Question

In the early 19th century, Americans sought to resolve their political disputes through compromise, yet by 1860 this no longer seemed possible. Analyze the reasons for this change. Use the documents and your knowledge of the period 1820-1860 in constructing your response.

Answer 1

The primary reason why the US had become so incredibly divided to the point of no return by 1860 was because the US had expanded its territory so dramatically, and it had to be determined whether each new state was to be slave or free--practically dividing the nation in two.