Civil War Dbq Essay

The United States Constitution was established to provide basic rights and a government for the people. Much blood was shed, along with many casualties in the American Revolution to insure Americans could implement the policies and powers of the Constitution. In the election of 1860, Abraham Lincoln was elected President of the United States; however, his political views on slavery were not welcomed in the South. Consequently, Lincoln’s election sparked panic for the South knowing that he would undermine slavery. In order to insure that slavery continued, Southern states attempted to make two Constitutional provisions; consequently, they were denied. The Southern States ultimately dissociated from the Union which led to succession. The combination of the succession of Southern states along with territorial disputes prompted sectional discord throughout.

Many other states followed forming the Confederacy. Document Seven describes a message to Congress by Lincoln. He states that the southern states have created a clever deception, that states could peacefully withdraw from the Union without their consent. He goes on to say that many of the states succeeding have never been a state outside of the Union. Thus by them asserting a claim of state rights, without never being a state outside the Union is blasphemy and is just another attempt to destroy the Union. Legally, they were able to leave the Union peacefully due to one of the clauses of the Constitution. However, many believe it was a hoax by the South, just to continue slavery. Succession ultimately caused discord between the Union and the Confederacy, which prompted the Civil