Claire Green

Honors U.S history

Long Essay Question

In the 1840s immigrants are coming to th4e North for textile mills. This causes stress on

the South to keep a voice in the senate and not fall behind politically. This gives the North more

power in the house. The first Industrial revolution leads to the North growing industrially

through trade and industry, while the South remains predominately agricultural. After Manifest

Destiny the struggle over abolitionism and slavery is greater and harder to compromise. This

struggle for economic power and land is greater. The North needs farm in the west to remain

industrial, and the cotton depletes the soil in the South creating a greater demand for land as

well. The argument over the expansion of slavery is made greater during the time period of

1845-1861 through the Mexican American War, the Kansas Nebraska Act, and the Freeport

Doctrine.

The Mexican American War took place during 1846-1848, causing the U.S to have extra

land. The Wilmot Proviso says no slavery in the Mexican Cession. However, this was never

passed through the Senate. The expansion of land creates tension about the expansion of slavery.

The use of popular sovereignty spreads through the Kansas Nebraska Act. This act opens

up the Louisiana territory to slavery through popular sovereignty. This leads to bleeding Kansas,

which was basically a civil war within itself. It causes tension and divide between the North and

South.

Another thing that contributes to the coming of the Civil War is the Freeport Doctrine.

Although this does not ban slavery, laws are made that cripple it. As a result of these laws,

slavery cannot actually expand. After this, Douglas divides the Democratic party causing Lincoln
to win the election. The South said if a republican wins the election they will secede. Lincoln

winning the election of 1860 causes the South to feel politically and economically threatened.

The U.S ability to compromise over issues regarding the expansion of slavery was much

greater before the year 1845. One issue that occurred before this time was the Missouri

Compromise. This issue threatened the balance between free and slave states. As a result, Henry

Clay came up with the Missouri Compromise. The compromise stated that Maine would come in

as a free state, and everything north of 36’ 30 would be closed to slavery. The ability to

compromise changed juristically as conflict and division over abolitionism and the expansion of

slavery grew.