This editorial succinctly states the case for
Senator Stephen Douglas' doctrine of popular sovereignty, embodied
in the Kansas-Nebraska Act. According to the Furman University
Secession Era Editorials website, the Detroit Free Press was
a Democratic newspaper, so it is not surprising that it would
support Democrat Douglas' bill. The Kansas-Nebraska repealed
the Missouri Compromise, illustrated in the First-Order document.
An editorial, by its nature, helps students to understand the
controversial nature of issues like the Kansas-Nebraska Act
and that the passage of the act was not preordained. It illustrates
the Habit of Mind "perceive past events and issues as they
were experienced by people at the time."
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[Anonymous], "Statue to Jackson," United
States Democratic Review, vol. 17 (July - Aug.) 1845: 3-5.
Retrieved June 26, 2002 from [Link].
Calhoun, John C. (1850), "Chapter II: Growing
Pains of the Republic (1833 - 1869)." The Federal Observer
Journal, 5, No. 176 (2002, June 26). Retrieved June 26, 2002
from [http://www.federalobserver.com/speeches.php?speech=1181].
Democratic Senator John Calhoun of South Carolina
opposed the Compromise of 1850. Calhoun warned that the increasing
agitation against southern states might eventually lead to secession.
Senator Henry Clay of Kentucky was the primary
force behind the passage of the Compromise of 1850. In his speech,
Clay defended the virtues of compromise in order to preserve the
Union.
Clay, Henry, John C. Calhoun, and Daniel Webster.
"Debate on the Compromise of 1850," in Richard Hofstadter.
Great Issues in American History, Vol. 1. New York, 1958.
pp. 346-354.
Offers a look at the theories underling the growing
controversy over the issue of slavery in the territories. Nationalism
and sectionalism are presented as contrasting ideologies.
Democratic Senator Stephen Douglas of Illinois
refuted Lincoln's speech and restated his doctrine of popular
sovereignty. According to Douglas, the people of a state or territory
should decide whether or not slavery should be allowed.
Lincoln, Abraham. "First Inaugural Address,"
in Richard Hofstadter. Great Issues in American History,
vol. 1. New York, 1958. pp. 389-397.
Lincoln's address summarizes the sectional controversy
and provides a powerful statement of the nationalism perspective.
Lincoln, Abraham. "An Illinois representative
Attacks President Polk's view of the War in 1848." Congressional
Globe, vol. 14. 1848. pp. 34-36.
Interrogatories - Lincoln publicly challenged
President Polk to show the spot where the Mexicans shed "American
blood on the American soil. This speech took place in the House
of Representative in 1846.
Railton, Stephen, "Shipman's Uncle Tom's Cabin:
Legree Whipping Uncle Tom." Uncle Tom's Cabin & American
Culture. [Link].
"Resolutions of South Carolina On Jackson's
Nullification Proclamation," in Richard Hofstadter. Great
Issues in American History, vol. 1. New York, 1958. pp. 289-291.
South Carolina's convention produces a clear statement
of sectional sentiment, which provides a useful contrast to Jackson's
theory of nationalism.
Henry Clay presenting his argument for the Compromise
of 1850 in front of Millard Fillmore, John C. Calhoun, and Daniel
Webster during a Senate session.
Scott, Rev. Thomas. "A Journey of a Missionary."
McLean County Historical Museum. MCL 34 pp., 50-75.
In his personal account of Social History, Rev.
Scott shows the split in denominations over slavery and sectionalism
as he travel westward in his mission to establish new churches
for the home mission board of Primitive Baptist.
Seguin, Juan Nepomuceno. "A Tejano describes
the beginning of the Texas Revolution in 1835 - 36." Congressional
Globe, vol. 10. 1836. pp. 53-57.
In his personal memories Juan Nepomuceno Seguin
shares his first hand involvement in the movement of Texan independence.
Juan is a great asset to General Austin in the movement for independence,
but his rise to glory is substituted with a degrading morality
of how all Mexicans is nothing but troublemakers.
"Shipman's Uncle Tom's Cabin."
Tom, Legree. Erie Litho Co., New York and Erie, Pennsylvania.
Harry Birdoff Collection, Harriet Beecher Stowe Center. [45.81.470].
The vehemently antislavery book would inflame the passion of
slaveholders and abolitionists alike and make Stowe an international
celebrity as well as one of the most hated women in the South.
The novel flew off the shelves by the end of the first year,
fueling both nationalism and sectionalism evidences for their
arguments, and in five years the novel sold more than 500,000
copies. The picture shows slavery in its rawest form. Stowe
was sent a slaves ear by an anger slaveholder. This extreme
act shows the student just how important each section of the
country sentiments was. As Mrs. Stowe meets President Lincoln
he said to her "So you are the little lady who started
this great big war!"
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A history of the tariff in the United States and
the impact it has had on our economic and political system throughout
this country's existence.
Tindall, George B., and David
E. Shi. America: A Narrative History, 4th ed. New York:
W.W. Norton & Co., 1996
A Newspaper Man Declares the "Manifest Destiny" of
the U.S. in 1845
This document shows the growing enthusiasm, which further confused
an already tangled political situation while raising an ominous
question. Under these circumstances the issue of expansion,
the student will refer back to the Map of 1820, was a godsend
to ambitious politicians with an ax to grind. The controversy
over slavery was making the country edgy. With mounting hostilities
a great crusade to fulfill the manifest territorial destiny
of the United States in patriotism. But it could also incite
a disastrous sectional conflict over the territorial spoils.
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