Question 1
The election of 1860
Despite the division of the American people during the civil war, they all had a common interest which was the elections. The people had different views on the two candidates who were to be chosen. The North was to choose between Bouglas and Lincoln while the South had to choose between John Bell and John Breckinridge. Lincoln won in the elections, and it proved that the North were more united which made them win over the South. When he became the president, Lincoln tried to unite the South and the North where he swore to defend, preserve and protect the government against the aggressors who had sworn to destroy the government (Green, 2011). The difference in ideas and views on leadership caused the separation between the north and the south states. The civil war would be ended since the president would unite the people both from the South and the North.
The election is still important today since it contributed improving the government and the states. Not all free states had joined the United States. After Lincoln had been sworn in, he was able to unite the different states such as Missouri, Virginia, Tennessee, Arkansas, Kentucky and North Carolina. They all joined together, and they made the United States of America. With his government, he was able to promote unity and peace among the people. The Inaugural Address is still recognized in the present as the greatest speech made by President Lincoln which was meant to unite all American people, the black and the white. He said that his main purpose was preserving, defending and protecting the government of America for the welfare of all people. With his government, different welfare programs were established, and they promoted the welfare of all people, despite the discrimination that had existed before then. The North and South states were divided before the elections, but after Lincoln had taken over the office, he was able to unite all America (Green, 2011).
Question 2
Abolition vs. Equality Debate
The abolition debate concerned the migrants’ fear of losing their jobs; the fears was common among the freed slaves as well. The North States had stopped practicing slavery activities and condemned the South who still practiced the act. The North campaigned for equality among all races. The South feared the consequences of equalizing all people since the freed slaves did not have any idea of possession and ownership. With the abolition of slave trade, new immigrants moved in the states, and they offered unskilled labor in the ports and factories (Barkin, 2008). The North States supported the abolition of slavery and giving all people chances to own their own property and work for payment. The South states were against the idea, and with different views in ideas, tension resulted and it triggered the American Civil War. The South believed that there was no way they could be equal to the freed slaves or the immigrants since they were inexperienced and unqualified. They could not support the North and hold on carrying out slavery. The freed slaves had no experience on having their own possessions, and they would cause an influx in the new labor market in the North States.
The South had the most to lose. They were dependent on the slaves, and they did not even allow them to have their own properties. If abolition and equality were to be practiced, it meant the southern member had to carry out all their work which they were not used to and compete in the market with the freed slaves (Barkin, 2008). This explains the reason the south states were against abolition and equality aspects.
References
Barkin, K. (2008). Ordinary Germans, slavery, and the U.S. Civil War. Journal Of African American History, 93(1), 70-79.
Green, M. S. (2011). Lincoln and the election of 1860. Carbondale: Southern Illinois University Press.
