The Civil War and Failure to Compromise essays

The Civil War and Failure to Compromise essays The Civil War was not inevitable. It was not an unavoidable conflict of two opposing sides; rather, it was the result of extremism and failures of leadership on both sides of the conflict. The conflict was made up of the pro-slavery southerners and the anti-slavery northerners. Both sides felt very strongly about their position, and refused to see the opposite point. Failure of leadership that led to the Civil War was the passing of the personal liberty laws, the Kansas-Nebraska Act, and popular sovereignty by congress, while extremism that led to the Civil War included the Fugitive Slave law, and Harpers Ferry. Divisions caused by the slavery issue cut deep into America. Entire regions bitterly hated each other. Harriet Beecher Stowes abolitionist book Uncle Toms Cabin only furthered the hatred between the North and the South by adding an emotional aspect to the immorality of slavery (Document C). The rift even split political parties such as the Whigs. One half of the Whigs were Cotton Whigs, who believed that slavery was an essential part of the economy, and that slavery is good. The Conscience Whigs believed that slavery was wrong and should be ended. The political party of the Whigs soon dissolved, and disappeared from Congress (Document E). Abraham Lincoln may have thought of this political party when he said, A house divided against itself cannot stand.(Document F) Lincoln was of course referring to the civil war he saw looming ahead. People on both sides of the conflict who passed the personal liberty laws, the Kansas-Nebraska Act, and popular sovereignty showed lack of leadership. The passage of Personal liberty laws showed lack of leadership by the North because the laws impeded the enforcement of the Fugitive Slave Law. This infuriated the Southerners (Document I). The personal liberty laws were found unconstitutional and were repealed, because one state can not i...