Simone Lawson
The South's opposition to the US Constitution was largely driven by the issue of slavery. While the Constitution did not explicitly mention slavery, it included clauses that protected the institution, such as the Three-Fifths Compromise, which increased Southern representation in Congress based on their slave populations, and a 20-year ban on restricting the Atlantic slave trade. Southern states feared that Northern-dominated Congress would pass legislation detrimental to their economy, which relied heavily on raw materials and the labour of enslaved people. Additionally, Southerners advocated for states' rights and a weak federal government, and when anti-slavery Republican Abraham Lincoln was elected president in 1860, they felt that secession was their only option to protect their way of life.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Loss of state sovereignty | The South wanted to retain the power to cancel the agreement to join the new nation |
| Direct taxation | The South was against direct taxation |
| Discrimination in navigation legislation | The South was against discrimination in navigation legislation |
| No bill of rights | The South wanted a bill of rights |
| Pro-slavery | The South wanted to protect slavery |
| Economic disparity | The South's economy was stalling while the North's was progressing |
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What You'll Learn
The Constitution's failure to protect slavery
The Three-Fifths Compromise
The Three-Fifths Compromise was a contentious aspect of the Constitution that impacted slavery. This compromise stated that three-fifths of a state's slave population would be considered when apportioning representation, giving Southern states greater representation in the House of Representatives and the Electoral College. While this compromise provided some protection for slavery, it was a source of ongoing tension and was viewed by some as a compromise that strengthened the power of slave-holding states.
The Atlantic Slave Trade and the Fugitive Slave Clause
The Constitution's handling of the Atlantic slave trade and the fugitive slave clause were also points of contention. While the Constitution prohibited Congress from banning the importation of slaves for 20 years, it did not explicitly protect the practice. This compromise was reached to ensure the support of Southern delegates, but it left the issue of slavery unresolved. The fugitive slave clause, which required the return of runaway slaves to their owners, was another source of conflict.
State Sovereignty and the Power to Regulate
The South's concerns extended beyond specific clauses to the broader issues of state sovereignty and the power to regulate slavery. Southern states argued for states' rights and a weak federal government, fearing that a strong central authority could threaten their way of life. They believed that the regulation of slavery should be left to individual states, with the federal government having minimal involvement. This perspective clashed with the growing abolitionist movement in the North, leading to increased tensions and a sense of Southern solidarity in defending slavery.
Economic Concerns and the Missouri Compromise
Economic factors were also intertwined with the issue of slavery. The South, heavily reliant on raw materials, rice, indigo, and tobacco exports, feared that a Northern-dominated Congress could impose export taxes that would damage their economy. The Missouri Compromise of 1820 temporarily eased these concerns by establishing lands west of the Mississippi as slave territories, but it did little to address the underlying economic disparities between the North and the South. As the North's economy flourished, the South felt increasingly threatened, viewing their economic interests as inseparable from the preservation of slavery.
Secession and the Confederate Constitution
Ultimately, the South's dissatisfaction with the Constitution's failure to protect slavery led to secessionist sentiments and actions. Southern states felt that their way of life was under attack, and they no longer believed that the federal government represented their interests. The election of Abraham Lincoln, an anti-slavery Republican, in 1860 further solidified their resolve to secede. The Confederate Constitution that emerged directly addressed the legality of slavery, explicitly stating its protection in the territories. This constitution reflected the South's determination to safeguard slavery as a cornerstone of their society and economy.
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The North's growing abolitionist movement
The North's abolitionist movement gained momentum with the emergence of abolitionist groups, challenging the Southern way of life centred on slavery. The Missouri Compromise of 1820, which established a boundary between slave and free territories, only temporarily eased tensions. The growing divide between the North and South intensified debates over national policies, with the North's economic advancement contrasting with the South's stagnating economy.
The North's abolitionist sentiment was evident in the actions of individuals like John Brown, who led a raid on Harpers Ferry, Virginia, in 1859, confirming Southern fears of a conspiracy to end slavery. The election of Abraham Lincoln, an anti-slavery Republican, as president in 1860 further solidified Southern concerns about the threat to slavery and self-governance.
The North's abolitionist sentiment contributed to the Southern perception of a cultural and economic divide, exacerbating tensions and ultimately leading to the South's secession and the formation of the Confederate States of America. The preservation and expansion of slavery became central to the Southern cause, as reflected in the Confederate Constitution, which directly addressed the legality of slavery.
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Southern fears of economic damage
The Southern states of America were heavily dependent on slavery and the export of raw materials, rice, indigo, and tobacco for their economic prosperity. The Southerners were fearful that a New England-dominated Congress might, through export taxes, severely damage the South's economic life. C. C. Pinckney declared that if Congress had the power to regulate trade, the southern states would be "nothing more than overseers for the Northern States".
