Blundering generation of politicians Flashcards
Topic sentence
Moreover, other historians such as 19th century figure James Buchanan argue that the existence of “irresponsible politicians” was the driving factor in causing the American Civil War.
Evidence 1
During the 20th century many politicians, including Zachary Taylor and Abraham Lincoln made decisions which heightened sectional tensions. Zachary Taylor prevented compromise between the North and the South in 1850. Taylor won the American presidential election in 1848, he was a Southern slave holder, so Southerners expected him to be pro -slave expansion, however this was not the case. Taylor planned to bypass the territorial stage and admit California and New Mexico as free states. This escalated sectional tension because Southerners were concerned that Taylor’s plan would upset the balance between free and slave states which were enforced by the Missouri compromise (there was the same number of free and slave states, to balance the admittance of Missouri, Maine was admitted as a free state. It was also agreed that henceforth, there should be no slavery in the Louisiana Purchase Territory North of latitude 36 – 30.). Southern senator Jefferson Davis (future confederate president) argued “for the first time we are about permanently to destroy the balance of power between sections). Because of Taylor’s plan fist fights occurred between Northern and Southern congresspeople and Jefferson David allegedly challenged an Illinois congressmen to a duel. James Buchanan argues that slavery would have died naturally if it had not been interfered with with irresponsible politicians.
Evidence 2
Additionally, Lincoln’s handling of the issue of Fort Sumter in 1861 escalated sectional tension. Fort Sumter was a Union Fort located near South Carolina, in Confederate seas. The Fort became a symbol of national sovereignty for both the North and the South. The confederacy believed that if they allowed a foreign Fort in their waters that it was a sign of weakness, and Lincoln and the Union were determined to hold onto the Fort. In April 1861, Fort Sumter began to run out of supplies, hence Lincoln had to make a decision wether to resupply the Fort or not. Lincoln decided to resupply the Fort and on 9th April 1861 a small naval expedition and around 500 men left on a relief expedition to Fort Sumter. This placed the confederacy in a difficult position as they had to make a decision of whether to open arms on the union troops heading to Fort Sumter. If they opened fire on the troops, they would be murdering innocent men but if they allowed the troops to resupply Fort Sumter, it would make them appear week. Ultimately historians believe that Lincoln deliberately and cynically manoeuvred the Confederacy into firing the first shots of the civil war
Analysis
This led to the outbreak of civil war because politicians like Lincoln heightened sectional tensions at a time where sectional loyalties had already completely dissolved. This increased them to unprecedented levels. James McPherson argues “in effect he (Lincoln) was telling Jefferson Davis, ‘Heads I win, Tails you lose’ “which emphasises the extreme split between sections and how the USA was on the verge of Civil war.
Counter analysis
However, historians argue that the outbreak of civil war cannot be attributed to politicians, as the disagreement over the issue of slavery between sections would still be ongoing despite politician’s involvements. Schleisinger argues that the factor that motivated the North onto the battlefield was their firm belief that slavery was morally wrong.
Evaluation
To evaluate, the existence of “irresponsible politicians” can be considered as a factor which led America into Civil War. Reckless decisions made by political figures increased sectional tension. Historian Charles Ramdall “If one word or phrase were selected to account for the war . . . It would have to be such a
word as fanaticism, misunderstanding, misrepresentation, or perhaps, politics.”
