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Major events that increased the sectional tensions that ultimately led Civil war 1848-1860

There are different events that caused the emergency of the civil war in 1848-1860. History records that slavery was among the major causes of the civil war. Some of the civilians advocated for slavery while others were against it. Thus, as a result of slavery the country split into two groups. As a result of this, the groups had different interest during the formation of the constitution over issues such as the establishment of a state-sanctioned religion, the right to bear arms and most important the issue on slavery.

The southerners and northerners had different arguments on the group that should make laws regarding slavery. At the first stages, the southerners maintained the majority in the House of Representatives. As time went by the northerners had greatly improved in trade thus; they required more representation in the House of Representatives. The aim of the southerners was to extend slavery to higher heights because they believed it was a good act. By so doing, they would fulfill their urge for popular sovereignty. When they were in the senate they tactfully said that the senate had the right to make all the laws. This is because they wanted to make laws in their favor regarding slavery.

As more population increased in the north, the population in south remained stagnant. The north manufactured goods, and they required market. And the southern part was their main market. Thus, the northerners wanted the government to impose tariffs on the imported goods to ensure that they got a wide market from the southerners. The northerners depended upon the government to help them solve their problems which included competition, immigration, and population. As a result, the two groups disagreed on different issues.

In the first presidential election, John Quincy Adams won the election, and he represented the northerners. Four years later Jackson who represented the southerners won the election. During President Jackson’s reign, the nullification crisis began. The tariffs that were imposed by the government for the generation of revenue were a factor that led to emergency of the civil war. The main source of capital that the northerners obtained was through imposition of tariffs and the southerners were not happy about this. They tried all means to oppose the imposition of tariffs. On the other hand, the government increased the tariffs so as to obtain more revenue.

The different groups wanted a person who could lead them and favor their rights especially the northerners. The country continued forming different groups because of the difference in ideologies. The western group came in, and they had their own interest hence continued disagreement. Thus, there was fear and hatred among the different groups. Each of the groups pushed for their rights in the federal government. The west pushed for a central bank in the federal government. They urged that the central bank would control the inflation rate. They also said that the central bank would create funds in the form of loans hence increase of revenue on the government part. The disparity in ownership of wealth between the southerners and northerners fueled the civil war. The southerners saw expansion of government as a problem while the people from the north and west supported a large government this lead to the emergence of the civil war.