Jeremy Allen Catalano APUSH From 1820- 1860, the expansion of the United States (the Manifest Destiny),

brought new land for the American population to expand to. But due to the societies ideology in the Northern and Southern regions, the organization of these territories was difficult. Although Americans compromised their disputes in hoping to resolve or put off the inevitable struggle, by 1860 resolution was no longer possible due to the inner tensions of congressional debate and party campaigns. The issue of the expansion of slavery and the protective tariffs cause sectional beliefs that will eventually bring war. The economic status in America in the late 1820s differed in each of the two major regions. In the North the economic status consisted largely in manufacturing and finance while in the South, aside from a few technological advancements in farming tools such as the Reaper and Cotton Gin, was very much agricultural (cotton) based with sales in foreign ports and American textile factories. To try to boost cotton sales in American factories, the government instituted a protective Tariff. The Tariff of Abomination of 1828, as it was known in the South, created tensions in the Southern legislature. South Carolina attacked Congress refusing to pay the Tariff. Because of grievances with the Tariff and the issue of slavery debates in Congress heated up. A Southern Legislature representative assaulted Charles Sumner, Senator from Massachusetts, with a cane because of his remarks in the debates (Doc E). The Nullification Crisis from 1828-1833 rose tensions in President Jackson and Congress as well as Northern verse Southern views. At one point South Carolina threatened to leave the Union but it wasnt supported by the rest of the South (Doc D). The North, flabbergasted by Calhouns threat, was in

disbelief of the possibility of session (Doc A). With South Carolina nullifying the opposing Tariff, a second tariff was written in 1832 that didnt have any better luck, and Henry Clay proposed a gradual protection Tariff in 1833 that South Carolina finally accepted. Because of the rise in session beliefs in South Carolina and the empowerment of the state rights of nullification, more and more sectional beliefs arose from the Nullification Crisis that brought compromises to a halt. Before 1820, when ridiculed about slavery Southern planters would apologize for their ownership of slaves but would state they are a necessary evil. But as sectional views heightened and the Abolitionist Movement rose, the necessary evil became the pride of the South. Southern planters were generally the only class to own slaves but the poorer classes looked up to the aristocracy and strove to be like them. The social status in the South depended on slavery as well as the economy (Doc F). The Abolitionist Movement saw the disgrace in the morality in slavery. Societies such as American AntiSlavery Society were formed to push for abolition. Slavery was not to exist (Doc B). In acquiring new territories from the Louisiana Purchase, the Missouri Compromise of 1820 split all land west of the Mississippi River under the line 36 30 will be slave states and everything above will be free. Although compromise did occur, the Congress wanted to put off the issue of slavery as much as possible (Doc C). The Gag Rule (1836) prevented anti slavery petition debates. The Gag Rule was later nullified in 1844. After the war with Mexico, the issue of slavery came up again. The Wilmot Proviso proposed that no land taken from Mexico would have slavery. But it was denied in Congress because it would be unfair to the Southern position. The Compromise of 1850 was proposed and accepted. The terms were California was admitted as a free state, the slave

trade was abolished in the District of Columbia, the territory of New Mexico (including present-day Arizona) and the Territory of Utah were organized under the rule of popular sovereignty, and the Fugitive Slave Act was passed, requiring all U.S. citizens to assist in the return of runaway slaves. With the slave and free states again balanced, other then Abolitionists, the nation was at peace with the arrangement. But the new idea of popular sovereignty to decide slavery cased uproar in the territories of Kansas and Nebraska. The Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854 ended the Missouri Compromise 1820 and caused a minicivil war, Bleeding Kansas. In addition, the formation of the Republican Party absorbed the Whigs economic views but instituted the view on slavery being that slavery can exist where it already exists but cannot expand to additional territories (Doc G). The electoral candidate for the Republican Party was Abraham Lincoln and won the presidency in the Electoral College (Doc H). The South being enraged by the victory of a Northern leader and not their popular candidate, Douglass, they threatened session. The Critten Compromise was the last ditch attempt to settle the slavery issue, but it died. With the nation enraged, Northern Abolition verse Southern Slavery, compromise was certainly not an option. After the time period of 1820-1860, the American Civil War shocked the nation. Brothers fought brothers for an unknown goal. To preserve the Union? To end Slavery? To stay separate? Compromise wasnt the answer. Only blood would see to the resolution of the sectional tension.