Manifest Destiny Case Study

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Pages: 3

1. The textbook suggests that Manifest Destiny of the 1840s, a product of
American nationalism was ultimately responsible for the territorial expansion that led to the Civil War. Comment on this by analyzing the issues surrounding the question of slavery in the territories as they emerged in the 1840s and 1850s. Why was it so difficult to develop a lasting compromise on this question? By the mid nineteenth century slavery in America became more of a business long after the Missouri Compromise was passed where north of the line slaves were free as opposed to south of the line were not. There were many attempts to expand slave territories but these attempts failed north of the line because at the time The Wilmot Proviso, 1846, which illustrated
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The North has produced 97% of the countries firearms and also controlled the army and trades that enabled them to get the ingredients need to make the gunpowder for the rifles. In the South rifles had yet to exist, and transportation was a major problem as well for the South. The South lost the Civil War for many reasons they were very intransigent and also only really had one good commander leading them. Also had they freed the slaves they would have had more support from prior supporting European countries. However; bad politics and leadership drove the South downhill in the battle of 1864 “The Civil War”. In time these things would tell on the battlefield, certainly on the broader level. The North was able to bring its industry and its manpower to bear in such a way that eventually, through sheer numerical and material advantage, it gained and maintained the upper hand. The South could of won had they freed the slaves and gained the recognition of the Europeans and their military aid. In conclusion the Union was led by a great leader and the Confederacy was led by a weak president. The North had a strong presence, larger population, developed industrial system and superior financial institutions and an advanced railroad system. The South was very hesitant to many changes that eventually caused their demise and surrender in this