the breakdown of the two party system Flashcards
(5 cards)
topic sentence
Other historians such as Eric Forner argue that politics was the most important reason for the secession of several Southern states in 1860.
evidence 1 - kansas nebraska
The Whigs and Democrats had dominated party politics for several years, however with the growth in debate of the issue of slavery, and the failure of these leading parties to address the issue, came the emergence of parties such as the Republicans would ultimately cause sectional divides. For example, issues such as Stephen A Douglas’, Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854 split the Democrats and gave a platform for the Republicans to rise. This act aimed to address the debate about the settling of Nebraska. It repealed the 1820 Missouri Compromise (which maintained the balance between free and slave states and agreed that there should be no slavery north latitude 36 30) created 2 new territories, Kansas and Nebraska, and decided that the future of slavery in these territories would be decided through popular sovereignty.
analysis 1
his led to the demise of the Democrats because the repeal of the Missouri Compromise convinced Northerners that wealthy Southern Slaveholders were able to have significant influence on economic and politics and were able to prevent the abolishment of slavery. Against this backdrop, grew the Republicans, who gained masses of Northern support as they were against the slave power conspiracy. This therefore ultimately led to secession because with the growing prominence of the Republicans came a worry in the South that slavery was at risk, indeed the Republicans victory in the 1860 Presidential election heightened this belief. Many Southern states felt that the only way that slavery could be protected was to secede and therefore did, with South Carolina seceding first on 20th December 1860.
counter analysis
However, Lincoln made it clear that his “Paramount object in this struggle is to save the Union, and it is not either to save or destroy slavery”, making him more appealing to the Southern states as it suggests that he would not interfere with slavery where it already existed.
evaluation
To evaluate, politics was a significant reason for the secession of several Southern states, as Eric Forner argues, “the ideology of the Republican party was at odds with Southern values”, as the Republicans valued free labor, opposed the slave power conspiracy etc., which were all common Northern beliefs, but were not common Southern beliefs.
