Introduction
One of biggest black marks given to the United Sates was the adoption and practice of slavery. Millions of Africans were captured and transferred by ships, often in inhuman conditions to the country and later sold off as slaves to white masters. The practice became inhuman to such an extent that the United States had to undergo the one and only Civil War in its entire history. The war took place between pro-slavery southern states and anti-slavery northern states in which the ultimate victory was for the northerners. The end of the war also saw the abolition of slavery in the whole country firstly through the landmark Emancipation Proclamation and the Thirteenth Amendment in November 17, 1964.
An analysis of three significant events that contributed to the outbreak of the Civil War is attempted here in this paper. The Abolitionist movement that started in the late 1700s but took strong roots in the US by the 1830 is the first event. This was a turning point that led to an open difference of opinion about the need for abolition of slavery in the country. In other words the first division between pro and anti-slavery forces came about as a result of this movement. The second event was the Kansas Nebraska Act 1854 which led the factions further apart by its decision to allow slavery into the new territories of Kansas and Nebraska. Another event, this time primarily concerned with an individual name Dred Scott too had far-reaching consequences. The Supreme Court decision during March 1857 against the appeal of this black slave for freedom was another step towards the outbreak of Civil War. Each one of these events is described and analyzed below.
Abolitionism
Abolitionism could be considered as one of the greatest movements towards freedom and democracy in the history of mankind. The practice of slavery was widespread in many parts of Europe, the UK and the Unites States. In the United States it was more stringently practiced in the southern parts of the country. A few liberally minded people, especially the Quakers of America were opposed to the concept of slavery and thus began a movement for freedom from slavery for the black people of America. This movement came to be called abolitionism and the people who took part in it came to be known as the abolitionists. The movement for abolition of slavery actually started in the UK during the late 1700s, but the movement gained momentum in the USA only by 1830 with the initiatives of evangelical Protestants.
Abolitionism naturally found support among the blacks in the US and they secretly and sometimes openly took part in acts of protest by their white supporters. One of the greatest proponents of this movement was William Lloyd Garrison, who in his zeal to end slavery had even to face acts of violence from other whites who were for continuing the tradition of slavery. Among the blacks one of the most famous among the blacks was Harriet Tubman who risked her life in helping more than 200 slaves to escape the South through what was called the underground train. All this activity created a lot of friction within the United States with most resistance towards abolition coming from the south. Ultimately, abolitionism along with a host of other factors like the Fugitive Slave Act, the Kansas Nebraska Act, the release of the book Uncle Tom’s Cabin and most importantly, the election of Abraham Lincoln as president of the United States led the nation to a bloody and costly Civil War.
Kansas Nebraska Act 1854
The lands west of Missouri were considered to be worthless and mainly used for the settlement of Native Americans. But it was later found that this land was cultivable and hence ready for settlement. For this purpose, the formation of a new region for the United States was felt and this was proposed by an Act allowing two new states Kansas and Nebraska to be formed. The problem with the Act was that these two states would be allowed, by popular referendum to decide whether to abolish or accept slavery. This caused uproar among anti-slavery supporters especially in the North because as per the Missouri Compromise it was decided that all lands north of 36°30’N lat were declared to be free states.
The Kansas Nebraska Act specifically repealed what was said in the Missouri Compromise. This would cause practice to expand into once prohibited areas. Nebraska allowed slavery to be practiced and hence both pro and anti-slavery supporters rushed into Kansas to see that the outcome of the decision on slavery would be in each one’s favor. Two elections held in 1854 and 1855 were won by pro-slavery forces mainly through intimidation and rigging of ballots. This was done mainly by anti-social elements from bordering Missouri and they came to be called the ‘border ruffians’. An opposition government was formed by anti-slavery forces but was ignored by President Franklin Pierce. Violence began to erupt between the two groups with two acts of violence standing out. The first was an act of burning and looting in Lawrence by the border ruffians. In retaliation five settlers in Pottawatomie Creek were pro abolitionists. Violence continued for about four months till John W Geary, governor of Kansas managed to send the anti-social elements back to Missouri. A fragile peace prevailed with intermittent acts of violence that continued for several more years. These violent acts came to be known as ‘Bleeding Kansas’ and are considered by many to be one of the forerunners of the Civil War.
The Dred Scott Decision
Dred Scott was an African slave who belonged to an army man called Dr. John Emerson. Scott had the chance to live in two slave-free states, Illinois and Wisconsin for an extended period when he accompanied his master posted to these states on army duty. Scott stayed on in these free states, being hired out to people by Dr Emerson he had been transferred to Louisiana. Eventually they were called to Louisiana themselves. After Dr Emerson’s death Scott tried to purchase his freedom from Irene, Dr Emerson’s widow and current owner. The offer was refused and Scott filed a case for freedom saying that he was a free man since he had lived for extended periods in states where slavery was prohibited.
The case went from lower courts to the Supreme Court and each time he lost. A number of shocking decisions from the Supreme Court were pronounced in March 1857.that Scott was not a citizen of the United States. The first was that Scott and also all other blacks in the country were not citizens of the country and hence could not sue in US courts. Scott was also declared to be a slave by the Court. A more shocking decision that came from the Supreme Court was that no state in the country had the right to abolish slavery which was in direct contradiction to the Missouri Compromise, act of the Legislature. This naturally upset the anti-slavery forces in the north who rightfully felt that this decision was step towards promotion of slavery throughout the United States. The Dred Scott decision just added fuel to the growing enmity between pro and anti-slavery forces which would ultimately culminate in the bloody Civil War in the United States.
Conclusion
There is no doubt that these three events alone were not responsible for the Civil War. These three events were selected because each could be classified differently. This is primarily to show that causes for the outbreak were many and also very varied. Abolitionism was primarily a movement of the people against slavery. The Kansas Nebraska Act was an act of Parliament. The Dred Scott case was the story of an individual who of course was representative of all blacks, whether free or not living at that time in the country. Even though freedom came at great loss of lives, the great nation showed the world that the country had great visionaries and equally great people who were willing to uphold values of democracy so dearly held by the country and its people.