Question of Slavery

Definition

The Question of Slavery refers to the ongoing debate and conflict over the moral, economic, and political implications of slavery in the United States, especially as it pertains to its expansion into new territories and states. This question deeply influenced American politics, social dynamics, and economic interests in the period leading up to the Civil War, creating a significant divide between the Northern and Southern states.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The Question of Slavery became increasingly contentious during the 19th century as new territories were acquired, raising concerns about whether they would permit slavery or remain free.
2. The debate intensified with events such as the Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854, which allowed settlers in those territories to determine the status of slavery through popular sovereignty.
3. Abolitionist movements gained momentum in the North, advocating for the end of slavery and influencing public opinion against the institution.
4. The South's economy was heavily reliant on slave labor, which led to significant resistance against any federal efforts to limit or abolish slavery.
5. The issue culminated in the Civil War, fundamentally altering American society and leading to the eventual abolition of slavery with the passage of the 13th Amendment.

Review Questions

• How did the Question of Slavery influence political decisions in the United States during the lead-up to the Civil War?
  • The Question of Slavery significantly influenced political decisions by creating divisions between Northern and Southern politicians. The debate over whether new territories should be free or slave states led to legislative compromises like the Missouri Compromise and the Compromise of 1850. These compromises were attempts to maintain a balance of power but often exacerbated tensions, ultimately contributing to the sectional conflicts that characterized American politics before the Civil War.
• Evaluate the impact of abolitionist movements on public perception regarding slavery in the North.
  • Abolitionist movements played a crucial role in shaping public perception about slavery in the North by highlighting its moral injustices and promoting human rights. Abolitionists used literature, speeches, and organized campaigns to raise awareness about the realities of slavery, which resonated with many Northerners who were previously indifferent. This growing sentiment contributed to increasing support for anti-slavery legislation and heightened tensions between North and South.
• Analyze how legal decisions like the Dred Scott Decision affected the Question of Slavery and its eventual outcome in American society.
  • The Dred Scott Decision had profound implications for the Question of Slavery by undermining federal authority over states' rights regarding slavery. By ruling that Congress could not prohibit slavery in territories and declaring that African Americans were not citizens, it effectively nullified efforts to limit slavery's expansion. This decision inflamed tensions between pro-slavery and anti-slavery factions, pushing moderates toward more extreme positions and contributing to the climate that sparked the Civil War, ultimately leading to changes like the 13th Amendment that abolished slavery.

Related terms

Missouri Compromise:

An agreement passed in 1820 that allowed Missouri to enter the Union as a slave state and Maine as a free state, while prohibiting slavery in the northern part of the Louisiana Territory.

Compromise of 1850: A series of laws aimed at resolving disputes related to slavery and territorial expansion, which included admitting California as a free state and enacting a stricter Fugitive Slave Act.

Dred Scott Decision: An 1857 Supreme Court ruling that declared African Americans were not citizens and had no legal standing to sue, as well as stating that Congress could not prohibit slavery in the territories.