The mid-nineteenth century, specifically the years leading up to and surrounding the 1850s, represents a pivotal period in the history of the United States of America. One of the prominent events of this period was the secession crisis, which led to several political changes in the country. Consideration of these transformations during the 1850s will provide a more complete understanding of how they influenced the formation of further conditions in the country and led to the crisis.
Political Changes That Led Up to the Secession Crisis
One such important event is the Compromise of 1850. This initiative implied the introduction of legislative acts related to such an urgent issue as slavery. For over a century, enslaved individuals in the United States were widely perceived as belonging to a distinctly inferior class. This deeply entrenched belief system deemed them so subordinate that it was commonly held they possessed no rights or privileges that white individuals were morally or legally obligated to honor or respect.
Such a worldview perpetuated a social and legal structure that denied basic human dignity and justice to an entire population. The persistence of this ideology over generations underscored the urgent need for fundamental changes within societal institutions and governing agencies. These changes became essential not only to challenge and dismantle this dehumanizing perspective but also to redefine the principles of equality, liberty, and justice within the framework of a society striving toward progress and inclusivity.
Social Issues That Divided the Nation in the 1850s
The main problem in the context of the changes was that many states began to show discontent and resist the transformations implemented by the government. The Northern and Southern states of the country were divided, as the former supported free labor, and the latter held the opinion that it was necessary to preserve slavery. This circumstance led to the fact that in many regions, such as Kansas, armed violent clashes between people and the government began to take place.
Residents of this region also faced an issue because they could not gain entry into the Union as a free state. It also led to the fact that “many Americans, particularly in the North, were now politically adrift, with no strong party ties.” Therefore, the confrontation between pro-slavery and anti-slavery settlers caused the development of a state of crisis, which gradually spread to the entire United States.