Liberty Challenged in Nineteenth Century America

Describe 2 Outcomes for Each Legislation

• 3/5ths Compromise legislation allowed more representation of slaves and enabled a compromise between Southern and Northern states.
• Missouri Compromise of 1820 legislation facilitated power between slavery states and Free states (Rayman, 2018). It also included a slavery state (Missouri) and an anti-slavery state (Maine) in the union.
• Compromise of 1850 legislation implemented more stringent slave laws. It, however, neutralized the tensions between Free states and slavery states by passing several bills. It also enabled California recognition as a free state by the union.
• The Kansas-Nebraska Act promoted the expansion of new lands for settlement. Further, it revoked the Missouri Compromise of 1820 by permitting white settlers residing in Nebraska andKansas to determine if they supported slavery.
• The Dred Scott Decision: Scott, a black person, who resided in a free state that prohibited slavery, was ordered by the Supreme Court that he was still a slave. It was later drafted in the constitution that black persons were less superior to other persons. This sparked regional tensions that later led to the civil war.

Suggest 3 reasons why slavery was, and is, incompatible with our political and economic system

Slavery had notable implications on the economic and political systems at the time. The South did not intend to obtain profits from slavery; therefore, it was incompatible with the political and economic system. Slave owners were mainly interested in the ownership of more slaves and large plantations than in investing and profit-making. Consequently, the development of Southern capitalism was impeded. Moreover, as a result of the diversification of economic systems in the Northern part, it became rather difficult for the South to expand its manufacturing industry; thus it heavily relied on the North for its imports. It further triggered tensions between the Southern and Northern States that resulted in conflict and division.

Driving Forces That Led To the Civil War

Factors that caused the civil war comprise:

• Slavery –Slavery issues caused increasing tension between participants of the Northern and Southern states.
• Variance on constitutional principles –there was uncertainty regarding the Federal government’s role in slavery issues.
• The tension between Southern and Northern states –The southern state asserted that each state had equal right to decide whether they intended to leave the union whereas the Northern states opposed the idea claiming that they were instituting a permanent union.

Reference

Rayman, J. (2018). Georgia, Slavery, and the Missouri Compromise