National Unity 1800-1850

Sectional differences between the North and the South have caused the two regions to disagree on multiple issues since the establishment of the United States. The North’s economy was primarily based on industry, while the South’s economy was primarily based on agriculture, which greatly changed the two section’s desire and need for slaves. When the United States began annexing new territory, disputes over the expansion of slavery became prominent. In the Missouri Compromise of 1820, Missouri was added to the Union as a slave state while Maine was added as a free state in order to maintain the balance between slave and free states, and slavery was prevented from extending above the 36th parallel line. In order to follow the guidelines of the Missouri Compromise, Southerners looked westward in order to expand slavery. Southerners supported the extension of slavery into western territories because it allowed them to use free labor to harvest cotton and other crops, and the addition of new slave states would strengthen the South in the House of Representatives, because more states would vote for policies that favored slaveholders. Northerners were against the expansion of slavery into Western territories because they believed slave labor undermined free white labor and took away job opportunities, and would disrupt the balance between free and slave states. Controversy over the expansion of slavery into western territories between the years of 1845-1861 contributed to the

The Antebellum period from 1800 to 1850 marked a time of sectionalism in American history. Furthermore, new territories gained during western expansion added to this conflict between different sections of America. Southern states wanted new slave territories, while the North wanted to contain the spread of slavery. While Western expansion contributed to growing sectional tensions between the North and South from 1800-1820, sectionalism intensified significantly from 1820-1850.

The Missouri Compromise was a temporary solution to the issue of slavery and territorial rights such as the movement West. Two areas of land wanted to become states in 1820, known as Maine and Missouri. Maine wanted to enter as a free state with no slavery as everyone in that area was against it and wanted it abolished. Missouri wanted to enter as a slave state and was all for slavery and wanted it to be spread all throughout the country. The compromise everyone came into conclusion with, was that there would be no slavery allowed north of 36° 30’ latitude. This angered the Southerners because their intention was to promote slavery not have it abolished. They realized that this compromise threatened the balance between free and slave states; Maine and Missouri. In order to expand slavery, the South felt that the United States would need territory from Mexico. The only area of land left was in Arkansas and that line became known as the Missouri Compromise line. The impact that the Missouri Compromise had on the United States was tremendous and had many effects on issues such as national politics, the institution of slavery, and the overall togetherness of the nation as a whole.

Since Missouri’s population was composed of 16 percent slaves, it would be admitted as a slave state therefore upsetting the balance in favor of the south. Northerners didn’t like this because Missouri was at the same latitude as the free states of Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois, and because of this they feared that it would set a precedent for slave states coming more north. The north and south continued to argue and argue over the issue of slavery. The north accused the south of trying to extend the institution of slavery and the south said that the north was conspiring to destroy the Union and end slavery. To resolve this crisis, congress passed a series of agreements that became known as the Missouri Compromise, which smoothed over the crisis. In 1820, Congress admitted Maine as a free state and Missouri as a slave state in order to balance the number of free and slave states and to keep order between the north and south. Also, it prohibited slavery in the remainder of the Louisiana Purchase north of the southern boundary of Missouri. This compromise soon fell apart after it was passed. Missouri drafted its own Constitution saying that free blacks were prohibited from entering their territory. Because of this provision, which was against the federal Constitution stating that citizens of one state were entitled to the same rights as citizens of other states, antislavery northerners

The first half of the nineteenth century in the United States of America was a time of tremendous change for the nation. Firstly, change began as Thomas Jefferson was elected president, which meant the beginning of the Democratic-Republicans reign in office. But this development of the modern United States led not to a unified nation, yet it led to one divided. The expansion and development of ideas and land exposed great regional differences in the United States between 1800 and 1848. Jefferson’s Louisiana Purchase had not only provided the country with land to farm, but it had doubled the size of the United States. Decisions over what to do with the new land separated the country. This is clearly seen in disputes concerning the United States’

