What Caused the Civil War in 12 Years a Slave?
Introduction
12 Years a Slave, directed by Steve McQueen, is a powerful historical drama that tells the devastating story of Solomon Northup, a free black man who was kidnapped and forced into slavery in the pre-Civil War United States. The film is an adaptation of Northup’s autobiographical memoir, which offers a rare glimpse into the horrors of slavery from a former slave’s perspective.
As the movie unfolds, viewers are taken on a traumatic journey that exposes the cruelties and injustices of slavery, as Solomon fights for his freedom and humanity in the face of unspeakable brutality and exploitation. But what precipitated the Civil War depicted in the film? Were the conflicts and tensions in the country merely a smokescreen for the horrific realities of slavery, or was it a complex blend of social, economic, and political factors that fueled the conflagration?
The Root Causes of Slavery
Slavery in the United States was legal in all states prior to the American Civil War, and it was a deeply ingrained institution that had become an integral part of American society. Slaves were forced to work from dawn to dusk, were brutally punished for even small infractions, and had their families torn apart under the arbitrary whims of plantation owners and overseers.
Contents
The Effects of Slavery on Plantations
The following table highlights some of the key statistics surrounding slavery and its impact on the Southern economy:
| 1832 | 1840 | 1860 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 2,028,768 | 3,198,206 | 3,953,760 |
| Value (million dollars) | $0.9 | $1.4 | $3.2 |
| Crop Output (million kg) | 3,450,000 | 5,350,000 | 7,620,000 |
Slaves played a crucial role in the economic success of many Southern plantations, making it impossible for many agricultural enterprises to function without forced labor. This brutal exploitation fueled the demand for more slaves, leading to millions being transported from Africa or kidnapped from the United States to be sold into this cruel institution.
Tensions and Conflicts Pre-Civil War
While the institution of slavery was at the heart of many tensions and conflicts preceding the Civil War, the movie highlights several other pressing issues that contributed to the crisis. Some notable points of contention include the struggle for states’ rights, disagreements over the definition of "free soil", and concerns about the admission of new slave-holding states into the Union.
• The Constitution’s Ambiguity
- The Constitution did not explicitly address the issue of slavery
- In the late 1840s and early 1850s, debates swirled around the doctrine of states’ rights vs. federal authority on slavery
• States’ Rights and Slavery
- The Northern states argued that the issue of slavery was a Federal responsibility, while the South maintained it was a States’ right
- This split in loyalties created fissures in the United States and heightened tensions
The Compromise of 1850 and the Nebraska-Kansas Act
While tensions mounted, John Calhoun, Zachary Taylor, and Douglas Stephen, among others, brokered a Compromise in 1850 that:
• Protected the existing slave states with slaveholding laws
• Allowed slavery in the territory below the 36’30’ parallel (roughly, the modern Texas border)
However, The Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854 led to further trouble: Kansas and Nebraska voted to either allow or deny slavery within their territories; the "Bleeding Kansas" conflict resulted:
• The pro-slave factions tried to seize Missouri as part of their Territory
• The anti-slave factions countered the effort by establishing a State (Missouri)
- In 1859, tensions escalated to Sacking of Lawrence; Lecompton came
Border States and the Impact on Slaves
In the midst of the conflicts, the position of free black men Solomon Northup (New York) and hundreds of other free black settlers in slave-holding southern border states was often imperiled or captured, forced into Slavery, as they continued their work, often leaving unsuspecting witnesses in both the North.
• The 16th and 17th amendments, the Reconstruction Bill and Reconstruction Amendments, 1866-1879
• Abandoning Lincoln’s Plan Emancipation by William Lloyd Garrison, in Massachusetts and Boston
• Frederick Douglass, escaped into New Bedford, Massachusetts – helped build the Antislavery Movement:
Conclusion – A Conflict of Slaves
Through 12 Years a Slave, the public witnessed Solomon’s courageous tale of resilience within slavery and his unswerving hope for freedom under unimaginable circumstances amidst the backdrop of societal and economic systems_. By exploring the political tensions leading up to and through the Civil War (1861-1865), we can see a direct connection between States’ Rights, the ongoing slave system, and national turmoil.
