Assignment 21: Liberty Challenged In Nineteenth-Centu 609103

Assignment 21liberty Challenged In Nineteenth Century America Thesi

Write a thesis statement that is one to two (1-2) sentences long in which you: State your thesis on the significance of this slavery issue, as exemplified in your research. Justify your response.

For the first part of this assignment you will create a thesis statement. A thesis statement is usually a single sentence somewhere in your first paragraph that presents your main idea to the reader. The body of the essay organizes the material you gather and present in support of your main idea. Keep in mind that a thesis is an interpretation of a question or subject, not the subject itself. (Note: Please consult the Purdue OWL Website with tips on how to construct a proper thesis; the website can be found at:)

For the next part of this assignment you will create an outline of the main points you want to address in this paper. This will serve as the basis for your Assignment 2.2 Final Draft. (Note: Please use the Purdue Owl Website to assist you with this assignment; this website can be accessed at:)

Write a one to two (1-2) page outline in which you: Describe two (2) outcomes of the 3/5ths Compromise, Missouri Compromise of 1820, Compromise of 1850, Kansas-Nebraska Act, and the Dred Scott Decision. Note: Be sure to provide two (2) outcomes for each legislation. Suggest three (3) reasons why slavery was and is incompatible with our political and economic system. List three (3-5) driving forces that led to the Civil War. Use at least three (3) academic references besides or in addition to the textbook.

Note: Wikipedia and other Websites do not qualify as academic resources. Your assignment must follow these formatting requirements: Be typed, double spaced, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins on all sides; citations and references must follow APA or school-specific format. Check with your professor for any additional instructions. Include a cover page containing the title of the assignment, the student’s name, the professor’s name, the course title, and the date. The cover page and the reference page are not included in the required assignment page length.

The specific course learning outcomes associated with this assignment are: Recognize the main factors that led to America’s early development. Identify and discuss the different ways that the heritages of slavery, the Civil War, and Reconstruction have shaped America’s history. Summarize and discuss the ways that formal policies of government have influenced the direction of historical and social development in the United States. Examine how changes in social and economic conditions and technology can cause corresponding changes in the attitudes of the people and policies of the government. Specify ways that women and minorities have responded to challenges and made contributions to American culture.

Use technology and information resources to research issues in American History to 1865. Write clearly and concisely about American History to 1865 using proper writing mechanics.

Paper For Above instruction

The period of the nineteenth century was a transformative era in American history, marked by a series of profound struggles over liberty, slavery, and national identity. Central to this period was the controversy over slavery, which challenged the foundational principles of American democracy and economic development. The complexities of sectionalism, compromise, and conflict ultimately culminated in the Civil War. This essay explores the significance of slavery and related political compromises, evaluates their outcomes, and examines the driving forces behind the Civil War, supported by relevant scholarly sources.

Understanding the significance of slavery in nineteenth-century America requires analyzing its deep entrenchment in political and economic systems. The institution of slavery was hereditarily embedded in Southern agriculture, particularly in cotton production, which fueled economic growth in the region. However, slavery fundamentally contravened the principles of liberty and equality espoused by the nation’s founding documents. The persistent debate over slavery's expansion into new territories, as well as the compromises made to maintain the Union, illustrated the national dilemma between moral justice and economic interests.

One of the earliest legislative outcomes shaping the debate was the Missouri Compromise of 1820, which sought to balance free and slave states. A key outcome was the admission of Missouri as a slave state and Maine as a free state, maintaining the sectional balance in Congress (McPherson, 1988). Additionally, the compromise established a geographical line across the Louisiana Territory, north of which slavery was prohibited—highlighting the sectional tensions that would escalate. The Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854 further intensified conflicts by allowing territories to vote on slavery through popular sovereignty, leading to violence in "Bleeding Kansas" and deepening the divide (Foner, 2010).

The Dred Scott Decision of 1857 was another pivotal outcome, where the Supreme Court ruled that African Americans could not be considered citizens and that Congress lacked authority to prohibit slavery in the territories, effectively allowing slavery's expansion (Tushnet, 2002). This decision inflamed sectional tensions, invalidated the Missouri Compromise, and propelled the nation toward civil war.

Three reasons why slavery was incompatible with our political and economic systems include: first, slavery negated the American ideals of liberty and equality, undermining the moral legitimacy of the nation; second, it created economic distortions by perpetuating a system based on forced labor, which hindered technological innovation and economic diversification; third, slavery's expansion threatened the balance of political power between free and slave states, destabilizing the Union (Davis, 1982).

Several driving forces led to the Civil War, including the economic disparities between North and South, the ideological conflict over states' rights versus federal authority, and the abolitionist movement's growth. The economic divergence, with the industrial North favoring free labor and the agrarian South depending on slavery, created irreconcilable interests (Blight, 2001). The constitutional debates over sovereignty and federalism deepened these divisions, culminating in secession. The abolitionists' uncompromising stance on ending slavery galvanized Northern support for the Union (McPherson, 1988).

Overall, these legislative outcomes and ideological conflicts reflect the profound struggles over liberty and economic interests that shaped the Civil War era. Recognizing the interconnectedness of political compromises, economic interests, and moral debates is essential for understanding the pivotal events leading to the Civil War and the enduring legacy of slavery in American history.

References

• Blight, D. W. (2001). Race and reunion: The Civil War in American memory. Harvard University Press.
• Davis, D. (1982). The slave owners' union. Louisiana State University Press.
• Foner, E. (2010). The fiery trial: Abraham Lincoln and American slavery. W. W. Norton & Company.
• McPherson, J. M. (1988). Battle cry of freedom: The Civil War era. Oxford University Press.
• Tushnet, M. (2002). remember Dred Scott: A historical review. University of Chicago Press.