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Westward Expansion is the idea that the U.S. Nation should expand from coast to coast. The U.S. citizens believed it was their destiny, Manifest Destiny. But this meant conflict over land claims and water rights. This benefited nationalism due to the new land claims because it got more space and room for improvement in the United States. This relates to Civil War by actually preventing it. Because nationalism means cooperation or working together, this brought the nation closer as a whole.
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The 3/5 Compromise meant that the northern states had smaller enslaved populations. It also argued that enslaved people could be bought and considered "property." It also meant the economy had more money. Delegates come to the conclusion that only 3/5ths of the population will be counted towards population and taxation. This benefits sectionalism because the nation is being divided into 3/5ths which eventually helped lead the nation to a Civil War. -
The States Rights led to many of the southern states feeling as if the federal government was getting too powerful. Cash crops were in need of work so the enslaved were used for free labor. This benefits sectionalism because the southern states are having a disagreement with the northern states about the power of the federal government. This conflict helped lead the nation to a Civil War. -
Harriet Tubman founded the Underground Railroad. This was a system to help slaves escape. Roughly 100,000 slaves were granted freedom with the Underground Railroad. In any location where slavery was present, people always helped escapists. This could be argued to be both sectionalism and nationalism. Helping slaves escape will certainly anger slave owners, but it will also bring the escapists together, benefiting nationalism and helping abolish slavery. This is neutral towards the Civil War.
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The Compromise of 1820 or the Missouri Compromise was that the state of Missouri being admitted into the U.S. would upset the balance of slave and free states. This would give the slave states a majority in the Senate. There was a solution though, this solution was to admit the state of Maine as a free state (failed). Also, there was a Compromise Line located at 36˚ 30 N. This benefits sectionalism because admitting Missouri is causing conflict between the states leading to the Civil War. -
Frederick Douglas was a leader in the removal of slavery, particularly in Massachusetts and New York. He was born into slavery and vaguely knew his parents. He managed to escape slavery and took the train to New York City. His future wife, Anna, supplied him with money to escape. This could be argued against nationalism and sectionalism. Yes, he inspired thousands to escape slavery, but he also separated the people by making slave owners mad. This is neutral towards the Civil War. -
The Compromise of 1850 was where the U.S. added the majority of the land located West of the Louisiana Purchase. During the Compromise, Texas received 10 million dollars and made a border with New Mexico. Wanted the slave trade gone in Washington D.C. This benefits sectionalism because it divided the U.S. into two sections the North and South. This division of the nation assisted in the construction of the Civil War. -
The Fugitive Slave Law required all slaves to be returned to their owners, even if the former owner was currently living in a free state. The Law also stated that any escaped slaves were now the federal government's responsibility. Under the Law, anyone could be forced to help capture an escaped slave. Many different states had their own opinions on slavery which led to separation or sectionalism between the states which turned them against each other causing a Civil War. -
The Emancipation Proclamation was brought up by Abraham Lincoln. The Proclamation states that all the people who are kept as servants or slaves should be released and granted freedom. The Proclamation only was applied to the states that left the U.S. which left the cooperating border states undisturbed. This benefitted nationalism because this is a start to what the free states have been wanting all along. This also slowed the urgency of the Civil War.