The Peculiar Institution Divides the Union
By 1860 the great experiment of democracy called the United States of America was seemingly fractured beyond repair. A growing division fueled by divisions in culture, economics, religious doctrine, and political principals, among other factors led to inflamed passions. By April 12 1861, a series of trigger events turned American against American and even brother against brother as the nation erupted into bloodshed.
But the one central theme that tied all of these divisions together into one massive knot was slavery. As James Madison observed during the Constitutional Convention, "...the States were divided into different interests, not by their difference of size, but by other circumstances; the most material of which resulted partly from climate, but principally from the effects of their having or not having slaves."
How was the American institution of slavery unique in the world? How did the issue of slavery sever the bonds of Union? How did the national leaders seek to remedy the problem of slavery? Why did they fail? What events inflamed the passions of discord and eventually pit American versus American?
But the one central theme that tied all of these divisions together into one massive knot was slavery. As James Madison observed during the Constitutional Convention, "...the States were divided into different interests, not by their difference of size, but by other circumstances; the most material of which resulted partly from climate, but principally from the effects of their having or not having slaves."
How was the American institution of slavery unique in the world? How did the issue of slavery sever the bonds of Union? How did the national leaders seek to remedy the problem of slavery? Why did they fail? What events inflamed the passions of discord and eventually pit American versus American?