The compromise of 1850
The compromise of 1850 that was ratified in 1850, entailed the settlement of various issues affecting the unity of the states. The compromise assisted in stopping the confrontation that existed between Free states in the North and the slave states in the South. The main focus of the compromise was to address the slavery issue that was causing disagreement between the South and the North. Also, the conflict between north and south states was a result of the difference over the territories’ status that had been attained during the Mexican-American war, which occurred from 1846 to 1848 (Compromise of 1850 (article)). Under the compromise of 1850 that was created by Henry Clay, California was acknowledged to be a free state, the slave trade was banned in Washington, while Texas lost the New Mexico territory.
The fugitive slave law of 1850 was part and parcel of the Compromise of 1850. The law permitted the American government to help the slaveholders in bringing back freedom explorers. Based on the United States constitution, the slaveholders were allowed to recover the slaves who had fled to the Free states. The northern opponents were against the law, while some legislators attempted to add protection measures for the African Americans into the bill (OpenStax, 2019). They required the Fugitive slave law to assure the African Americans the power to testify and the trial by jury right. Some legislators argued that African Americans were not American citizens.
Uncle Tom’s Cabin is an anti-slavery book released in 1852 by Harriet Beecher Stowe. The novel had a significant effect on the approach towards slavery and African Americans in the United States as it assisted in shaping the foundation for the Civil war. In his novel, Stowe emphasized the fact that slavery was a sin, and it made family members separate. He talks about the different slave tales to make his argument more persuasive.
Based on the historical facts given in this module, assess if the American Civil War was inevitable?
The American civil war was inevitable because The Compromise of 1850 that was to solve the clash, caused more harm. The compromise of 1850 was a prediction of a tragedy rather than a successful political action. It destroyed the Second American Party System and acted as a facilitator in throwing the state into the Civil war. Uncle Tom’s Cabin had a significant effect on the approach towards slavery and African Americans in the United States as it assisted in shaping the foundation for the Civil war.
References
The Compromise of 1850 (article). (n.d.). Khan Academy. https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/us-history/civil-war-era/sectional-tension-1850s/a/compromise-of-1850
OpenStax. (2019). U.S. History. OpenStax CNX. Retrieved from: https://openstax.org/books/us-history/pages/3-3-english-settlements-in-america