The Missouri compromise of 1820 was the acceptance of slavery to take place in the territories under the state and not above it. Because of the geographical location of Missouri lying between Northern and Southern territories it led to difficulties in determining whether it would be a ‘free’ or ‘slave’ state. The 1850 compromise made California a ‘free’ state and Texas would thus receive compensation. The historian David Potter describes the 1850 compromise as ‘an armistice rather than a compromise’. This perhaps shows how relations between the North and South were already at boiling point in 1850 and that a later war was inevitable. The later Kansas and Nebraska act of 1854 introduced popular sovereignty and allowed the people of the states of Kansas and Nebraska to vote for or against slavery. The Nebraska-Kansas act opened up new areas and allowed the people to decide what they would allow in their territories. It was hoped this would ease the tensions which had developed between the North and South. However it was seen as the south enforcing slavery into new areas even though the North had the right to abolish it. The Republican Party was formed in response to this, to stop the spreading of slavery.
Another factor involving slavery was the publication of the novel ‘Uncle Tom’s Cabin’ by Stowe of which its anti slave theme throughout sparked more anti slave feelings in the Northern union of America. The impact of this novel alone led to Lincoln reportedly exclaiming when he saw her, ‘so this is the little lady who caused this big war’. This shows the importance that the book held upon the nation and the emotions it stirred between the Northern and Southern states at this crucial time. The South of course would dismiss the messages of the book. A review by the Southern Literary Messenger (1852) makes it clear that the novel is nothing more than ‘fiction’. ‘It is a fiction throughout; a fiction in form; a fiction in its facts; a fiction in its representations and colouring; a fiction in its morals and religion and with regard to the subjects it is designed to expound and with respect to the manner of their exposition. It is a fiction’.
John Brown may have also sparked off civil war hostile attitudes regarding slavery after his raid on Harpers Ferry in an attempt to stop slavery. This is the first example of physical oppression even if in this case unsuccessful. Brown would in his attempt try to free the slaves with a seizure of a southern armoury. With a unit of 21 men he would attempt to free and arm rebellious slaves and escape to the mountains before the militia came. The reality however was the armoury became surrounded by the militia and hostile locals and John Brown and his men became trapped. Lincoln described Brown as a ‘misguided fanatic’. Brown however is to some a ‘hero like figure who died for what he believed in sparking civil rights and abolition feelings but for others perhaps the father of American terrorism’ exclaims historian Linda Jones. This is perhaps regarding the feeling of hope he bestowed in the nation and showing Slavery was to face an opposition in the form of force if not brought to an end.
‘Bleeding Kansas’ similarly was a series of events which occurred roughly between 1854 and 1858 and brought the dispute of slavery to a new level of violence. A ‘free stater’, Charles Doe was shot by a pro slavery settler. In August thousands of pro slavery southerners formed into armies and marched into Kansas. There were many battles and violent events until 1959 by the time 56 lives had been claimed. The events that occurred in ‘Bleeding Kansas’ were a catalyst and reflection for the later conflict that divided the nation and saw brother pitted against brothers in a battle that would claim the lives of thousands. The refusal to cooperate in the Nebraska-Kansas act and the continual defiance of the South to cooperate in the state of Missouri or in general to the ‘exposing North’ could only lead to conflict. The Nebraska-Kansas act allowed settlers in that territory to decide if they would allow slavery in their borders which was supposedly going to keep both the North and South pleased. However opponents denounced the act as ‘slave power’ to the South.
The maintenance of the slavery in the South was perhaps not the concern Lincoln nor did the North have which drove them to war. The fear of the spreading of slavery and the ideology for them was certainly an issue that needed to be confronted. This mindset which the North possessed and the opposing thoughts of the south led to confrontation. The confederate president Jefferson Davis would insist otherwise, claiming the war was fought for state sovereignty. Southerners according to Davis had solely fought ‘ for the defence of an inherent , unalienable right to withdraw from a Union which they had, as sovereign communities, voluntarily entered, the existence of African servitude was in no wise the cause of the conflict, but only an incident’. This of course may be of a biased opinion and not entirely the whole truth. However Davis does speak on behalf of the southern states and it is unlikely that he would lie about their reasons for war which he suggests is not based around slavery. Leading progressive historian Charles Beard also views the civil war as a war not fought between slavery and freedom. ‘The real issues dividing Northern manufacturers from Southern planters were the tariff, government subsidies to transportation and manufacturing, and public land sales.’ The confederacy it seemed fought not only for the principle of state rights and self government but also for the preservation of a stable agrarian civilisation in the face of grasping ambitions of Northern businessmen.
It is therefore clear that the maintenance of slavery played an integral part in the cause of the US Civil War. Although some opinions as illustrated through Jefferson Davis and Charles Beard would suggest it is a matter of less importance, it is still admittedly an integral factor in the cause of conflict. The importance of slavery industrially, culturally and also the significance of maintaining it to keep some integrity against the ever intimidating North were all key aspects to the short term contribution which caused the Civil War. Rhodes and Farmer however highlight the importance of slavery as the key feature in the cause of conflict. The aspiration and opportunities slavery provided to the south allowed them to fight and die for slavery willingly. The Northern opposition to the South’s continuous maintenance and practice of slavery was inevitably going to cause a conflict.
American Civil War 1861 A- Farmer
American Civil War 1861 A- Farmer
The American Civil War – Parish
Uncle Tom’s Cabin – response to book – Stowe – Google scholar
Uncle Tom’s Cabin – response to book – Stowe – Google scholar
Wikipedia article on John Brown and Harpers Ferry.
The American Civil War 1861 A - Farmer
The American Civil War 1861 A - Farmer