Essay Sample on Differences Between the South and North in the Period From 1830-To-1860

Introduction

In the 1800s, the Northern and Southern states were dissimilar in various subjects that eventually ended during the Civil war. The similarities between the two states: The South and North states that unified the people were not taken into account mostly because of the significant dissimilarities that were too serious thus causing the start of Civil War in 1861. The major differences between the Northern and Southern in the period from 1830-to-1860 were mainly societal, economic and political dissimilarities.

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The primary origin of these dissimilarities by both parties was based on the understanding of the US constitution. The dissimilarity regarding states' rights impacted to Civil War. There exist other causes of the war apart from slavery in the secession in the south. Other simultaneous spheres that led to division demonstration in America simultaneously: repercussion towards immigrants, utopian communities, black strikes, clashes over spaces in public, urban uprisings and Indian struggle. At the time, the land of America was segregated mainly because of the causes mentioned above of Civil war and reorganization was a necessity especially for the Southerners. In general, the southern states depended on agriculture and farming mostly which contrasted with the Northern state that was superabundantly mechanized, populated and based on manufacturing activities. The southern state relied mainly on slave labor in the cultivation of cotton which was their major cash crop and also the south was established on the authoritarian system. Also, the North was in support of the US constitution that was loosely interpreted and wished for the enhanced powers to be granted to the federal government while on the other hand, the southerners needed the indeterminate powers to the divided states alone.

Basing on the above mention dissimilarities regarding the two states, it is practically seen that there are no any similarities between the two states in the 1800s apart from the people thus ultimately led to the conflict of war between the two powers. The people from both the opposing parties was the only thing uniting the two states though the power of the people was not considered as a good factor to end the conflict until both states were exhausted and demolished. The differences between the South and North in the 1800s acted as the main factor that influenced the war conflict.

How the Southerners Justify Slavery

According to the United States History, there were various arguments put forth in southerners' newspapers, pamphlets, and books in defending slavery institution within the state. The main idea in both was that the slavery institution was good and beneficial for the slaves as their caring for their interest burden was taken cared by the slaveowners by for example provision of basic needs. They argued that in comparing the southerners' slave and Northern immigrants who worked in poor working conditions for less payment in Northern factories, the southern slaves were much better off. To some extent the Northern state was viewed to be parasites of the slave labor as for both states, the main factor for national prosperity was slavery.

This is because in the 1800S the leading product for exportation was cotton which for its farming activities advocated for the slave labor and in case the slavery institution has tampered with the Northern economy will crumble to as the depended mainly on the cotton product for manufacturing from the South. Also, slavery in the South was a vital factor for their lifestyle as it emphasized on graciousness and good manners which were different compared to the North who were termed as fast-paced money grabbers. One of the southern books that justified the slavery institution in the South was a book written by the College of William and Mary president, Thomas Dew after the overheated constitutional debate of if to formally put an end to slavery in the South in 1829 in Virginia. He justified slavery institution by using biblical stories which provide moral authority of slavery at a certain degree. He showed that slavery institution was the sole impact of civilization. Also, in 1837, the southern author of South Carolina Nullification Ordinance wrote that slavery institution was not only not forbidden in the bible, it is a positive and essential evil to both the master, slave, and civilization.

Implications of the Decisions Made by Dred Scott for Africans Americans and Expansion of Slavery Into the Territories

The Dred Scott decision formally a legal case of Dred Scott vs. John F.A Sandford in 1857 6th March was ruled that Dred Scott- a slave was not more granted to do anything he wants with his freedom; the African American people were not to be included as United States citizens never. And also, the 1820 Missouri Compromise was unconstitutional (Missouri Compromise declared freedom to all territories) (Anderson).

According to Digital Lab, Dred Scott decision pushed the two states closer to war conflict due to the additional fuel to the dissimilarities. The decisions of Dred Scott acted as an eye-opener to the northern states which tolerated slavery so long as it stayed in the Southern part. The decision was a landmark case that clearly illustrated what and how the US government stood about the slavery issue. Even though the Southerners' were euphoric about the decision, a great Union of enemies was established following the southerners claims that the abolitionist who were trying to campaign and help Scott were anti-southern. Not only did the Dred decision upheld slavery idea to all territories, but it also diminished the functionalities of Missouri Compromise that limited slavery spread into new territories and also maintain the power balance between the South and North (Morris).

Works Cited

Anderson, James D. The education of Blacks in the South, 1860-1935. Univ of North Carolina Press, 1988.

Lab, D. (n.d). History Engine: Tools for Collaborative Education and Research | Episodes. [online] Historyengine.richmond.edu. Available at: https://historyengine.richmond.edu/episodes/view/2611 [Accessed 16 Dec. 2018].

Morris, Thomas D. Southern slavery and the law, 1619-1860. Univ of North Carolina Press, 1996.

United States History. Southern Justification of Slavery, n.d. retrieved from; https://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h244.html