Unity in a young nation is important for the nation to grow. Throughout the years several groups within America have separated its people. For example blacks and whites, Indians and Americans, and North and South have all had their differences that have threatened to separate the national unity. Territorial expansion has had negative effects on national unity from 1800-1850. The Indian Removal Act created tension and separation between Native Americans and Americans, the Missouri Compromise separated North and South and the Louisiana Purchase created anger towards the government.
Many settlers were slowly moving westward into Native American land. The area they moved into was densely populated with several different tribes. Many southerners felt they were in the way so in 1830 Andrew Jackson passed the Indian Removal Act which forced Native Americans to move even farther west. Since Native Americans had no say in the government they could not stop the act from passing. Some Native Americans peacefully packed and moved west. But many were outraged at the act. They did not want to give up their land to a government in which they could not vote or even have a voice in. This disagreement led to a separation of Native Americans and Americans and future disputes between the two groups.
The Missouri Compromise originated from Missouri wanting to become a slave state. The North realized that if Missouri became a slave state that there would be a majority of southern states over northern states. Fearing this loss of power the North passed the Missouri Compromise allowing Missouri to become a state but not with slaves because every state below the 36th parallel could have slaves but no new states or northern states could. This separation along the 36th parallel led to the separation of north and south. The compromise defined the line of north and south. This division had a strong negative effect on national unity. Eventually this separation would even lead to a civil war.
The Essay on European contact with native North Americans
On October 12, 1492, the loud words ring across the deck “Land Ho”. After 70 long days at sea a tattered bunch of sea dogs jump down into a small rowboat and work there way ashore. The man in charged is named Christopher Columbus. Have you ever wondered what the impact was on the Native American population, when they first met the insatiable intruders of the European continent? When I ...
America bought a large chunk of land from France known as the Louisiana Purchase. At the time of the purchase America was not in the best financial situation. Many thought the land was an unnecessary buy. This led to lots of anger and resentment towards the government. The people felt the government was not representing them. Therefore slowly separating the people from government evolvement. Although this did not completely separate America it was the beginning of citizens being angered by the policies of the government eventually leading to larger disputes.
In all the territorial expansion taking place in America during 1800-1850 had a negative effect on the unity of the country. The Indian Removal Act, the Missouri Compromise and the Louisiana Purchase all had negative effects on unity. Although large disputes did not suddenly erupt from these events, they definitely foreshadowed larger and more devastating disputes.
