Assignment 22: Liberty Challenged In 19th Century America

Assignment 22liberty Challenged In Nineteenth Century America Final

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 to five (3-5) driving forces that led to the Civil War. Use at least three (3) academic references besides or in addition to the textbook. Your assignment must follow these formatting requirements: · This course requires use of Strayer Writing Standards (SWS). The format is different than other Strayer University courses. Please take a moment to review the SWS documentation for details.

Paper For Above instruction

The nineteenth century was a tumultuous period in United States history, marked by significant debates and conflicts over slavery, states' rights, and the nation’s political future. Central to these conflicts were legislative compromises and judicial decisions that sought to manage the growing sectional tensions. This paper explores the outcomes of key legislations and court decisions, the intrinsic incompatibility of slavery with American political and economic systems, and the driving forces leading to the Civil War.

Outcomes of Major Legislation and Judicial Decisions

The 3/5ths Compromise, enacted during the Constitutional Convention of 1787, was a pivotal agreement that counted slaves as three-fifths of a person for purposes of taxation and representation. This compromise had profound political and social outcomes. Firstly, it enhanced Southern political power by increasing the representation of slaveholding states in Congress, thereby enabling these states to influence federal legislation favorably towards slavery. Secondly, it institutionalized the racial hierarchy by acknowledging black slaves as partially human, which perpetuated racial discrimination and justified slavery's continuation.

The Missouri Compromise of 1820 sought to balance the power between free and slave states. Its outcomes were significant in delaying sectional confrontation. First, it admitted Maine as a free state and Missouri as a slave state, maintaining the balance of power in the Senate. Second, it established a geographic boundary at the 36°30' parallel, north of which slavery was prohibited in the Louisiana Territory, thereby temporarily limiting the expansion of slavery into new territories.

The Compromise of 1850 attempted to address tensions over territorial expansion. Its outcomes included: First, the strengthening of Fugitive Slave Laws, which mandated that escaped slaves be returned to their owners, intensifying sectional conflicts. Second, California’s admission as a free state disrupted the balance of power, favoring the North. Third, it allowed popular sovereignty in Utah and New Mexico territories, permitting residents to decide on slavery, which increased regional conflicts over slavery’s expansion.

The Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854 effectively repealed the Missouri Compromise by allowing territories to decide on slavery through popular sovereignty. Its outcomes were: First, it led to violent confrontations in Kansas, known as "Bleeding Kansas," as pro- and anti-slavery settlers clashed. Second, it heightened tensions between North and South, accelerating the collapse of national consensus on slavery. Third, it bolstered the emergence of the Republican Party, which opposed the spread of slavery.

The Dred Scott Decision of 1857 declared that African Americans, whether enslaved or free, could not be citizens and had no standing to sue in federal courts. Its outcomes included: First, it invalidated the Missouri Compromise and all territorial restrictions on slavery, greatly increasing the likelihood of slavery spreading into new territories. Second, it fueled abolitionist arguments and prompted increased sectional hostility, contributing to the coming Civil War.

Incompatibility of Slavery with Political and Economic Systems

Slavery was fundamentally incompatible with the American political and economic systems for several reasons. First, it contradicted the core principles of liberty and equality enshrined in the Declaration of Independence, which asserts that “all men are created equal.” The existence of slavery, therefore, created a moral and political dissonance that undermined the nation’s ideological foundations. Second, slavery hindered the development of democratic institutions by concentrating economic power in the hands of slaveholders, undermining political equality and fostering racial hierarchies. Third, the reliance on forced labor suppressed innovation and diversification in the economy, making southern agriculture (particularly cotton cultivation) heavily dependent on a single crop and incapable of adapting to technological and market changes, thus stifling economic growth in the long term.

Driving Forces Leading to the Civil War

Several key forces propelled the nation toward civil conflict. Firstly, the expansion of slavery into new territories, driven by debates over popular sovereignty and territorial sovereignty, intensified sectional conflict. Secondly, economic disparities between the industrialized North and agrarian South fostered divergent social and political values, exacerbating tensions related to tariffs, trade policies, and economic interests. Thirdly, political events such as the rise of abolitionist movements and the emergence of anti-slavery political parties, notably the Republican Party, challenged the Southern social order and deepened sectional divisions. Fourth, the publication of influential anti-slavery literature, such as Harriet Beecher Stowe's "Uncle Tom's Cabin," galvanized Northern opposition to slavery. Fifth, the election of Abraham Lincoln in 1860, perceived as a threat to the institution of slavery, served as the immediate catalyst for secession by Southern states.

Conclusion

In summary, the legislative compromises and judicial decisions of the 19th century attempted to manage a fundamentally divided nation, yet they often deferred conflict rather than resolve it. The incompatibility of slavery with American ideals and economic interests, coupled with mounting sectional tensions, ultimately culminated in the Civil War. Understanding these historical developments underscores the importance of addressing moral, political, and economic disparities to prevent conflicts and foster national unity.

References

• 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.
• Bergeron, D. M. (2011). The Civil War and Reconstruction. Pearson.
• McCullough, D. (2005). 1776. Simon & Schuster.
• Gutman, H. G. (1960). The Black Family in Slavery and Freedom. Vintage Books.
• Woolley, C. (2000). The Compromise of 1850. Oxford University Press.
• Fehrenbach, T. R. (1994). Lone Star: A History of Texas and the Texans. Penguin Books.
• Nelson, C. (2013). The Democratic Party and the Confederacy. Louisiana State University Press.
• Stowe, H. B. (1852). Uncle Tom's Cabin. John P. Jewett & Company.
• Wilentz, S. (2005). The Rise of American Democracy: Jefferson to Lincoln. W. W. Norton & Company.