By the 1850s the Constitution, Originally Framed as an Instrument of National Unity, Had Become a Source of Sectional Discord and Tension and Ultimately Contributed to the Failure of the Union It Had Created

The United States had its first major discord within its own country in 1861, the Civil war between the Union and the Confederacy. This war was brought on due to many reasons, one being our Constitution. This may be strange due to the fact that the nation itself was built upon this Constitution. The statement “By the 1850s the Constitution, originally framed as an instrument of national unity, had become a source of sectional discord and tension and ultimately contributed to the failure of the union it had created” is true.

Document B, written by an anonymous Georgian, states that the Constitution contained all the South could ever ask for. That slavery is recognized and allowed where it stands. The author says that now because of the new states joining the Union and not allowing the Southern men who helped secure that land to bring slaves into them, that it is unconstitutional. The Constitution brought together the North and the South in this manner but then deciding to go against its word essentially makes it a source of discord. In his words “The Union, without a living, vital Constitution, is but a vain and empty name.”

Another document proving this is document D. This document states that it was completely immoral for the Constitution to allow something such as the Fugitive Slave Law to be passed. This was exceptionally bad because it was deemed illegal to enslave men on the coast of Africa in 1807 and the slave law was still passed in 1850. The most important line is this document is “as soon as the Constitution ordains an immoral law, it ordains disunion.” This can be said to be a foreshadowing of the civil war itself.

Shown in document I, President Abraham Lincoln says in this message Congress that the Secessionists have no right to leave the union because then they wouldn’t be considered states. This would mean that when trying to assert “State rights”, they wouldn’t be able to due to the fact that they aren’t states. The Constitution binds all decision...