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Long Essay Question

Prompt: Analyze the ways in which controversy over the extension pf slavery into western

territories contributed to the coming of the Civil War. Confine your answer to the period 1845-

1861.

In the years 1845-1861, many factors of the expansion of slavery led to the coming of the

Civil War. These factors that led to this were the Kansas-Nebraska Act, the Compromise of

1850, and the Annexation of Texas. Slavery was the main factor that caused the start of the Civil

War. These controversies, accelerated the coming of the war.

The Kansas-Nebraska Act was a greasy, slippery slope that led to the Civil War. The act

said that slavery in the Louisiana Territory will stay or be removed decided by the popular

sovereignty. The Kansas-Nebraska Act was one of the most momentous measures to ever pass

through congress. The Act separated both the North and the South even more than they already

were. The act caused tensions to rise between the antislaveries and southerners that were going to

keep slavery alive and going. The Kansas-Nebraska Act also caused future compromises with the

North and South to be harder to negotiate.

The Compromise of 1850 was also another factor that led to the start of the Civil War.

However, the compromise did at first delay the Civil War by ten years. The tensions between the

North and South never go away because of this event. Balancing the free and slave states were an

interest in the compromise. The struggles to get the measures passed by the country was harder

than that to get passed by congress. Clay, Webster, and Douglass all orated on behalf of the

compromise. The compromise also led Henry Clay to deliver many speeches as a power

sentiment for acceptance.


The Annexation of Texas was another factor leading to the start of the Civil War. The

tensions between the slave and free states were high during this time period. The more states one

territory had over the other, the more influence they had on outlawing the spread and expansion

of slavery or the continuing of the terrible practice. The fight for gain of Texas to be either a free

or slave state was important for both sides. Texas, with its large population, would have a greater

effect on the government’s decision. The Union wanted Texas to become a free state so the

Union could not lose the control. Texas, however, fell into the result of becoming a slave state

and tensions rose even more with the North and South.

These three factors can be contributed to the start of the Civil War. Another period in

time that relates to this is the Missouri Compromise in the 1820s. The Missouri Compromise

occurred to preserve the balance of free and slave states. The compromise was passed in 1820. It

was effective temporarily at keeping the tensions between the Southerners and the Union not

super high. The Missouri Compromise, however, did not last too long. The compromise was

eventually repealed by the Kansas-Nebraska Act thirty years later. Its effect did put a dent in the

situation during the time period, but would not last long enough to have major effects on the

events to come.

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