The nineteenth century was an important period in American history, which underlined the demand for the reconsideration of its economic, social, and political systems. The key statement of the paper is that slavery emphasized the issue of freedom in America and led to effective national changes in its legislation, economy, policy, and social structure.
The Three-Fifths Compromise defined three-fifths of the slave population to be counted for taxation and representation purposes. It allowed the spreading of slavery and gave more power to the South. The major outcome of the Missouri Compromise of 1820 was the equal representation of senators of slave and free states; moreover, it prohibited slavery in Louisiana Territory (Cavallo et al., 2019). The Compromise of 1850 also contributed to the regulation of tensions between slave and non-slave states. As a result of this agreement, California and the District of Columbia became non-slave territories, and popular sovereignty was introduced in New Mexico and Utah. Moreover, the agreement defined fines for federal officials for not arresting runaway slaves and resolved Mexico’s debt issue. The Kansas-Nebraska Act opened new settlement lands in the two states and established popular sovereignty on their territories. Finally, the Dred Scott decision clarified the U.S. regulations concerning slaves’ rights (Cavallo et al., 2019). Moreover, it decreased the role of the federal government in the slavery issue, which encouraged slavery advocates.
There are different reasons why slavery is incompatible with the economic and political systems of America. First, abolishing slavery was the act of recognition of natural and human law. Since the American Constitution implies overall equality, slavery is inconsistent with the country’s political and moral principles. Secondly, unfree labor and plantations ceased to be profitable for the economy (Wiebe, 2019). Finally, since slavery led to increased economic inequality between plantation owners and poor people, it could ignite racial and financial tensions in society.
The first driving force of the Civil War in America was slavery as a national problem and tensions between Southern and Northern states caused by the abolitionist and pro-slavery movements. Another reason was connected with the problems of the country’s economy and the dependence of the South on slave labor (Oakes, 2016). Finally, there were several political causes of the war, including the election of Abraham Lincoln, which divided the country into two parts, and contradictions connected with federal and state rights.
References
Cavallo, A.M.L., Curtis, M.D., Semingson, P., Hulings, M., Allmond, K., & Gawlik, C. (2019). TExES core subjects 4-8 (211). Research & Education Association.
Oakes, J. (2016). Capitalism and slavery and the Civil War. International Labor and Working-Class History, 89, 195–220. Web.
Wiebe, D.J. (2019). Slavery in Ancient Rome and the United States of America: Natural rights and their role in the brutality of slavery in America and its abolition. Crossings, 3, 197-213.