Constitutional Sections dbq
In the early nineteenth century the United States began to split, but as mid-century came around, people became more polarized in their views and the union started to separate drastically. During the period of 1850, until 1861 when the Confederate States of America was formed, the union was clearly divided between the North and South. Although the Constitution was not the only factor leading to sectional tension in America, there are many strong points in the North and South favoring the statement, "By the 1850's the Constitution, originally framed as an instrument of national unity, had become a source of sectional discord and tension and ultimately contributed to the failure of the union it had created." Northerners, during mid-century America believed in the preservation of the undissolvable Union. When the Constitution was framed in 1787, the founding fathers were concerned about leaving Britain and becoming a Union, as opposed to the issue of slavery that would later prevail. Henry Clay created the Compromise of 1850, which helped solve the problem of slavery in the territories (Document A). This was not included in the Constitut
ion, so the government had to deal with the issue. Regarding the Fugitive Slave Law, a Bostonian Transcendentalist, Ralph Waldo Emerson stated, "As soon as the Constitution ordains an immoral law, it ordains disunion...The Union is at an end as soon as an immoral law is enacted" (Document D). Yet another Bostonian, William Lloyd Garrison, an abolitionist reformer exclaimed, "The Constitution which subjects them [slaves] to hopeless bondage is one that we cannot swear to support" (Document E). Northerners did not necessarily want abolition, rather confinement of slavery to its current borders. In events such as John Brown's Raid, the North solemnly respected Brown, holding commemoration services in his memorial. After the fugitive slave law was enacted, many personal liberty laws were created in the North and colored people were notified, "You are hereby respectfully CAUTIONED and advised, to avoid conversing with Watchmen and Police Officers of Boston" (Document C). The constitutionality of the protective tariff was questioned during the panic of 1857, which Northerners blamed on the South. It is evident that although the Constitutio
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Approximate Word count = 772
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)
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