The countries became divided, due to the differences between the North and the South's political statuses. The North was a financial and industrial mecca, whereas the South had an agricultural economy based on the institution of slavery. Because Southern plantation owners feared that the powerful North would put an end to slavery, political leaders did what they could to ease the sectional conflict. They passed laws like the Missouri Compromise, which allowed the acceptance of Missouri as a slave state and Maine as a free territory. Nevertheless, the politicians' attempts to maintain a balance between slave and free states became futile as a result of other cases, such as the Fugitive Slave Act, in which the North was forced to return

David M. Potter theme of Impending Crisis is the study of sectional conflict dealing primarily with political events that led up to or caused southern states to secede from the Union resulting in the Civil War. Potter contends that during the expansionist period of the 1840s the country was experiencing a growth of American nationalism, but “the emergence of the sectionalism which almost destroyed the nation was symbolized by an amendment to an appropriation bill which was never enacted.” For the next fifteen years the Wilmot Proviso (1846) and the issue of slavery would become “a catalyst of all sectional antagonisms, political, economic, and cultural…opened the floodgates of sectionalism, for now all the pent-up moral indignation which had been walled in by the constitutional inhibition could be vented into the territorial question.”

The ideas of nationalism and sectionalism in the early 1800s played a large role in the presidential elections leading up to the Civil War. Nationalism is when the population of a nation has love for their country put their country first. Sectionalism is when the population identifies more with the ideals of their region more than they identify with the nation as a whole. Please two ideas would become the basis of the Missouri compromise, the Monroe doctrine, and this establishment of new political parties in the United States during the early 1800s.

An increase in nationalism after the War of 1812 reduced sectionalism and helped to further unite the nation. However, divisions over slavery, culture and lifestyles and economic structures caused a dramatic increase in sectionalism. These regional difference primarily formed between the northern and southern regions of the country. Therefore, regional differences significantly increased in the United States between 1800 and 1848.

There were several points at issue: The United States had recently acquired a vast territory -- the result of its war with Mexico. Should the territory allow slavery, or should it be declared free? Or maybe the inhabitants should be allowed to choose for themselves?

During the Market Revolution era of 1815 and 1840, unity evolved an adolescent nation into a thriving nation. After the War of 1812, the federal government provided growth ranging from western expansion, monetary gains, political foundations and religious order. Due to the white man democracy, social disorders were created between various minorities causing cultural effects which brought division into our country. However, ambition to expand developed our nation into what it is today.

From 1830 to 1860 the United States, as a country, experienced change unlike any other before. This change was the territorial expansion of the United States, otherwise known as Manifest Destiny or “The Way West.” This expansion exponentially grew the size of this young country. When there is change, controversy is not far behind, uniting and dividing people. In the case of territorial expansion, this change was able to unite the United States. It was because of territorial expansion that the economy of the United States thrived. It was because of territorial expansion that the United States was viewed as a supper power, helping the countries National Security. It was also because of territorial expansion that more people were able to life the American dream of freedom and prosperity.

The role of territories played a great role in the division of the United States prior to the Civil War. The North and the South states could not agree or compromise on slavery. There was a sectional divide between the North and the South. The South was trying to sustain and utilize slavery. The North wanted to end Slavery. Slavery was becoming more divisive and it threatened to expand westward because people who were non slave holders did not want to complete with slaveholders in new territories. Missouri prepared to enter the Union as a slave state and to balance it out Maine would enter a free state. The United States had soon entered war with Mexico over Texas and its western territories. The issue of expanding slavery had resurfaced. Slavery

The balance of free states and slavery states was still a very important, but also difficult question. At that time, big issue got caused. Because of Kansas’s huge population, Nebraska needed to be built a new state. According to Missouri Compromise, slavery was not available in the north of latitude 36°30’. Therefore, Nebraska had to be a free state. However, Nebraska was so close to Missouri, and Missouri was a slavery state. The Slaveholders and proslavery didn’t see the threat from a closed free states, they thought that their slaves would escape to Nebraska if that happened. So, they disagreed. Finally, this unorganized territory was divided to two part after the Kansas-Nebraska Act was announced. The north was Nebraska and the south was

During this time, both regions wanted to enlarge their lands, though they had different motivations. The South wanted to expand fast and take slaves with them for the growth of cotton since it was profitable. In other words, they wanted to protect the survival of cotton crops and to go on with the system of slaves in new territories. The North, however, wanted to