Fought for European supremacy, and treated weaker powers poorly.
In the U.S. the highest levels of government are the President (including Cabinet members), Supreme Court, and the Senate & Speaker of the House (Congress).
Answer:
Well initially the Compromise of 1850 appeased both North and South enough to keep them from physically fighting each other, but of course this did not last for long, since no compromise was ultimately able to avert the Civil War.
