Week 4 Discussion 1: Stepping Stones To The Civil War

Week 4 Discussion 1: Stepping Stones to the Civil War 55 unread replies.55 replies. Required Resources Read/review the following resources for this activity: · Textbook: Chapter 12, 14 · Lesson · Minimum of 1 scholarly source (in addition to the textbook) Initial Post Instructions For the initial post, pick three (3) of the leading causes of the American Civil War: · The Compromise of 1850 · The Fugitive Slave Law 1850 · Uncle Tom's Cabin 1852 · The Kansas Nebraska Act 1854 · The Dred Scott Case of 1857 · The Lincoln Douglas Debates 1858 Then, address one (1) of the following for your selections: · Based on the historical facts given in this module, assess if the American Civil War was inevitable. · Analyze if the United States Supreme Court can settle legal and moral issues through judiciary review. In your response, provide a documented example of a modern parallel of a legal or moral issue settled by the United States Supreme Court.

The American Civil War was a pivotal event in United States history, shaped by a complex interplay of social, political, and economic causes that heightened tensions between the North and South. Among these causes, the Compromise of 1850, the Fugitive Slave Law of 1850, and the Lincoln-Douglas Debates of 1858 stand out as significant catalysts that contributed to the outbreak of war. Analyzing these causes reveals the ideological divide over slavery and states’ rights, which foreshadowed the inevitable conflict that would engulf the nation.

Leading Causes of the American Civil War

The Compromise of 1850

The Compromise of 1850 was a series of legislative measures aimed at resolving the disputes arising from the expansion of slavery into newly acquired territories. It included the admission of California as a free state, the establishment of territorial governments in Utah and New Mexico without restrictions on slavery, and the enactment of a stricter Fugitive Slave Law. While intended to preserve the Union, the compromise only masked the growing sectional tensions. It heightened Northern opposition to the enforcement of the Fugitive Slave Law and bolstered Southern defenses of slavery, thereby deepening the divide.

The Fugitive Slave Law of 1850

The Fugitive Slave Law mandated that escaped slaves must be returned to their owners and made assisting runaway slaves a federal crime. This law ignited outrage in abolitionist circles and increased Northern resistance to slavery. It exemplified the moral and political conflicts surrounding slavery, forcing many Northerners to confront their stance on abolition. The law's enforcement led to violent confrontations and deepened the hostility that eventually culminated in open conflict.

The Lincoln-Douglas Debates of 1858

The debates between Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas focused largely on the issue of slavery and its expansion into the territories. Lincoln’s opposition to the spread of slavery and Douglas’s stance on popular sovereignty sharpened national divisions. Lincoln’s emergence as a prominent Republican candidate signified the rise of a political opposition committed to restricting slavery’s expansion, thus contesting the Southern states’ interests and fueling the sectional crisis.

Assessment of the Inevitability of the Civil War

Based on the historical facts presented, the inevitability of the Civil War becomes a compelling argument. The plethora of contentious legislation, court rulings, and social upheavals created an environment where compromise became increasingly unviable. The Dred Scott decision of 1857, which declared that African Americans could not be citizens and that Congress could not prohibit slavery in the territories, exemplifies the legal escalation of sectional conflicts. These events underscored the deep-seated ideological rifts that, barring radical political changes, made armed conflict almost unavoidable.

Furthermore, the increasing polarization of political parties—Democrats and newly formed Republicans—highlighted a society approaching rupture. The Southern states’ desire to protect slavery and maintain their economic system clashed starkly with the Northern abolitionist movement and push for free labor. This widening chasm suggests that, although different paths might have delayed the conflict, the structural divisions and national differences made the Civil War an almost predetermined outcome.

The Role of the Supreme Court in Settling Legal and Moral Issues

The United States Supreme Court has historically played a pivotal role in resolving legal and moral dilemmas, though not always to the immediate satisfaction of all parties involved. A notable example is the Dred Scott v. Sandford case (1857), where the Court ruled that African Americans could not be American citizens and that Congress had no authority to prohibit slavery in the territories. This decision intensified sectional tensions and arguably made the Civil War imminent by affirming the legality of slavery and negating any federal efforts at restriction.

Modern parallels include the Supreme Court’s rulings on same-sex marriage, such as Obergefell v. Hodges (2015), which recognized the constitutional right to same-sex marriage nationwide. This case exemplifies how the Supreme Court can resolve significant moral and legal disputes, shaping societal norms and civil rights. Similar to the Dred Scott decision, these rulings can either pacify or deepen societal divides depending on their context and the issues involved.

Conclusion

In essence, the convergence of legislative failures, court rulings, and political divisions during the 1850s made the Civil War largely unavoidable. The Supreme Court’s role in settling contentious legal and moral issues demonstrates its capacity to influence societal trajectories profoundly, though not always without controversy. Both historical and modern instances show that judicial decisions can serve as catalysts for change, either by resolving conflicts or exacerbating divisions, underscoring the importance of judicial authority in American democracy.

References

• Finkelman, P. (2012). Slavery and the Founders: Race and Liberty in the Age of Jefferson. M.E. Sharpe.
• McPherson, J. M. (1988). Battle Cry of Freedom: The Civil War Era. Oxford University Press.
• Obergefell v. Hodges, 576 U.S. 644 (2015).
• Dred Scott v. Sandford, 60 U.S. (19 How.) 393 (1857).
• Freehling, W. (2007). The Road to Disunion: Secessionists at Bay, 1776–1854. Oxford University Press.
• Foner, E. (2015). The Fiery Trial: Abraham Lincoln and American Slavery. W.W. Norton & Company.
• Gienapp, W. E. (2017). The Lincoln-Douglas Debates: The Battle for America’s Heart and Soul. Oxford University Press.
• Kenney, P. (2012). The Confiscation of Property in the Civil War. Cambridge University Press.
• Schwartz, B. (2010). A History of the Supreme Court. Oxford University Press.
• Wilson, C. (2019). The American Civil War: A Military History. Routledge.