Assignment 2:1

Assignment 2:1

Tekisha Rodgers

[Institutional Affiliation(s)]

Part One:

I. Introduction

A. The golden land of America was not known to rest of the world until the exploration by Christopher Columbus.

1. America emerged as a progressive state; however, the colonial trends of slavery remained a persistent tradition till 1865.

2. This issue remained a consistent bone of contention between the North and South as several constitutional struggles illustrated it.

B. Thesis Statement: This deeply-entrenched slavery system was so significant that it took American nation to its first civil war after the failure of numerous legislative measures. Different tangible forces exacerbated the conflict between North and South, and eventually ended with the emancipation proclamation and civil rights amendments for Black Americans.

Part two:

II. Outcomes of Different Legislative Measures for the Resolution of Slavery

A. The Three-Fifths Compromise

1. Slaves in all states were counted as 3/5th of a white person for collection of taxes and representation in House of Representative

2. Southern States enjoyed more seats in legislative assemblies as they had more slaves on their large plantations.

B. Missouri Compromise in 1820

1. South used more aggressive measures for cementing pro-slavery traditions and increased in number as Missouri opted to become a slave state.

2. Created a fragile balance between free states of North and slave states of South only for twenty-thirty years.

C. Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854

1. Repealed the old Missouri compromise that limited the creation of slave states beyond the latitude of North colonies

2. Allowed population of states to decide if they wanted to retain slavery traditions or repeal it in their territories.

D. Decision of Dred-Scot case in 1857

1. Court upheld that Dred was not an American citizen and therefore could not file suit in federal courts.

2. Black Population had no civil, political rights in American land was proven and they were just a commodity for their white owners.

III. Incompatibility of Slavery with American System

A. Incompatibility with the American Political system

1. Counter-productive to the Pursuit of Happiness mentioned in US constitution

2. Blot on the American sense of liberty and human rights

B. Incompatibility with American Economic system

1. More Industrialization and innovative in nature rather than agrarian.

IV. Forces that led to the American Civil War in 1861

A. Anti-abolitionist slogans of Abraham Lincoln

1. Anti-slavery person by nature and a Northerner

2. Grand victory in presidential elections as 16th US -president made southerners doubtful of their economic and social life.

B. Failure of Kansas-Nebraska Act

1. Failed to strike any tangible solution for the resolution of slavery

2. Brought forth the precursor of civil war in America

C. Consistent animosity between industrial North and agrarian South

D. Secessionist forces of the confederate States of America and their decision to opt out of the union.

E. A race for more legislative and economic power between the two parts of America.

V. Conclusion

A. The debates free v. other man, three-fifth compromise, Missouri compromise, Kansas -Nebraska Act, are some of the constitutional crises that revolved around slavery in America.

1. Polarization in American society grew with time

2. More sectionalism among people due to anti-slavery and pro-slavery sentiments

B. Election of Abraham Lincoln became a pretext

1. Civil war started between North and South over the issue of slavery

2. Emancipation Proclamation and Civil Rights amendments became a last nail in the coffin of slavery in America.

References:

ADDIN ZOTERO_BIBL {"uncited":[],"omitted":[],"custom":[]} CSL_BIBLIOGRAPHY Bestor, A. (1964). The American Civil War as a Constitutional Crisis. The American Historical Review, 69(2), 327–352.

Forbes, R. P. (2009). The Missouri Compromise and Its Aftermath: Slavery and the Meaning of America. Univ of North Carolina Press.

Lawson, B. E. (1997). Property or persons: On a “plain reading” of the United States Constitution. The Journal of Ethics, 1(3), 291–303.