Compromise Of 1850 DBQ

By the 1850’s the Constitution, originally viewed as a document for national unity, had become a source of regional disagreements and tension that eventually resulted in the failure of the Union. The Constitution never outright mentions slavery, and created an unsolved problem that later resulted in compromises and the failure of the Union it formed. The Constitution contributed to the failure of the union because it did not acknowledge slavery which lead to tensions between the Northerners who wanted to abolish it, and the Southerners who considered it an economic necessity. In Document B, a Georgian says that “the constitution does not recognize slavery where it exists”, which proves that the Constitution did not mention slavery or formally
recognize it. In addition there were many arguments made over what the constitution states. In document E, William Lloyd Garrison, an abolitionist, says “To the Argument...necessities of slavery.” This proves that the constitution can result in different interpretations. These interpretations disrupted the unity that was supposed to be formed between the North and South as a result of the Constitution, and contributed to the failure of the Union. The different interpretations lead to a need to make compromise to settle regional discord between the North and South.
There were many issues with the Compromise of 1850, which was an attempt to create balance, as seen in Document A, between the territories of the North who did not like slavery and the south who wanted slavery. This was an issue because the Fugitive Slave Act required Northerners to help catch slaves who had run away from Southern territory, which was problematic because it interfered with the balance created by the compromise of 1850. Document C shows how kidnappers were sent to catch slaves, and how Northern abolitionists met the South’s rules and regulations with hostility. This shows how the language of the Constitution resulted in regional disagreement and tension and prevented the unity that the document was intended
for. Since tension was high between the North and the South, many people in the South were leaning towards secession. Many free soilers did not want to spread slavery, but were not necessarily abolitionists and did not care about slavery in states it was already in. The idea of popular sovereignty resulted from the compromise of 1850, map from Document A, the free soilers in office were urged into difficult decisions over the popular sovereignty issue. As seen in Document F, “Forcing slavery down the throat of a Freesoiler,” shows an obvious example of this in a disturbing political cartoon. Ralph Waldo Emerson believed that The Constitution was contradictory to the Fugitive Slave Law and the compromise of 1850, and the room for disagreement was going to end the union. As seen in Document D, “What kind of...lays a train” shows how it was obvious that the Union would not survive if the Constitution contained immoral law. Emerson’s point is that the Union will end as soon as immoral law is in place. Although it seems as if there are many attempts to make compromises and keep the unity, it seems as if the failure of the Union is inevitable.
Document G shows President Buchanan’s message to congress which proves the Constitution is not working and needs an amendment. “In any event...themselves from the Union” shows how there is effort made to keep the union together and that amending the Constitution is necessary in doing so. In Jefferson Davis’ message to the Confederate Congress, Document H, he claims that it is “Strange, indeed...and over the States”. As a southerner he is speaking out against the growth of the Northern States and declaring that the Constitution was not a bond between the states, but a national government that was above the States. Additionally, President Lincoln’s message to congress in Document I, which says, “any state of...any other state”, proves that the constitution created a issue that continually grew until it eventually resulted in the failure of the Union it
created. This shows us how in the 1850’s the Constitution, originally framed as an instrument of national unity, was a source of disagreement between the North and South, and eventually lead to the failure of the Union it formed. This is shown through the unspecific language of the Constitution and room for interpretation between the South and North, and the compromises that had to be made as a result of these interpretations.