Questions And Answers On Abraham Lincoln's Drifting Toward Disunion

This production led to an economic strength that made these states even more determined to defend the right to practice slavery. Despite the freedoms demanded in the Declaration of Independence and the freedoms reserved in the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, such as Amendment X (Document 1), slavery was both tolerated and classified in the Constitution. The South was also able to withstand the growing number of revolts, rebellions, and northern political opposition that was rising. Proclamations such as the Fugitive Slaves Law were established to provide for the return of slaves who escaped from one state into another state or territory, and the Underground Railroad became a serious threat to Southern plantation owners who needed more slaves to maintain their economic power. The Nat Turner revolt and the writings and speeches of the former slave Frederick Douglass were contributors to the growing conflict, but the South defended their claim to economic security through the practice of slavery until it became legally impossible to do so after the Civil War.

After the bill was passed, pro-slavery and anti-slavery supporters rushed in to settle in Kansas to affect the outcome of the first election. Pro-slavery settlers won the election, but were charged with fraud by anti-slavery settlers. The anti-slavery settlers held another election, but the pro-slavery settlers refused to vote. This resulted in two opposing legislatures within the Kansas territory. The opposition created violence between the two groups, causing many bloody battles that greatly increased the death rate, giving Kansas the nickname “Bleeding Kansas”. President Pierce, supporting pro-slavery, sent in Federal troops to stop the violence and disperse the anti-slavery legislature. Another election was held and pro-slavery supporters won. They were again charged with election fraud. As a result, Congress did not recognize the constitution the pro-slavery settlers adopted, and Kansas wasn’t allowed to become a state. Eventually,

In the years leading up to the Civil War, numerous laws were passed that not only prevented slavery from

M., Spalding, M.). This was named the Fugitive Slave Clause, which became Article IV. This said that “neither slavery nor involuntary servitude would exist in the territory” (III, E. M., Spalding, M.).

In 1854 another problem arose which resulted in Congress passing the Kansas-Nebraska Act which repealed the Missouri Compromise, this act was introduced by Stephen A. Douglas a chairman of Committee on Territories, this act allowed the people of Kansas and Nebraska to choose rather they wanted slavery in their boundary or not through the power of popular sovereignty, the Pro-slavery settlers won the election but were charged with accusations that they cheated, in order to make sure that the vote was right they ordered a re-election but the Pro-slavery refused and the refusal resulted into a battle. John Brown an Anti-slavery leader who believed that he was sent here by god to kill anyone who was pro-slavery. He led the anti-slavery force which gained the nickname “Bleeding Kansas”. The fight was soon stopped, and a final election was held, this time the anti-slavery settlers won the vote and was announced that Kansas would become a free state in 1861. In conclusion the Compromises and Acts may have had their flaws but it they some how manage to solve the slavery issues.

a. no more slavery would be permitted in the Louisiana Purchase territory north of the southern boundary of Missouri.

At this time it seemed that the issue of slavery was the only problem in the United States, almost as if a slave was being forced down the throats of the freesoilers (Document F). Stephen Douglas drafted the Kansas-Nebraska Acts in hopes of adding two new states: Kansas and Nebraska. Although it seemed that one would be a slave state, and the other a free state, the slavery issue would be decided by popular sovereignty. Many opposed this decision but did not know how to deal with it. The reason they did not know was because the Constitution did not mention it. William Lloyd Garrison said “the Constitution which subjects them to hopeless bondage is one that we cannot swear to support” (Document E). He was trying to say that the constitution can’t answer the question of slavery because the words “slave” and “slavery” are not in the constitution.

That clause prohibited any amendment made to the Constitution prior to 1808 that interfered with the three-fifths compromise or the clause regarding Congress’ interference with the slave trade (Dolbeare, 77). Lastly is The Fugitive Slave Clause in Article 4, Section 2 of the Constitution that permitted the extradition of runaway slaves (Dolbeare, 77). While the compromises within the constitution were necessary to ensure the formation of the United States, it is clear that the 1787 Congressional Convention did little to address the issue of slavery.

This document was also written from the Union President which had very little power to set the slaves free and were only affected in the Confederacy. There was not many slaves in the union they didn’t allow

By the statutes being created it implies that not everyone agreed with getting rid of slavery. And a number of the whites in the south wanted to remain superior to the negros.one thing that is not mention but is still important is the fact that Abraham Lincoln is the one who fought for slavery to be abolished which he would eventually achieve.

Bleeding Kansas was a series of conflicts between anti slavery people and pro slavery people. Bleeding Kansas started when they needed to decide if Kansas would be with the North or South and they did this by voting. Since there wasn’t many good records of who was a citizen in this time many people from

Tensions about what congress would do about slavery in the new territories increased rapidly. Lincoln, during his presidency, explains the difference between anti and pro slavery people. He explains that the selfish nature of man allows him to go towards slavery, but man’s nature to be just and right allows him to oppose slavery (Lincoln). Wilmot tried to pass a law called the Wilmot proviso, a law forbidding slavery in the new territories ceded by Mexico. A wild debate over this law ensued between the North and South (Remini).

From the time period of 1855-1858, the north and the south had a violent conflict on slavery, which became to be known as the Bleeding Kansas. The Bleeding Kansas was caused by the Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854 that allowed the people of Kansas to decide on whether to enforce slavery or not. Because Kansas was a territory in the north that abolished slavery, people in the north did not favor the act. This conflict added on to the hatred between the North and the

Victory was won in the Electoral College for Lincoln. This election firmly established the Republicans who held presidency for 60 of the next 100 years. He helped form the new Republican Party, drawing on remnants of the old Whig, Free Soil, Liberty and Democratic parties.

Today in the United States one of the most controversial issues is race relations. Mainstream America would like to exist in an environment of integration and race independent societal construct. However, one cannot negate the existence of racially motivated problems. Slavery, which is a primary component of the development of what we call modern American culture and its abolition could be considered the moment where race relations started to become an issue in the US.