Civil war5 Essay Example

and internationally inspired numerous individuals to join the movement aimed at ending slavery.

The South vehemently denied the accusation of slavery. The publication of Stowe's book further worsened the divide between pro-slavery and anti-slavery factions, ultimately intensifying regional differences. This greatly contributed to solidifying the North's strong opposition to slavery, eventually leading to the American Civil War (Oates 31). In 1854, Congress enacted the Kansas-Nebraska Act, which established Kansas and Nebraska as territories. It granted each territory the power to decide whether or not they would allow slavery when they became states, based on their constitution at that time (Oates 42). This act effectively disregarded the previous boundary set by the Missouri Compromise of 1820, which had separated free states from slave states.

The implementation of this act brought about a transformed version of Lincoln in the political realm. Despite his ongoing aspiration for political office, he wholeheartedly devoted himself to advocating for the abolition of slavery. In 1857, tensions escalated as a result of the ruling by the United States Supreme Court in the Dred Scott Case. Dred Scott, an enslaved individual owned by a military surgeon in Missouri, was transported to Fort Snelling (now part of Minnesota) in 1836 where slavery was explicitly prohibited under the Missouri Compromise (Oates 50). In 1846, Scott initiated legal action in a state court claiming that residing in a free territory emancipated him from enslavement.

The Supreme Court of Missouri, in the Scott case, ruled that when Dred Scott returned to a state where slavery was legal, he became a slave again and had no standing before the court. The federal court also ruled against Scott in the same case.

Eventually, after extensive arguments in 1856, the case reached and was ultimately decided by the Supreme Court in 1857. According to the majority decision of the Court, it was determined that the existing government did not have the power to determine whether citizens were slaves or free individuals. Additionally, the Court declared that African Americans were not considered citizens of any state during the formation of United States Constitution(Oates 51). Consequently, Scott remained enslaved and was not recognized as a citizen of Missouri; thus depriving him of his right to sue in their courts. This decision had broader consequences; it allowed for slaves to be taken anywhere within US borders, invalidated the Missouri Compromise, and prohibited Congress from prohibiting slavery in US territories.

The court's decision in the case caused intense anger among abolitionists, further widening the existing divide between the North and South. This incident occurred in 1858 while Stephen Douglas was running for re-election against Abraham Lincoln in Illinois. The campaign began in Chicago, where Lincoln and Douglas participated in debates that addressed various topics, including slavery expansion. Douglas endorsed popular sovereignty, which argued for the right of residents in territories to decide on allowing slavery.

He criticized Lincoln's house divided speech, accusing him of attempting to divide the country. In response, Lincoln appealed for national unity. Referring to the Declaration of Independence, he suggested disregarding any disputes about individuals or races being inferior and thus deserving an inferior status. He urged for the abandonment of such notions and the unification of the entire nation, so that it can once again proclaim that all men are created equal (Oates 66).

Lincoln believed that slavery was

morally, socially, and politically wrong (Oates 66), and it was the duty of the federal government to halt its spread into new territories. In July, Lincoln suggested a series of face-to-face debates with Douglas, who accepted the invitation. These debates were planned to occur in seven different cities from August to October. Throughout these debates, both candidates treated each other with respect and concentrated on debating the morality of slavery.

Despite the Republicans winning the state election and receiving more votes than the Democrats, the Illinois legislature chose to re-elect Douglas to the Senate (Oates 73). This campaign had significant significance beyond determining the candidates' fate. It served as evidence to the South that the Republican Party was consistently gaining power and would vehemently oppose slavery's expansion through any means. Furthermore, it revealed Douglas to be an unreliable supporter of the South.

During the debates, he reiterated multiple times his indifference towards whether slavery would be voted up or down. Despite his defeat, Lincoln gained national recognition, elevating his previously local reputation. The following year, John Brown orchestrated his famous raid on Harpers Ferry, Virginia. Brown had already become an outlaw due to his involvement, along with his five sons, in fighting against proslavery terrorists from Missouri. These terrorists were responsible for the murder of several abolitionists in Lawrence, Kansas. In May 1856, Brown and his sons sought retribution for this crime by killing five proslavery supporters at Pottawatomie Creek.

This act, along with his successful defense against a large group of attacking Missourians at Osawatomie in August, gained him national fame as a staunch opponent of slavery. With increased financial support from abolitionists in the northeastern

states, Brown began formulating a plan in 1857 to liberate slaves through armed force (Oates 87). In secret, he recruited a small group of supporters for this project, including a refuge for escaped slaves in the mountains of Virginia (Bradford 54). Despite facing setbacks, he launched the venture on October 16, 1859, seizing control of the United States arsenal and armory at Harpers Ferry, Virginia, with a force of 18 men, including his sons. Following his initial success, Brown chose to hold defensive positions instead of launching further attacks (Oates 88).

The local militia surrounded his force, and on October 17 a company of U.S. Marines led by Colonel Robert E. Lee joined them. During the resulting battle, ten of Brown's men, including two of his sons, were killed and he himself sustained injuries and surrendered. Once captured, he faced accusations of crimes such as treason and murder.

According to Oates (90), during his trial in a Virginia court, John Brown stood out for vigorously defending his actions on behalf of the slaves. He was ultimately found guilty and executed in Charleston, Virginia in December 1859. Following his death, abolitionists hailed him as a martyr. By 1860, the North and South had developed into distinct regions with contrasting social, economic, and political perspectives (Oates 99). These differences gradually drove them further apart as each region sought to impose its own beliefs on the entire country. Despite previous compromises that had preserved the unity of the Union, the situation became highly volatile by 1860.

In the South, Abraham Lincoln's election as president was seen as a threat to slavery and led to the start of the war. Before the

election, many Southerners warned that their states would secede from the Union if Lincoln won because they were concerned about his intention to abolish slavery. However, people in the North did not take these threats seriously. About a month before the election, Governor William Henry Gist of South Carolina sent a letter to all Southern governors (except Texas) stating that South Carolina would secede if Lincoln won and asking about other states' plans. Once it was confirmed that Lincoln had indeed won, South Carolina held a special convention in Charleston in December 1860. At this convention, an ordinance passed unanimously which ended the union between South Carolina and other states. Similarly, other Southern states also held conventions and passed similar ordinances.

Following South Carolina, several states including Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana and Texas also decided to secede. In April 1861, President Lincoln requested these states to send militias in order to suppress the rebellion. However, the upper South chose not to send their militias for this purpose and instead joined forces with the lower South by seceding as well; Virginia, Arkansas, North Carolina and Tennessee were among those who followed suit.

The secession of the South led to a war over slavery. Many significant individuals played a role in this conflict, expressing their opinions through various means such as debates, violence, lawsuits, and storytelling. All of these actions proved successful in opposing the South and were key factors that led to the war. In summary, these individuals marked the start of what Lincoln referred to as a moral, social, and political transformation.