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The Missouri Compromise's Role In The Civil War

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The Missouri Compromise's Role In The Civil War
The Missouri Compromise Sectional tension between the slave south and free north arose over the control of the vast western lands, in 1819. During that year, Missouri, the first state entirely west of the Mississippi River and carved from the Louisiana Purchase, wanted admission from the Congress to be recognized as a slave state. The territory contained a sufficient population to become a state, yet the House of Representatives withheld passing Missouri as a state. At the moment, the Tallmadge amendment was passed, declaring that no more slaves could be brought into Missouri. Slaveholding southerners argued aggressively that the sectional balance between states was being threatened. In 1788, the Constitution granted the northern and southern …show more content…
While the southern states were in favor of slavery, the northern states vehemently opposed the idea. An expansion of slavery would have meant an increase in the territorial space and population. This in turn would give the Southern states increased power in the House. Although the Civil War had some time to initiate, the Compromise played a major role in the laying the groundwork for the war that was to come. It contributed to the division and disagreement between north and south, surrounding the topic of slavery. The issue built severe tension between the two sides of the …show more content…
The United States wanted to be isolated from other countries and not be in the middle of a war between two other nations. George Washington’s Neutrality Proclamation was designed to keep America from future wars, and keep Americans from dividing their loyalties. Involving the United States in outer wars would inflict severe damage on the new nation; therefore, Washington also in his Farewell Address advised to stay away from permanent alliances with foreign countries. The doctrine was to signify between the Americas from the European lifestyle, non-intervention, and non-colonization. Through this doctrine, President James Monroe wanted to refrain Europe from thinking about seeking new territories in America since at the time, Americans took up the majority along the eastern border. All unclaimed land would directly belong to the United States, and could be made so no Europeans could enter. Americans wanted to be able to increase the United States influence on trading and industries throughout the region of the south. Without having the restrictions from Britain, Americans could trade with whoever they felt

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