Filibuster

Definition

A filibuster is a political procedure where a senator or group of senators prolong debate on a bill to delay or prevent a vote from taking place. It is a tactic used to obstruct the legislative process and prevent the passage of a bill.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Filibusters were frequently used by pro-slavery senators in the 1850s to block legislation that would restrict the expansion of slavery into new territories.
2. The threat of filibusters played a key role in the Compromise of 1850, which attempted to maintain the balance between slave and free states.
3. Filibusters were used to delay the admission of Kansas as a free state, leading to the violent conflict known as 'Bleeding Kansas'.
4. The filibuster was a crucial tool for Southern senators who sought to preserve the institution of slavery and prevent the federal government from interfering with it.
5. The rise of filibusters in the 1850s contributed to the growing sectional tensions that ultimately led to the outbreak of the American Civil War.

Review Questions

• Explain how the filibuster was used by pro-slavery senators in the 1850s to influence the expansion of slavery.
  • Pro-slavery senators in the 1850s frequently used the filibuster as a tactic to obstruct and delay legislation that would restrict the expansion of slavery into new territories. By prolonging debate and preventing votes from taking place, they were able to maintain the balance between slave and free states and prevent the federal government from interfering with the institution of slavery. The threat of filibusters played a key role in the Compromise of 1850 and the violent conflict in 'Bleeding Kansas', as pro-slavery senators sought to use the filibuster to preserve their political power and the expansion of the slave system.
• Analyze the relationship between the rise of filibusters and the growing sectional tensions that led to the American Civil War.
  • The increased use of filibusters by pro-slavery senators in the 1850s was a significant factor in the growing sectional tensions that ultimately led to the American Civil War. By using the filibuster to obstruct legislation that would restrict the expansion of slavery, these senators were able to maintain the political power of the slave states and prevent the federal government from interfering with the institution of slavery. This, in turn, fueled resentment and mistrust between the North and South, as the North saw the filibuster as a tool used by the South to preserve its economic and political dominance. The inability to resolve these tensions through the legislative process contributed to the outbreak of the Civil War, as the two sides became increasingly unwilling to compromise on the issue of slavery.
• Evaluate the role of the filibuster in the broader context of the quest for new slave states in the 1850s.
  • The filibuster was a crucial tool used by pro-slavery senators in the 1850s as part of their broader quest to expand the institution of slavery into new territories and states. By using the filibuster to delay or prevent the passage of legislation that would restrict the expansion of slavery, these senators were able to maintain the political and economic power of the slave states. This, in turn, fueled the desire for new slave states, as the South sought to preserve its influence in the federal government and counteract the growing political and economic power of the North. The filibuster was thus a central component of the Southern strategy to protect and expand slavery, and its use contributed to the growing sectional tensions that ultimately led to the American Civil War. Evaluating the role of the filibuster in this context is essential for understanding the complex political dynamics and power struggles that shaped the events of the 1850s.

Related terms

Cloture: A procedure in the United States Senate that places a time limit on further debate, allowing a vote to occur on a given measure.

Manifest Destiny: The 19th-century belief that the United States was destined to expand across North America from the Atlantic to the Pacific Oceans.

Slave States: States in the United States that allowed the institution of slavery prior to the American Civil War.