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Political Causes of the Civil War

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Taylor Gates IB History of the Americas 1 10/25/13 Pd. 1B “The Civil War in the Unites States was caused by Political Disagreements.” To what extent do you agree with this statement? In modern day politics, it seems that legal agreements cannot be made on any new policies or beliefs. Similarly in the 1800s pre- Civil War era the political situation was constantly changing around the belief of slavery and, in theory, was a leading cause of the Civil War itself. The political issues that formed tension between the North and the South were the Compromise of 1850, the Kansas Nebraska Act, and the formation and viewpoints of the separate political parties. These policies and parties caused inconsistence in the political system …show more content…

This is because people in the new regions of Nebraska and Kansas now had to choose whether or not they supported slavery. In July of 1854, during a debate involving Abraham Lincoln, he said “But, say you, it is a question of interest; and, if you can make it your interest, you have the right to enslave another. Very well. And if he can make it his interest, he has the right to enslave you.” That is just one example of a powerful argument being made that heated up the push-pull relationship of the North and South. Above all, the passage of the Kansas Nebraska Act caused an outbreak in violence between extremists in Kansas, which became known as Bleeding Kansas. Mainly led by John Brown, through 1855 and 1856, there was a series of brutal conflicts, including the Pottawomie Massacre, which left 200 people dead. These violent actions between pro and anti-slavery groups can be seen as a prelude to the Civil War itself, being an actual physical attack such as battle. Stephen Douglas pushing for the Kansas Nebraska Act proved treacherous in the end, as it created many debates to increase the urgency of the slavery issue having a full resolution, as well as sparking actual combat between the Northern and Southern groups. The political turmoil causing the tensions between the North and South was largely due to the division of political parties and their strong beliefs. The Democratic Party had most power in the US

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