The American Civil War - Essay Example

Insert The American Civil War Background information The American civil war also known as the war between states was witnessed in the years 1861 to 1865, which led to the death of more than 600,000 people. The war resulted due to various reasons, and it was impossible to avoid it (John 111). One of the key reasons why the war resulted was the social and economic differences between the southern and northern states. I acknowledge that one of the economic difference was that the states of the South relied heavily on cotton as their livelihood hence they needed the use of slaves for the growth of their cotton. In addition, Northerners relied on business and industries, and they believed everyone should be free to work they hence viewed slavery as against human rights. Their reasoning led to a question whether the new states will encourage slavery or will be against slavery. On the other hand, the southerners viewed the abolition of slavery as a threat and attack to their beliefs, culture while Northern states saw it as against woman rights, and should be avoided at all costs. This difference in those who were against slaves and those supported it significantly played a significant role in the outbreak of the civil war. (Leon 112) The rights of federal and those of states was also another big contribution to the civil war. I clearly understand that these rights (of the two bodies) led to civil war because many people had a feeling that the constitution was ignorance about rights of states and limited states ability to act independently. Thus, they felt States should be the one to determine the federal laws to accept and those to decline. The demands were rejected and forbidden and the states those were after that felt the government did not respect them, and this led to the idea of secession, which resulted in the civil war. (John 89) Introduction Several events took place from 1789 when all states adopted the Constitution, which the critical issue being the abolition of slavery. My personal view was that the pre-war civil events build up after many years hence leading to the civil war after the election of Abraham Lincoln as president in 1860. (Martha 122). In addition, the United States new constitution did not clearly highlight on the protection of slavery but in 1789, the Congress adopts the Northwest Ordinance under the law whereby the northern and western states were against the slavery. The number of slaves in the U.S is close to 700,000 after 1890 census, which increases to about four million in 1960 which majority of the slaves from the southern states. Besides, Virginia leader starts the journey of the abolition of slavery whereby Robert Carter III frees his 452 slaves but in 1792, Kentucky makes a constitution that encourages slavery trade in the country. (John 88) In 1793, the Congress passed the Fugitive Slave Act and in the same year, the invention of the cotton gin is realized. It gives meaning to why there is a requirement for more labor thus more slaves for huge profits. On the contrary, every state aborted international slave trade in 1794, but other states as South Carolina restarted the trade again in 1803. It was at this point that the Congress prohibited the American ships from engaging in the slave trade in 1794. For instance, George Washington freed more slaves in 1799 and the same year the New York state makes a law that gradually abolishes the slave trade. (Leon 115). Abolition of slavery Martha in her work elaborates how the white leaders were encouraged by Richard Allen, a black minister to follow Washington’s t freeing slaves. On the other hand, another slave by the name Gabriel Prosser was planning to take Virginia Armory, which was at Richmond, and control the city. This was to make it easy to free him, and other slaves but his plan were discovered and were executed. From the encounter, I perceive how the abolition of slaves continued to be a dream after United States buys Louisiana Territory from France in 1803, which significantly allows expansion of slave plantation. (Martha 121). In addition, Ohio, which is a free state, was admitted with three hundred blacks and New Jersey State made a law that led to the gradual abolition of slavery. Other states like Maryland and Pennsylvania are adamant about the move, and they continue with the slave trade. In 1804, there is convection of abolition societies but they keep southern states away. I now acknowledge the reasons the slaves started fighting for their freedom in Virginia in 1805 shortening their holiday, which resulted in the death of three slaves. (Leon 98). Difficult issues Slave trade In 1807, President Thomas Jefferson who was against the slave trade called Congress and made international slave trade a criminal offense as is a violation of human rights and was eager to eliminate it. Furthermore, the conflicts resulted when John Randolph said that the issue of the slave trade will lead to significant conflict between those who are after it and those opposing it. I fully agree with the information that the secondary sources showed of the low number of slaves in the north about 27500 compared to the high number in the south where the slaves were more than 1.2 million. (Wilson 110). American colonization society was set to send about 10,000 freed blacks to Africa in 1916, another slave free state called Indiana is made in United States, and all slaves are freed there. Other