The American Civil War as the Turning Point in American History

The American Civil War as the Turning Point in American History The American civil war has generated intense debates regarding its causes and potential impacts. The war which took place between 1861 and 1865 has been cited as one of the earliest industrial wars in history.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The American Civil War as the Turning Point in American History specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The war was a result of various issues so tracing back to the American colonization. The American civil war was one of the major turning points in American history and is responsible in shaping the modern America. During the period after the American Revolution, slavery was deeply engrained in the American society. In the southern states, slaves were considered an important part of life as they provided valuable labor in the agricultural fields. However, many Americans viewed slavery as the â€Å"greatest evil in the American society† (Foner, 438) and a practice that went again st the Declaration of Independence. Several groups joined together and started the antislavery movement in the 1780s. However, this movement did not have a huge impact mainly due to the need to preserve national unity. During this period, the country was divided into two regions. The Mason Dixon line separated the Northeast, New England and Midwest from the Southern states (Foner, 250). The Northern states were enjoying a fast paced growth in economy from commerce, mining, transportation and industry. Slavery was also outlawed in the areas north of the Border States. The economy of the southern states was however fueled by the plantation system that relied heavily on slave labor. The south had fewer industries and manufacturing plants. The politics and economy of the south was controlled by slave owners. The southern plantation owners viewed slave as properties and as such it was their constitutional rights to own slaves and to deal with them as they saw fit. The constitutional conv ention of 1787 was characterized by intense debates on the three-fifths clauses and the 20 year extension of the African slave trade (Foner, 258). The three-fifths clause granted the southerners more representation in government hence granted them more power in controlling national affairs. This created sectional tension as both the North and the South tried to gain more territories in order to increase their influence in the House of Representatives. The Northwest Ordinance of 1787 banned slavery on the Northwest Territory thus dividing the country into two, a southern region where slavery was legal, and a northern area where slavery was abolished.Advertising Looking for essay on history? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Due to the different position both Northern and Southern states had taken, sectional tension increased with the possibility of violence being heightened. In 1819, Congressman Tallmadge proposed amend ments that would admit Missouri into the Union as a free state (Foner, 363). At the time, the country was equally divided with both the north and the south having 11 states. The Tallmadge amendments failed to pass the senate leading to a crisis on whether Missouri would be admitted as a slave state. The compromise of 1820 was enacted in order to solve this crisis by admitting Maine as a Free State and Missouri as a slave state. Slavery was also banned in the territories acquired from the Louisiana Purchase North and West of the 36-30 Missouri line (Foner, 364). The institution of the gag rule prevented discussion of slavery issues in congress from 1835-1844. The Mexican-American war that began on 1846 however intensified the slavery debate. The acquisition of new territories as a result of the war led to deep divisions within the nation and was largely responsible for pushing the nation towards conflict. After the war, the Wilmot proviso was passed in order to ban slavery from all t erritories acquired from Mexico (Foner, 475). The Proviso failed to pass the senate mainly due to the influence southern states had at the time. During this time, the popular sovereignty act was also proposed in which each state was given the power to decide whether or not slavery should be allowed. These bills led to increased debates and the chances that the nation was headed for a war increased dramatically. In order to relieve this tension, the compromise of 1850 was passed (Foner, 477). The compromise that was composed of 5 bills was credited for postponing the civil war for a decade. The Fugitive States act contained within the compromise however resulted as a point of controversy and ignited further conflicts While slavery remained the main source of arguments between the North and the south, the economy differences between the two also played a major role. The cotton plantations of the south generated over 70% of the world’s cotton supply. The cotton gin invented in 1 793 improved cotton harvesting hence more cotton could be harvested. This resulted in the strengthening of King Cotton as the main source of economic prosperity of the south. This led to the need for more slaves in order to capitalize on the potential profits (Foner, 531). While the south remained mainly agricultural, the northern states were developing industries, transportation systems and mechanized agricultural systems. The industrial North formed a business partnership with the agrarian Midwest at the expense of the south. The economy of the two northern regions prospered while the monoculture agricultural system of the south suffered due to poor agricultural practices and restrictions on slavery.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The American Civil War as the Turning Point in American History specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The Kansas-Nebraska act introduced in 1854 repelled the Missouri compromise and ignited protest in the Northern states. The act was intended to open more territories for agriculture and proposed popular sovereignty as a mean of solving slavery issues. Soon after its implementation, the Dred Scotts decision was passed which stated that slavery was legal in any part of the country even if the majority of the citizens were against slavery. This decision fueled more protests in the North as most people saw this as a means to force slavery in the Northern States (Foner, 488). The Lincoln-Douglas debates held in 1858 led to further stratification of the country. The Southerners were suspicious of Lincoln as he was mainly anti-slavery and his ascension to power would result in the demise of slavery. With the election of Lincoln, several states left the Union to form the confederacy an act that made armed conflict inevitable. The American Civil war took place between 1861 and 1865 resulting in numerous deaths and loss of property worth millions. However, many scholars agree th at the war was responsible in shaping the modern America and many advantages that are being enjoyed currently could not have been achieved had the war not taken place. The war was responsible in increasing the American military strength. During the war, many people joined the army thus increasing the size of the American armed forces. The war also resulted in the formation of the United States of America. The confederacy was disbanded and all states were united under one leadership, one flag and one president. The civil war was also responsible for the end of slavery. Congress approved the 13th Amendment on January 31, 1865 thereby abolishing slavery in America (Foner, 540). Although racialism persisted in America, the civil war created the foundation in which racialism would soon come to an end. The war also led to the strengthening of the American economy. Political and economic power shifted from the South to the North and America became a capitalist country. The economy relied m ore on industrial development and America was on its way to become a military and economic superpower. The American Civil war was caused by deep divisions that existed between the Northern and Southern states. The slavery issue was undeniably the main cause of the tensions that existed between the North and the South. The northerners viewed slavery as a moral sin while the Southerners viewed slavery as an essential part of their lives. In order to suppress tensions between the North and South, various compromises were enacted. However these compromises were ineffective and generated more problems than the solved. In 1861, America was plunged into a war that lasted for four years. The war marked the rise of a new united country in which slavery was abolished. The military and economic strength of the new country was also improved which would make America the greatest superpower in the world.Advertising Looking for essay on history? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Foner, Eric. Give me Liberty! New York: Norton and Company