Question

To what extent was westward expansion responsible for increasing sectional conflict? Explain your answer.

Answer 1

Westward expansion lead to increasing sectional conflict because Northerners and Southerners continued to fight over the expansion of slavery.

Further Explanation:

During the Antebellum Era (1820-1860) America was expanding rapidly. The American government gained land through treaties, purchases, and wars fought with other countries. Even though this was positive in the sense that the US was getting larger, it did cause significant problems. The problem with these new territories who wanted to become states was whether or not they would allow the institution of slavery to exist.

This was initially solved by the Missouri Compromise (Compromise of 1820). However, this was not a long term solution. As the US added territories like California and Utah the Missouri Compromise was replaced by the Compromise of 1850. This law caused even more problems between the North and South due to the stricter Fugitive Slave Act included in this compromise.

Tensions came to a boiling point in Kansas after the Kansas Nebraska Act allowed citizens to vote on whether slavery would exist in their state. Known as "Bleeding Kansas" fighting between pro-slavery and anti-slavery resulted in death and destruction of towns like Lawrence.

Overall, westward expansion played a huge role in increasing tensions that ultimately lead to the American Civil War.

Learn More:

Fugitive Slave Act- brainly.com/question/229816

Bleeding Kansas- brainly.com/question/1663050

Key Details:

Topic: American History, Westward Expansion, Slavery

Grade Level: 7-12

Keywords: Westward Expansion, Missouri Compromise, Compromise of 1850, slavery, Bleeding Kansas

Answer 2

The expansion made the issue of slavery a bigger issue as it expanded slavery into the western territories. This brought about a lot of conflict. It even was an issue in congress. The north didn’t need slavery due to the industrial revolution, where as the south was still using slavery as a way to keep up their plantations.