Liberty Challenged In Nineteenth Century America ✓ Solved

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LIBERTY CHALLENGED IN NINETEENTH CENTURY AMERICA 3

Develop the final paper in which you explore your main points in detail. Introduce your paper with your previously crafted thesis statement. Describe two (2) outcomes of the 3/5ths Compromise, Missouri Compromise of 1820, Compromise of 1850, Kansas-Nebraska Act, and the Dred Scott Decision. 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.

Paper For Above Instructions

The institution of slavery in America serves as a cornerstone for analyzing the conflicts that led to the Civil War in the nineteenth century. As a nation built on the ideals of liberty and freedom, the juxtaposition of slavery created complex challenges that shaped the political and economic landscape of the United States. This paper will focus on the outcomes of key legislative compromises and decisions during this period, reasons why slavery was incompatible with America’s socio-economic systems, and the driving forces of the Civil War.

Firstly, the Three-Fifths Compromise, which was reached during the 1787 Constitutional Convention, established a method for counting slaves as three-fifths of a person when apportioning representation in Congress. This had significant implications both politically and socially. The two key outcomes of this compromise were: (1) it increased the political power of slaveholding states by allowing them to count a portion of their enslaved population for congressional representation, which ultimately skewed the balance of political power in favor of the South; and (2) it set a precedent for the dehumanization of African Americans by treating them as property rather than individuals with rights (Brinkley, 2015).

Secondly, the Missouri Compromise of 1820 was designed to maintain the delicate balance between free and slave states. The outcomes were significant: (1) it admitted Missouri as a slave state and Maine as a free state, thus maintaining the balance of power in Congress; and (2) it established a line (the 36°30′ parallel) across the Louisiana Territory, north of which slavery was prohibited, thereby setting a geographical boundary that would fuel tensions in future debates over the expansion of slavery into new territories (Hummel, 2013).

Next, the Compromise of 1850 addressed the contentious issue of slavery in newly acquired territories after the Mexican-American War. Important outcomes of this compromise included: (1) the admission of California as a free state, which upset the balance in the Senate; and (2) the enactment of a stricter Fugitive Slave Law, compelling citizens in free states to assist in the capture of runaway slaves, thus criminalizing aid to runaway slaves (Randall & Donald, 2016).

The Kansas-Nebraska Act, passed in 1854, served to repeal the Missouri Compromise. Its outcomes had profound implications for the nation: (1) it allowed the inhabitants of Kansas and Nebraska to decide on the legality of slavery through popular sovereignty, effectively nullifying previous compromises; and (2) it led to violent confrontations known as "Bleeding Kansas" between pro-slavery and anti-slavery settlers, revealing the deep divisions within the nation (Brinkley, 2015).

Another critical factor was the Dred Scott Decision (1857), where the Supreme Court ruled that African Americans could not be American citizens and that the federal government had no authority to regulate slavery in the territories. The key outcomes included: (1) it nullified the Missouri Compromise, asserting that Congress did not have the authority to exclude slavery from the territories; and (2) it intensified sectional tensions and fueled abolitionist sentiments in the North, as many viewed the ruling as an affront to human rights (Hummel, 2013).

Despite the significance of these legislative measures, it is essential to understand the underlying reasons why slavery was and is fundamentally incompatible with the American political and economic system. First, slavery hindered the development of Southern capitalism, as the reliance on slave labor stifled innovation and economic diversification within the South (Randall & Donald, 2016). Second, the moral and ethical implications of slavery created irreconcilable differences between the North and South, leading to a fractured union. Finally, slavery engendered systemic racial segregation, the impacts of which still resonate in contemporary American society.

The driving forces that inevitably led to the Civil War are rooted in a combination of economic, political, and ideological differences between the North and South. Firstly, the institution of slavery was the chief catalyst for discord, creating economic disparities and political strife that fostered discontent. Secondly, the Dred Scott Decision not only exacerbated tensions but also served as a rallying point for abolitionist movements in the North (Brinkley, 2015). Lastly, states' rights emerged as a contentious issue, with Southern states asserting their right to govern themselves, leading to secessionist sentiments that ultimately sparked the Civil War.

In conclusion, the series of legislative compromises and Supreme Court decisions in the nineteenth century reflected the deeply entrenched societal divisions that centered around slavery. The incompatibility of slavery with the nation's foundational ideals of freedom and equality culminated in conflict, showcasing how historical events, economic practices, and political beliefs intersected to forge a tumultuous path in American history.

References

• Brinkley, A. (2015). The Unfinished Nation: A Concise History of the American People, Volume I (Vol. 11, p. 7271). McGraw-Hill.
• Hummel, J. (2013). Emancipating slaves, enslaving free men: a history of the American civil war. Open Court.
• Randall, J. G., & Donald, D. (2016). The Civil War and Reconstruction. Pickle Partners Publishing.
• McPherson, J. (1990). Battle Cry of Freedom: The Civil War Era. Oxford University Press.
• Foner, E. (2011). Gateway to Freedom: The Hidden History of the Underground Railroad. W.W. Norton & Company.
• Stowe, H. B. (1852). Uncle Tom's Cabin. John P. Jewett & Company.
• Wills, G. (1992). Lincoln at Gettysburg: The Words That Remade America. Simon & Schuster.
• Oakes, J. (1998). Freedom National: The Destruction of Slavery in the United States, 1861-1865. W.W. Norton & Company.
• Du Bois, W. E. B. (1903). The Souls of Black Folk. A.C. McClurg & Company.
• Goldfield, D. (1994). America Aflame: How the Civil War Created a Nation. Bloomsbury Press.

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