Which American president was the most innocent? Abraham Lincoln, he was in a cent (innocent). The Civil War was the bloodiest sectional conflict which opposed the Union against the Confederate states, resulting in casualties of more than 600,000 Northern and Southern soldiers. Since the beginning, the North and South had been divided and several acts were passed to preserve the delicate balance. These resolutions included the Northwest Ordinance, high protective tariffs, and most importantly, The Compromise of 1850. The United States was evenly divided with fifteen free states and fifteen slave states through the Compromise of 1850, until the additions of new territories resulted from the Mexican War. The balance was in jeopardy and the United
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Southern slave states wanted slavery in new territories while Northern free states opposed this idea which eventually lead to fiery debates. Frederick Douglas, a famous African-American abolitionist gave a speech titled “The Meaning of July Fourth for the Negro” to white northerners stating that the celebration is a “sham” and no other nation practice more “shocking and bloody” than the United States (Doc. G). Douglass’s audience was largely white, demonstrating a growing antislavery audience. This suggested that attacking slave owners was the only method of preventing the inhumane practice of slavery. On the other hand, the slaveholding South argued that slaves experienced better conditions than free laborers. In his book titled Cannibals All! Or Slaves Without Masters, George Fitzhugh argues that Negro slaves are the happiest and freest people with good working conditions and holidays, whereas a laborer must work and starve with a small allowance (Doc.H). Fitzhugh’s book shifted the debate about slavery from being a defense of necessary evil to the praise of slavery as a positive good. The argument between the two sections on slavery was a result of the desire to maximize profit, but each section had opposing viewpoints on slavery. Likewise, another abolitionist used confrontational tactics to bring the issue of slavery to the forefront. John Brown led a group of 18 men, both black and white, to Virginia and distribute captured arms to slaves and start a slave uprising. Brown was hanged for treason and Northerners expressed admiration for his cause while Southerners called for secession (Doc. I). This would cause slave owners to restrict the freedoms of their slaves, but at the same time showed slaves that they have the power to go against their masters. Brown’s revolt certainly added fuel to the fire and further divided the North and South as he represented the Southerner’s greatest fear
Southern slave states wanted slavery in new territories while Northern free states opposed this idea which eventually lead to fiery debates. Frederick Douglas, a famous African-American abolitionist gave a speech titled “The Meaning of July Fourth for the Negro” to white northerners stating that the celebration is a “sham” and no other nation practice more “shocking and bloody” than the United States (Doc. G). Douglass’s audience was largely white, demonstrating a growing antislavery audience. This suggested that attacking slave owners was the only method of preventing the inhumane practice of slavery. On the other hand, the slaveholding South argued that slaves experienced better conditions than free laborers. In his book titled Cannibals All! Or Slaves Without Masters, George Fitzhugh argues that Negro slaves are the happiest and freest people with good working conditions and holidays, whereas a laborer must work and starve with a small allowance (Doc.H). Fitzhugh’s book shifted the debate about slavery from being a defense of necessary evil to the praise of slavery as a positive good. The argument between the two sections on slavery was a result of the desire to maximize profit, but each section had opposing viewpoints on slavery. Likewise, another abolitionist used confrontational tactics to bring the issue of slavery to the forefront. John Brown led a group of 18 men, both black and white, to Virginia and distribute captured arms to slaves and start a slave uprising. Brown was hanged for treason and Northerners expressed admiration for his cause while Southerners called for secession (Doc. I). This would cause slave owners to restrict the freedoms of their slaves, but at the same time showed slaves that they have the power to go against their masters. Brown’s revolt certainly added fuel to the fire and further divided the North and South as he represented the Southerner’s greatest fear