What are the two fundamental elements that made Americans initially supreme? Liberty and opportunity. These elements are very well displayed from the year 1776 (when we first declared independence) to 1861 (the beginning of the Civil War). It is obvious that Americans could not handle these precious elements as shown through their taking advantage of them, eventually using them for immoral and unintelligent purpose, ultimately causing some kind of turmoil. For instance, without the restrictions of the British Parliament, colonies decided to have different constitutions (Article of Confederation), which ultimately caused inflation, an unorganized form of government, and conflict with interstate trade. Secondly, under the conditions of . Also, voting regulations were unbearable and unjust. Women (black and white) and men (black) could not participate in helping select their next commander-and-chief, ultimately giving all supremacy to one particular sect of individuals. It is obvious that a trend is existent in the "American" action, but not once has our actions not been handled without a serious consequence. This same mentality of arrogance and disrespect had led all the way up to the late 1860s, which is displayed through the actions of Bleeding Kansas, the emergence of the Free Soil Party, and Harper's Ferry Raid of 1859; therefore, it is only appropriate to state that American tactics have conclusively created a system that took advantage of liberty and used slavery to a overly emphasized extent which ultimately led to the Civil War.
Our first President (Washington) warned us in his Farewell to avoid the emergence of parties, but it was obviously foreseeable that disobedient Americans would throw his advice right out the window. Even though they were for a good cause - "free speech, free soil and free men"- immorality and differences reined as the Free Soil Party was established. To understand their emergence, the dichotomy of the North and the South must be understood. It is very apparent that the North wanted to “contain” slavery while the North wanted to “expand it”, but their reasons are what led to the Civil War. The South saw that industrial conditions for worker were dismal, unsafe, and unbearable and thought that slaves could live under better condition- all their basic needs would be met under slavery. Also, the slaves would be a profitable investment ranging from $2000 and beyond. The South knew that a slave could replace a factory worker any day. Even though this might have been true, the Northerners did not budge. They believed slavery would jeopardize industrial capitalism. The Northerner’s goal was to pay worker lower wages, not higher ones. As a result of the dichotomy the Free Soil Party emerged, which ultimately led to pity behavior- The Southerners burned free soil in the town of Lawrence inching them one step closer to the inevitable Civil War.
Documentation in Kansas and unfair policies concerning the people is another cause of the Civil War. Unfortunately, Kansas, through popular sovereignty, had enough people to apply for statehood. Through insidious arrangements the Lecompton Constitution was established. This was a document where the people could not vote on the constitution as a whole, rather on a constitution with slavery or without slavery. No matter what the people voted for, bondage and restriction would be the only outcome. Because liberty was so excessive, the proslaveryrites (those for slavery) approved the Constitution for slavery. This created political conflict with those of authority. James Buchanan was a proud supported of the proslaveryites’ decision while Senator Douglas opposed it because he was against popular sovereignty, Ultimately, Kansas become a territory after the popular vote was constructed, causing a division in the Democratic Party- now the Civil War was only millimeters away from occurring.
Is violence necessarily a good element when it comes to obtaining morality? No, but John Harper thought he could beat the system. Even though he did not support planter-slaveholders who used violent systems to control their slaves, he ultimately contradicted himself because his tactics of getting rid of them would be of violence. John’s irresponsibility led many to believe that a slave rebellion would persist. John thought that the slaves would work in collaboration with him, but before that could happen he was met by the U.S. Army and was hanged as a results of his proposed future actions. John’s thoughts inspired Northerners, but made Southern more watchful- more aware-of future mischievous actions. They were skeptical if they would have to be more watchful in terms of slave rebellions. This one death, when compared to the Civil War, was mild, but did predict a nasty ending.
Liberty plus neglect and taking advantage of opportunities equals turmoil. This equation serves to be correct, if not the Civil War would not have occurred at all. It is evident that Americans have adapted to abusing precious elements like justice and liberty, and as a result should not have expected a positive outcome. The many differences that lurked around created an unknown closeness to the war that was not predicted, as displayed through the many compromises proposed, but inevitably did. Placing bandages on all the difference only worsen the infection of the North and South, and the big nasty disease was uncontrollably revealed during the Civil War.
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