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Dbq Compromise Of 1850

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In the time between 1850 and 1861, slavery became a major conflict within the American government and its citizens. In determining whether the Constitution is a source of disunion in the United States, it is important to look at different angles of interpretation. Morally, interpretations of the Constitution influence the rights and wrongs of slavery and the laws along with it. Socially, principles and provisions of the Constitution allow for the states to grasp rights, but also allow others to limit them. Politically, viewpoints from political figures on the Constitution bring forward ideas and opinions on laws regarding states’ rights and disunion. By the 1850s, the Constitution became a factor in the failure of the Union due to the opposing …show more content…
Particularly, the Compromise of 1850 opened a gap in the slave system regarding popular sovereignty. Shown in a map are effects of the Compromise of 1850 where the Utah and New Mexico territories were placed under the principle of popular sovereignty (Document A). This is a significant factor from a social standpoint because popular sovereignty created the belief that Americans had a voice in the government. Negatively, however, popular sovereignty led to clashes between the pro-slavery and antislavery groups, such as in “Bleeding Kansas.” Moreover, the Constitution is left for interpretation, and from a Southern standpoint, is taken advantage of by the North. When the South assisted in the acquisition of a new territory, the North instantly fought the ability of Southern men to bring slavery into the land. This prevents all new states from entering the Union as a slave state (Document B). The purpose of this is to consider that the Constitution could be destroyed without equilibrium of slave and free states, much like the Missouri Compromise’s purpose. Also, the Fugitive Slave Clause written in the Constitution was manipulated with mischievous intentions. On a poster from Boston in regards to the dangers of slave catchers, it is shown that police officers will not assist colored people, rather turn them in because of the Fugitive Slave Laws of 1850 (Document …show more content…
This is inaccurate because the Constitution was left in a vague state and allowed for the formation of varying analyses; it did not specify who is right, leaving it responsible for the conflicts that arose. These problems caused by interpretation can be compared to the debated creation of a national bank between Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson. Hamilton believed the Constitution implied the right to create a national bank while Jefferson believed the contrary. In addition, these opposing views caused a split in the country on support, much like the fine line between abolitionists and pro-slavery

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