The legacy of the past: the Missouri Compromise; the Nullification Crisis; southern fears of modernisation; the moving frontier
Long before the Civil War, earlier crises over slavery and states' rights left deep scars on American politics. These unresolved tensions made the eventual conflict far more likely.
Real World
When South Carolina threatened to nullify federal tariff laws in 1832, President Andrew Jackson threatened military force — a standoff that previewed the constitutional clash at the heart of the Civil War thirty years later.
Exam Focus
Treat each crisis as evidence of the same underlying tension; examiners reward answers that trace continuity across events rather than listing them separately.
Essay Framework
Use PEEL to structure every paragraph. Tap each step for guidance and an example.
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