The Southern states were also concerned about the issue of slavery. The original thirteen colonies were accustomed to making their own decisions and ignoring rules imposed on them from abroad. During the American Revolution, the founding fathers were forced to compromise with the states to ensure ratification of the Constitution and the establishment of a united country. The original Constitution banned slavery, but Virginia would not accept it, and Massachusetts would not ratify the document without a Bill of Rights. The Southern states were worried that the North, even if united, could not control both branches of the Legislature, and so any attempt to form an abolitionist party would result in utter failure or the total overthrow of the Government.
The North's economic progress, coupled with the South's stalling economy, fuelled resentment and further widened the divide between the two regions. Southerners consistently argued for states' rights and a weak federal government but it was not until the 1850s that they raised the issue of secession. They argued that, having ratified the Constitution and having agreed to join the new nation in the late 1780s, they retained the power to cancel the agreement.
The Southern states were convinced that if the Constitution restricted the slave trade, South Carolina and Georgia would refuse to join the Union. The framers sidestepped the slavery issue, leaving the seeds for future conflict. The three-fifths clause—which counted three-fifths of a state’s slave population in apportioning representation—gave the South extra representation in the House of Representatives and extra votes in the Electoral College. Thomas Jefferson would have lost the election of 1800 if not for the Three-fifths Compromise. The Constitution also prohibited Congress from outlawing the Atlantic slave trade for twenty years and included a fugitive slave clause requiring the return of runaway slaves to their owners.
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Loss of state sovereignty
The issue of state sovereignty was a significant concern for the South, which had long been accustomed to making its own decisions and governing itself with limited interference from Europe. The creation and imposition of a central federal government threatened this autonomy.
The Constitution's establishment of a strong central authority was viewed by some as a potential threat to individual liberties and state sovereignty. George Mason, for instance, advocated for a bill of rights to be included in the Constitution to ensure the protection of individual liberties. This concern was particularly acute in the South, where states feared that their way of life and economic interests were under threat.
The South's economy was heavily dependent on slavery and the export of raw materials, rice, indigo, and tobacco. Southerners consistently argued for states' rights and a weak federal government, and they viewed any attempt to restrict slavery as an attack on their way of life. The North's growing abolitionist movement and economic progress further fuelled Southern resentment and fears that their interests were under threat.
The Southern states' concerns over state sovereignty and their right to govern themselves were key factors in their decision to secede. They believed that the federal government was overreaching and that secession was the only way to protect their interests, including the preservation and expansion of slavery. The Confederate Constitution, which the Southern states adopted, explicitly addressed the legality of slavery and included provisions to protect it.
The debate over state sovereignty and the balance of power between the states and the federal government was a complex and heated issue that played out over several decades, with the South ultimately choosing to secede and form a loose coalition to protect their interests and autonomy.
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The North's economic progress
The North's industrial revolution brought about new technologies and innovations. By 1860, the North had established a robust market economy, with clothing factories in New England, oil production in Pennsylvania, and vast grain production in the Midwest, which not only fed the country but was also exported to Europe. The North's growing railroad network, with approximately 22,000 miles of tracks, facilitated the transportation of goods and passengers, improving commercial opportunities and reducing travel times.
The Homestead Act, which had been opposed by Southerners, was also a contributing factor in the North's economic progress. This Act encouraged the settlement and cultivation of federal land outside the original 13 colonies, which was populated by small farmers who were vehemently opposed to slavery. The construction of the transcontinental railroad, which took a "middle route," further symbolized the exclusion of the South and benefited the North economically.
The North's economic advancements, coupled with the South's stalling economy, exacerbated the tensions between the two regions. The South's economy was heavily dependent on agriculture and the sale of raw materials, rice, indigo, and tobacco, and, most importantly, cotton. Cotton production relied on enslaved labor, and any attempts to abolish slavery were seen as a direct threat to the Southern way of life. As abolitionist movements gained traction in the North, Southerners felt their interests and representation were under attack, leading to increasing polarization and the eventual secession of the Southern states.
The Civil War further widened the economic gap between the North and the South. The Union's advantages in factories, railroads, and manpower put the Confederacy at a great disadvantage, and the destruction caused by the war left the South's industry, agriculture, and infrastructure in ruins.
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Frequently asked questions
The South seceded because they believed that the North meant to take away their right to govern themselves, abolish slavery, and destroy the Southern economy.
The North wanted to abolish slavery. The Southern economy was dependent on slavery, and Southerners argued that slavery was necessary and even a positive good.
The Constitution did not contain the word "slavery" or "slave". Instead, it used the term ""persons held to Service or Labour". It also included the Three-Fifths Clause, which counted three-fifths of a state's slave population when apportioning representation, giving the South extra representation in the House of Representatives and extra votes in the Electoral College.
No, the South wanted to preserve and expand slavery.
The South was suspicious of a central government and argued for states' rights and a weak federal government. They believed that the Constitution represented the work of aristocratic politicians bent on protecting their class interests.
