Why The Constitution Failed In The 1850's

Writing an essay is difficult as it is but my unwillingness to analyze specific doctrines does not compare to the unwillingness of the government to mend the breaking union during the late 1800’s. Northern and Southern states differed politically, economically, and socially; thus setting the stage for one of the biggest battles in American history. The constitution was intended to be this almighty document that united the states and kept them in balance but tension rose greatly. Even though the constitution is ultimately our most important historical “rulebook” it failed in the 1850’s being the primary cause for a Civil War. For four long years there were battles, trials, and also riots including deceitful ideologies our founding fathers had
Southerners were disparagingly serious about addressing the Fugitive Slave Law. On May 3rd, 1851 Ralph Waldo Emerson a popular writer and an influential one at that saw this rising issue as a chance to speak out against Southern perspective. “He who writes a crime into the statute book digs under the foundations of the Capital to plant there a powder magazine and lays a train”(Document D). A pattern of wrongdoing was established as a result of slavery supporting states in the lower regions that were supposed to be UNITED. The constitution was written, unsurprisingly, to not include slavery so the foundation of the capital was in completely grave danger. Enacted by Congress initially in 1793, the Fugitive slave law allowed local governments to capture slaves and bring them to their owners since they were property no matter where they were. It was then taken into harsher measures in 1850. The law was persisted, conditions were difficult, penalties increased, unfortunately leading to War. Many slaves took that harsh journey for freedom; Vermont and Wisconsin were states that assisted the runaways. Government regulation became seemingly built for the benefit of southern