two states are made in U.S one being Illinois, which is a free state and another Missouri. Missouri was a slave trade, but his admission was delayed as it was a threat to the balance between the 11 free and slave states. From that event, I appreciate why the bill to admit a Free State Maine was delayed by Southern Senators, which led to the admission of both Maine and Missouri. (John 90) Events of the Congress Due to a congressional condition in 1821, Missouri passed a law that excluded free blacks and mulattoes from the state. Moreover, the whites in South Carolina knew the Vesey plot of uprising violent slaves and this resulted to the killings of 34 slaves. It was during this affair that the first liberty laws for the slaves were passed in New Jersey and Pennsylvania that led to judicial hearing of the alleged slave before removed from the state in 1826 (Martha 113). A tariff is passed by Congress to transfer federal funds from one state to another for the purpose of internal improvement, but the southern states calls this “Tariff of Abominations.” South Carolina writes a report of exposition and protest and makes a nullification doctrine that declines the Congress demand. The president states the act as a pretension and threatens secession of the state over high tariff taxes. The slave population increases in U.S whereby in 1830 census the population of slaves is about 2.009 million. (Wilson 122). Publications and revenge missions Revolts by those who opposed slavery began with the foundation of the black abolitionist organization in 1831. Publications against slavery were made which became very crucial and influential leading to radical and religious turn. In addition, it resulted in the demand for the immediate emancipation of slaves, which leads to a slave revolt in Virginia leading to the death of 58 whites. The whites in turn did their revenge by killing 100 blacks. In 1833, there is the foundation of abolitionist American Anti-slavery Society, which advocated the abolition of slave trade. I recognize that more publications were made which motivated the slaves to overthrow slavery, as is a cruel and horrible system. (Leon 132). Election of the President Election of the president in 1848 enlarges the gap between the two where Taylor shows no view about slavery in the southwest during the election but after the election, he shows his plan to make California and New Mexico Free States. It is from this that the southerners became angry and wanted the abolition of slavery and I cannot agree more. More people rush to northern California Gold, which makes the northern population outnumber the southern population. California constitution further rejects slavery and joined the Union as a Free State in 1849. (Martha 123). The slave population became more than 3.2 million in 1850 census. Seward William, who was a U.S Senator by then, stated that slavery was wrong as it was under the higher law than the Constitution and the God’s law as all men were to be free and equal. This led to more desire to end slavery as the same senator pointed a gun to the anti-slavery senator on the U.S Senate floor. (Leon 76) The Southerners and slavery Fight to end slavery continued with southerners being angered by the Northern prevention on enforcing the Fugitive Slave Act. Moreover, two fugitive slaves are freed from jail and returned to Georgia, and the same instance is witnessed when a crowd of black men in Boston freed another fugitive slave known as Fred Wilkins in 1851. Fighting was also witnessed in Kansas, and pro-slavery men won majority seats in the legislature and adopted the pro-slavery constitution. That is why more killings resulted in Kansas due to a fight between the pro-slavery groups and anti-slavery groups, and the anti-slaves won leading to the adoption of the anti-slavery constitution. (John 114) Conclusion The events here from the time John Fremont, who was a presidential candidate Republican, preached against slavery, to the time when Democratic Party candidate James Buchanan won is full of civil wars. Publication by Hinton Helper also showed the main reason of no development in slavery within the South. It was for this reason that in 1860 elections, Lincoln with many supporters won republic party nominations as a candidate for the presidency. He had a platform for the abolition of slavery in all states as it was inhuman and cruelty of highest order and according to him every man was equal and needed to be free as well. What curtailed the progress was that the Southern Democrats had their support and their platform to encourage slave trade, as it was their source of livelihood. It led to tensions in the before the elections as every side was determined to win, and every group had its agenda that was entirely different from their opponent. On the other hand, it was the Northerners and Free states that were against slavery and needed to put it to an end completely. Southerners would try all means to ensure its growth, which led to tensions and civil war between the two groups in event the election of the president. Works Cited Bowman, John S. The Civil War Almanac. Bison Books Corp.1982. Wilson, Henry. History of the Rise and Fall of the Slave Power in America. Osgood and Company 1872 Higginbotham, A. Leon. In the Matter of Color: Race and the American Legal Process. Greenwood Press. 1975. McCartney, Martha W. A Study of African Americas on Jamestown Island and at Green Spring. 2003 Read More