. W. Norton & Company.
• Wilentz, S. (2005). The Rise of American Democracy: Jefferson to Lincoln. W. W. Norton & Company.
• Banning, K. (2014). The Democratic Experiment: New Directions in American Political History. Beacon Press.
• Holt, M. (1992). The Politics of Disunion: The Heart of Reconstruction. University Press of Kentucky.
• McMillen, M. (2016). The Citizens' Council: Organized Resistance to the Civil Rights Movement. University of Illinois Press.
• Fehrenbach, T. R. (1995). Lone Star: A History of Texas and the Texans. University of Texas Press.
• Scheiber, H. N. (2014). The Civil War and the Politics of Slavery. Harvard University Press.