Three Acts Contribution to The Solution of South/north Conflict: Missouri Compromise of 1820, Compromise of 1850, and The Kansas-nebraska Act

In the beginning of the nineteenth century, Americans primarily resolved political disputes through compromises, however, the inability to resolve these growing problems by compromises by 1860 no longer seemed possible. The North and South both during this time period sought different directions in developing America, thus, the rise of issues in America, therefore the need for compromise. These compromises, such as the Missouri Compromise of 1820, Compromise of 1850, and The Kansas-Nebraska Act sought to patch the growing problems in America at the time. By 1860 however, reasons for the change occurred because of the practice of “peculiar institution”, sectionalism, and politics, thus, ending the viability of compromises.

The practice of “peculiar institution” was a pivotal piece in ending the use of compromises in political disputes (DOC’s B, C, E). The “Declaration of the National Anti-Slavery Convention” written by the American Anti-Slavery Society, a northern abolitionist group, displays the intolerance of the practice of slavery. One of their prominent figures, Wendell Phillips, wouldn’t purchase or wear goods produced by the hands of slaves. This group of people were passionate and dedicated to their reasons for the abolishment of slavery (found in their Declaration), which completely opposed the South’s view on their practice, thus, creating intense relations between both groups, therefore, neither side would give up their fight for their cause which ultimately led to the termination of the use of compromise on issues (Doc B). The pro-slavery members of Congress passed the Gag Rule, which tabled all paperwork’s’ on the subject of slavery which in return silenced the discussion of slavery all together in Congress from any source of anti-slavery movements. This new rule was passed by the South in Congress in response to actions from the North such as William Lloyd Garrison’s publishing of The Liberator, and Harriet Beecher Stowe’s Uncle Tom’s Cabin and all the petitions they received in Congress. Because once again each side held differed opinions on the practice of slavery, and neither side would cave in on their beliefs so as time progressed the intensification of their ideals grew and compromise couldn’t solve the fiery dispute of slavery, but only war by 1860. (Doc C). Finally, the cane beat-down of Charles Sumner. Sumner, a leading abolitionist at the time, condemned the corruption of pro-slavery men in the “Bleeding Kansas” issue and also insulted South Carolina and its senator. Brooks, a southern congressman, filled with rage at Sumner’s remarks, went about and beat Sumner down with a cane. Brooks foreshadowed the only way slavery could be ended and that way was violence, which would only come by the means of the Civil War, thus showing how compromise became an obsolete option by 1860 (Doc E). Overall, because of the growing opinion of slavery found between the North and South, the passion for each cause grew against each other and compromise lacked the means of solving the practice of “peculiar institution” by 1860.

Sectionalism was a primary reason as to compromises couldn’t be effective by 1860 ( DOC’S A, D, F). In the early 1830’s, Henry Clay delivered a speech to the Senate on the crisis of nullification and secession. Earlier, the Tariff of Abominations was passed by Congress and fell short of the South’s demands. South Carolina was so against the Tariff that it wrote a pamphlet called The South Carolina Exposition, in which called for the denouncing of the tariff because of unconstitutional means and just as the Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions it called other states to nullify the tariff in their states, thus becoming null and void. If forced upon them by Washington, South Carolina would withdraw from the Union. Although at the time it was a threat, secession became a viable way to withdraw from the Union later on. Because the South had developed into its own section in the Union, with distinct characteristics, such as slavery and primarily an agricultural society, secession became the only way to become their own country and escape the opposing North, thus by 1860 the means of compromise lacked the ability to solve problems (Doc A). Daniel Webster, along with Clay and Calhoun spoke to the nation about the crisis emerging of secession and slavery. Webster blamed the Northern states for not following the rules and regulations passed in the Fugitive Slave Act passed in part of the Compromise of 1850. The Act required the North to return all runaway slaves back to their masters in the South, but on the contrary, the Northern abolitionist simply refused to obey the law which in return creates a sectional boundary between the North and South. As Webster continues his speech, he covers the topic of secession. Although secession wasn’t meant to be in his lifetime, he alludes to the idea occurring after his death, which is very true. Overall, during the speech, Webster identifies the sectional differences in America by pointing out the opinions of slavery from the Fugitive Slave Act and how peaceable secession could ultimately bring America to the best form of compromise; The forming of two separate nations, thus, attributing secession the answer to end all of America’s issue opposed to creating another compromise by 1860 (Doc D). Finally, Herald, a discriminatory man from the south, speaks of the sectional differences found between the Northern region of the country opposed to the south. He mocks the north because the slaves of the south could not integrate into the works of those found in the north. Many other southern slave-owners along with Herald defended the means of slavery with the use of the “positive good theory” which encompasses the use of religion and society in defending their practice. These slave owners quoted the Bible in that slavery was part of God’s word and that they helped these black savages assimilate into society by providing them with clothes, food, and medical care. This North to South discriminatory attitude helped attribute to the growing sectionalism between the two regions and by 1860 only war could resolve their political issues (Doc F). All in all, because of the increasing growth of sectionalism found between the two regions, the use of compromises faded off and became useless by the year 1860 to solve political means in America.

Finally, politics helped play a leading role in the death of compromises by 1860 (DOC’S G, H). In 1858 as Lincoln ran for the office chair of senator, he challenged his competitor, Senator Douglas, to a series of joint debates. Lincoln notices that slavery stems from politics and spills over into everything else within society. Slavery threatens the very existence of America’s being and everybody outside the ring of politics blames the politicians for the existing problem of slavery. Even though this is not the case, politicians still during this time have their motives and reasoning deeply rooted in the existence of slavery and how they represent the people that elected them. Because of the hand in hand connection that politics had with slavery and that as time progressed the political voice of the people tied in with the opinion of slavery between the two regions, politics helped destroy the need for compromise and created the basis for an impending war (Doc G). In the presidential election map, the Republican Party, primarily consisting of anti-slavery Whigs and Free Soil Democrats, they stood for Lincoln and stuck with their beliefs. The south, predominately southern democrats also stood behind their candidate, Breckinridge, and for their beliefs. Since both parties stood resiliently for their ways and because of the sectional tension brought by slavery, it reflected into the political world during the election and showed how the nation had been divided, thus, foreshadowing how a divided nation will surely not stand and the time of compromise ended because secession replaced it beginning in 1860. Overall, these politics of the age reflected the spirit of the people and the people were divided for their nation, thus, completely shunning the idea of compromise and the birth of war (Doc H).

The death of compromises by 1860 was by the means of slavery, sectionalism found between the north and south, and finally the politics of the age. The nation would shortly find itself thrown into a Civil War. Before, during, and after the war those African Americans held in bondage would experience the taste of freedom after centuries of slavery just to be oppressed back into their former positions and this problem would linger just like slavery until the 1960’s.