How Did Slavery Affect The Civil War

ith the invention of the cotton gin by Eli Whitney and throughout the addition of many new territories in the United States, the issue of slavery had never been so prominent and controversial in the states. Due to the Fugitive Slave Act that forced citizens to assist in capture of runaway slave, idea of citizens deciding whether territories would be free or slave states - known as popular soveirgnty, as well as the varying interpretations of the constitution, especially on the subject of slavery, there was great discord and sectionalism in the United States. This ultimately had a major impact on Southern Succession and the start of the civil war.
The nation began rapidly expanding throughout the 19th century and many new states such as Utah,
Document H, President Davis’s message to southern confederate shows that the constitution doesn’t include information on the idea of separate and independent states, and is unable to prevent “the rise and growth” of states. Due to this reason and many others, there was nothing in the Constitution that was unable to stop the southern states from succeeding from the union. Furthermore, the constitution also contains amendments that gives states powers not explicitly expressed in the constitution, contributing to their succession and the justification of slavery. Document H is bias because President Davis is the president of the southern states that succeeded from the union, therefore is pro-slavery and a states rights advocate. Additionally, in Document I, Lincoln’s message to congress shows that the succession was done in logical order and there is not much in the constition that provides Lincoln with the power to prevent the succession. However, there is nothing that gives the southern states greater power than the northern states, especially the power to “lawfully destroy the union itself.” Lincoln’s message is bias towards the southern states because he was a president elected on anti-slavery in the new territories and many views, contrary to those of the south, which cause him to condemn their act of succession. Lastly, Document B, Emerson’s address on The Fugitive Slave Act blatantly asserted that the union is unable to remain unified, if an immoral law is enacted. This statement truly shows that the constitution became a source of sectional discord and tension, contributing to the failure of the