Southern Political Strategies 1850s: Road to Civil War
The South's Gamble: Strategies for Preserving Slavery and Power The 1850s witnessed a dramatic escalation of tensions between the North and South, culminating in the Civil War. Understanding this turbulent period requires examining the complex political strategies employed by Southern leaders to protect and expand the institution of slavery, which they viewed as integral to their economic and social order. These strategies, while achieving short-term gains, ultimately proved destabilizing and hastened the nation's descent into conflict....