Question

The great economic and social divisions between the North and South in the first half of the 1800s eventually led to the Civil War. During those prewar years, the North industrialized, urbanized, and became more reliant on wage labor. In contrast, the South remained a rural, agricultural society that focused on slavery to harvest cash crops like cotton and tobacco. Historians have often said that due to the huge differences between the two regions, the Civil War was inevitable. What do you think could have been done, if anything, to prevent the war? Also consider the issue of slavery, which became so central to the disagreements between the North and South. Could simple compromise or political debate between the two sides have eventually ended slavery without a war? Be sure to point to evidence from throughout this unit or that you have found on your own that supports your viewpoint.

Answer 1

I think war is still inevitable because the only source of income in the South is plantations that are run by slave owners who used slaves. Also political debates are happening even before the Civil War whether to abolish slavery or not. Also a single compromise would not be enough to prevent such war and it would make one side to bend to the wants of the other to prevent such conflict.

Answer 2

I believe a compromise would have been unlikely to solve everything, and therefore, the war was most likely inevitable. The South would have been unwilling to give up slavery as their whole economic system depended on it. Moreover, political compromise would have been difficult as there was a balance of power in government between the two regions. Finally, changing the behaviour of either region would have been complicated, as they were both proud of their lifestyle and traditions.