Elephant in the Room

The debate of slavery was "the elephant in the room" in the early 19th century for American politics because everyone knew it was a problem but, they knew it was just going to lead to a big disagreement. In class we read passages and articles and took notes on events like the Missouri compromise of 1850, the Gadsden purchase, the Lincoln and Douglas debates, the Kansas Nebraska Act and a couple more. Obviously many people had different views of slavery an the north and south were divided. The north was anti-slavery and the south was pro-slavery. 

Missouri compromise creates an even split of 11 slave states and 11 free states. This means slave states and free states have an even number of votes in the senate. Also, all new territory north of the 36 degrees 30 minutes latitude line will be free in the future. "The compromise of 1850 accomplished what it set out to do-- it kept the nation united-- but the solution was only temporary. Over the next decade the country's citizens became divided over the issue..." This show that a disagreement was doomed to happen and it's difficult to find a permanent solution because people always want more. 

In the Kansas Nebraska act it broke the rules of the Missouri compromise. It let slavery extend past the line they set. Also it did enable anti-slavery people move out west which can lead to more free states. Many people didn't like this for example Charle Sumner wrote a letter to the president and he said "It is the rape of a virgin Territory, compelling it to the hateful embrace of Slavery; and it may be clearly traced to a depraved desire for a new Slave State, hideous offspring of such a crime, in the hope of adding to the power of Slavery in the National Government." This shows that there was still a huge problem the north and south just can't agree on. Charles summer strongly states his opinion that we should not have broken the Missouri compromise because slavery might spread and can add power to slavery in the national government. 

 

Also the Dred Scott decision of 1857 was a very big event. Dred Scott, an enslaved man living in Missouri, filed suit against his owner.He argued he and his wife Harriet were free because they once lived with their owner in states and territories where slavery was illegal. The court didn't agree with them and ruled against Dred Scott 7 to 2. In an article on the Dred Scott case it states "The court think the affirmative of these propositions cannot be maintained." This basically shows that there isn't many ways to get out of slavery. His argument was valid but the courts found away around it. They basically said that he didn't have the right to file a law suit because he's black. This is another reason why no one wanted to discuss the "elephant in the room". 

The caning of Charles Sumner was a huge event aswell. Senator Charles sumner gave speech that was named the crime against Kansas. In the speech he attacked southerners for forcing slavery on his territory. 2 days later Preston Brooks was angered by the speech and he beat him with a cane.  Never recovered from these injuries. 

Slavery was ahi he problem and everyone was aware. Nobody wanted to discuss this because they knew what was coming later. Violence is never good for a country and they knew that was coming. It too them a long time to finally solve this problem. 

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/part4/4p2951.html

http://www.edline.net/files/_BWH0Y_/e42eb7fac3a9a6113745a49013852ec4/The_Crime_Against_Kansas.pdf

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/part4/4h2933t.html

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caning_of_Charles_Sumner