ap us essay 1785 1850

Myles Barrow December 1, 2014
AP U.S History Hellmuth

When one reviews American History from 1785-1850, it can be concluded that, “Americans never learned to add without also dividing”. This is referring to America’s inability to have more land without also having the land divided into sections, whether it be north and south or east and west. For example when the Louisiana Purchase was made, yes it added more land to the U.S, but it also made it so there was another territory that was different than the rest of America. The Missouri Compromise can be an example as well, when they applied to become a state, it was being considered however James Tallmadge Jr. introduced an amendment that created a rift being those who were pro slavery and against it. When you look at American history between 1785-1850, it can be said that America can never add without dividing; this statement is correct in saying that and it can be backed up with the effects of the Louisiana Purchase and the Missouri Compromise, which included divisions of the ideas and people, as examples. You can use the Louisiana Purchase to support the argument because, when it was made, although it added more land to the U.S, it also made it so there was another territory that was different than the rest of America as an after effect. When this purchase was finalized it meant more land for the Americas but unfortunately more division within America. Most cities involved in this purchase, like New Orleans can be used as example. In New Orleans, the population was mostly French or Spanish speakers but the rest of the country spoke English. It was also a Catholic city that was engulfed in a country of Protestants, and even furthermore, the ideas of these people about things like race and sexuality differed than those of the rest of the countries. All of these are examples of how cities involved in the Louisiana Purchase differed from the rest of America and supports that even though it was extra land for America it was also divided by the differences it had with America that kept it separate from America. The Missouri Compromise can be used as an example because when it was made, an amendment was also introduced which required slaves to be freed and not added. This amendment caused an uproar within the southern representatives and senators who were pro slavery. Which further divided the ideas of slavery, whether it be for or against it. Like the Louisiana Purchase, the Missouri Compromise also shows how America can never add without dividing, because, when Missouri was gained as a state it was also introduced that slavery not be permitted there. This divided those who were in favor of it and those who were against it. Which is an example of America always adding but also dividing. When one reviews American History from 1785-1850, it can be concluded that, “Americans never learned to add without also dividing”. This is referring to America’s inability to have more land without also having the land divided into sections, whether it be north and south or east and west or pro and against. When you look at American history between 1785-1850, it can be said that America can never add without dividing; this statement is correct in saying that and it can be backed up with the effects of the Louisiana Purchase and the Missouri Compromise, which included divisions of the ideas and people, as examples. When the Louisiana Purchase is an example that supports this because land was acquired but divisions was made between them and the rest of America keeping it from being on country under one idea. The Missouri Compromise can be an example as well because when acquired as a state, Tallmadge Jr. introduced an amendment that created a rift being those who were pro slavery and against it.