There were many justifications on why the eleven Confederate states had separated from the Union. Many of those justifications were based on the interests that had differed between the Northern and the Southern states. Those interests included state rights, slavery, and the Compromise of 1850. (Kelly, n.d.) Many states believed that the United States Constitution did not give any rights to the states in order for them to continue to act independent and thus the Theory of Nullification by John C. Calhoun was created. It states that the states had the right to nullify a federal law if they felt the federal law was unconstitutional. Slavery had always been an issue between the Northern states and the Southern states. With the invention of the cotton gin by Eli Whitney, many Southerners had turned their large plantations to the growing of cotton and this would require a large amount of help in order to keep the crop growing and for the profits to continue. The Southerners and Northerners were on two different economies, the farming industry, and the city industry. (Kelly, n.d.) The Compromise of 1850 was a compromise between the North and the South states. The Compromise states that the North would get California to admit as a free state, slave trade was prohibited in Washington D.C., Texas loses boundary dispute with New Mexico. The South would get no slavery restrictions in Utah or New Mexico territories, slaveholding permitted in Washington D.C., Texas would get $10 million dollars, and the creation of the Fugitive Slave Law. The South were not too pleased with this deal for in the end the North refused to enforce the Fugitive Slave Law and they had received the upper hand by having another free state in the Senate which get it off balance in their favor. ("The Compromise of 1850 [ushistory.org]", n.d.) I believe the separation was justified. Although I do not agree with the South and their wants, I do not believe it was fair. This was the Southerners way of life and making a living for their families even if it was an ugly way to live. There should have been a better compromise where it would help support the South and the Slaves not the North.
How did the interrelationship of the economy, culture, and slavery of the Old South contribute to their decision to secede?
The interrelationship of the economy, culture, and slavery of the Old South contributed to their decision to secede because their view of these issues had differed from those of the Northern states. The thoughts and acts of seceding began when President Andrew Jackson had Congress pass Tariffs that were seen as unfair towards the Southern states. The South had felt pressure from the Northern states especially since many of the slave states had become a minority in the Senate and the House of Representatives. The North was doing well in their economy and had a larger population. The Southerners wanted to be more independent and less controlled by the government. They had a complete different way of living than the North and did not want that way of living to be interfered. (Tubbs, 2007,) They began to secede from the Union as soon as Abraham Lincoln had become President of the United States because they believed strongly that he was against slavery and would favor the Northern states. ("American Civil War", n.d.)
Transcendentalist philosophy and the reform movement became powerful social forces in America during the 1850s. What influence did these social ideas have on the political climate of the time?
Transcendentalist philosophy and the reform movement become powerful social forces in America during the 1850s, the influence that these social ideas had on the political climate of the time was for people to believe in themselves and to look beyond what you "see" and actually "understand" what your intuition and your mind is telling you. "They created an American "state of mind" in which imagination was better than reason, creativity was better than theory, and action was better than contemplation. And they had faith that all would be well because humans could transcend limits and reach astonishing heights." ("Transcendentalism, An American Philosophy [ushistory.org]", n.d.) The influence these social ideas had on the political climate of the time was promoting a new way to think and reform. They were looking at issues that the government was dealing with, with a different point of view, an American point of view. The government needed to stop looking towards other countries and imitate people that were not American.
What were the major effects of westward expansion after 1840, and how did they contribute to the sectional tensions over slavery?
The westward expansion after 1840 had created some major effects such as creating tensions in the Congress over the new states, the Second Great Awakening and Manifest Destiny. The tensions that were building in Congress were based on the creation of the new states and whether they were going to be entered into the Union as a slave state or a free state. (Mr. Whalen's 8th Period American History Class, n.d.) The South wanted the new states to enter the Union in as slave states so that they would be able to have more support and representation in the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Second Great Awakening was large spread of religion and reformations that demanded for a better way of living. It was well received by many people especially African-Americans. The African-Americans had become large participates in the Christian community and the new reforms had slaves demanding for their freedom. ("Religious Transformation and the Second Great Awakening [ushistory.org]", n.d.) The Manifest Destiny was a result of the Second Great Awakening. Many setters had believed that it was their god given right to move westward and expand the American nation. While moving westward many American settlers had encountered Native Americans. The Native Americans were seen as savages and to the American settlers and they needed to be "saved." Many Natives were converted to Christianity and many were killed for their refusal. The American setters felt it was there right to control these people. ("Manifest Destiny [ushistory.org]", n.d.)
Although antislavery sentiments had existed prior to the American Revolution, abolitionism did not gain sufficient force until about 1830. What significant contributions to the antislavery movement occurred during the two decades prior to the Civil War? What were some of the reactions to the movement?
The significant contributions to the antislavery movement that occurred during the two decades prior to the Civil War were the Second Great Awakening and the colonization movement. (Sellman, n.d.) The Second Great Awakening had taught many religious people that they deserved a better life and that they were capable of having that. Many slaves converted to Christianity and they believed they were able to have a better life and demanded for it. ("Religious Transformation and the Second Great Awakening [ushistory.org]", n.d.) Colonization would give African-Americans the chance to become free from masters, to return to Africa, and to live freely among their own land. The reactions from the colonization movement from the abolitionists were happy to free the slaves and raise money to support the return of the African-Americans, but the reactions from African-Americans were not same. The African-Americans did not want to return to Africa, they wanted to stay in the Untied States. Many of the African-Americans have never even stepped foot in Africa and were born in the United States to slave parents, some were even mixed with European blood. They felt they had every right to stay in the United States for they helped build this country. ("Abolitionist Sentiment Grows [ushistory.org]", n.d.)
