Prior to the Civil War the North and South often attempted to compromise to ease the tensions created by their differing cultures, however, not all of them worked or were merely temporary measures that would not stave off conflict.
The first compromise between the northern and southern states was during the drafting of the Constitution, which despite it’s vague language affirmed the institution of slavery within the Constitution as this clause not only included the three-fifths clause, but also gave federal sanction to the capture and return of fugitive slaves and the convention agreed that the slave trade would be allowed to continue for twenty more years. (Nash, et al., 2007., pp. 209) At the time this was felt to be an acceptable price …show more content…
With economic change in the early 1830s tensions rose as New England and the Middle Atlantic states being the centers of manufacturing favored the tariffs while the South opposed them as they made goods more expensive to purchase, and could potentially interfere with cotton and tobacco exports, many also blamed the tariffs for the depression of the 1820s. (Nash, et al., 2007., p. 348) In response to the economic hardship and feelings of resentment, the then Vice President Calhoun offered a solution to which the southern states could protect themselves from these perceived threats, and that was nullification. Despite the tariff being reduced on some goods South Carolina still adopted their Ordinance of Nullification voiding the tariffs of 1828 and 1832 in their state, but they stood alone as many states perceived this action as an attack on the Union. (Nash, et al., 2007., pp. 348-349) Once the situation was resolved and compromise reached the question of the permanency of the Union hung …show more content…
(Nash, et al., 2007., pp. 412-413) The Compromise of 1850 only served to delay the inevitable conflict that would happen as the provisions to the fugitive slave act offended many Northerners as they felt it “compelled northern citizens to help catch runaways,” and only amped up the tension surrounding the institution of slavery. (Nash, et al., 2007., p.
The first compromise between the northern and southern states was during the drafting of the Constitution, which despite it’s vague language affirmed the institution of slavery within the Constitution as this clause not only included the three-fifths clause, but also gave federal sanction to the capture and return of fugitive slaves and the convention agreed that the slave trade would be allowed to continue for twenty more years. (Nash, et al., 2007., pp. 209) At the time this was felt to be an acceptable price …show more content…
With economic change in the early 1830s tensions rose as New England and the Middle Atlantic states being the centers of manufacturing favored the tariffs while the South opposed them as they made goods more expensive to purchase, and could potentially interfere with cotton and tobacco exports, many also blamed the tariffs for the depression of the 1820s. (Nash, et al., 2007., p. 348) In response to the economic hardship and feelings of resentment, the then Vice President Calhoun offered a solution to which the southern states could protect themselves from these perceived threats, and that was nullification. Despite the tariff being reduced on some goods South Carolina still adopted their Ordinance of Nullification voiding the tariffs of 1828 and 1832 in their state, but they stood alone as many states perceived this action as an attack on the Union. (Nash, et al., 2007., pp. 348-349) Once the situation was resolved and compromise reached the question of the permanency of the Union hung …show more content…
(Nash, et al., 2007., pp. 412-413) The Compromise of 1850 only served to delay the inevitable conflict that would happen as the provisions to the fugitive slave act offended many Northerners as they felt it “compelled northern citizens to help catch runaways,” and only amped up the tension surrounding the institution of slavery. (Nash, et al., 2007., p.