Enormity Of The Civil War

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The Civil War is one of the most important events in United States history. The conflict changed the lives of millions and forever left an indelible mark on this country. The enormity of the conflict makes us wonder how “We the People” became a people divided. It is important to understand the core themes and narratives that led to the war between the states. In my view, there were numerous issues that led to deep sectional divisions that eventually led to war. However, I feel there are three core themes that drew the sections into war were nullification, radical abolitionism, and political realignment. Additionally, I feel the ideas of these three themes were represented by Dred Scott, John Brown, and Stephen A. Douglas, respectively. The …show more content…

Nullification, in this context, is when states decide not to adhere federal law. In the United States Constitution, federal law trumps state law. Nonetheless, states on both sides of the Mason-Dixon line had used the nullification of federal law to “protect” what their leaders saw as their state sovereignty. Particularly in the South, governors and state legislators believed their states’ rights superseded the importance of the powers of the federal government. Eventually, and perhaps most consequentially, northern states used nullification to void the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850. The Fugitive Slave Act of 1850, part of the Compromise of 1850, created punishments for those in the North that helped and did not arrest runaway slaves. Those who did not help southerners recover their slaves could be heavily fined. Additionally, Southerners could claim a slave as theirs with …show more content…

John Brown was the epitome of radical abolitionism with his attack on Harpers Ferry and his role in the violence in Kansas. Just as Dred Scott and the Slave Act of 1850 helped rally Northerners together the events at Harpers Ferry united Southerners. People in the South began to worry about radical Yankees threating their lives and of potential slave revolts in the aftermath of what they deemed as northern aggression. Furthermore, many Northerners celebrated what John Brown had done. I think there is parallel fears emerging in 1850s in the North and South that led to conflict. The south had previously threatened succession before 1860, but I believe the threat of violence made them feel 1860/61 was the right time to finally

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