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Question 1

The two-party system in America politics has a long history that can be traced back to the 1790s. According to the available historic findings, George Washington, the first president of the United States of America believed that political parties were detrimental to the sustainability of America and needed to be eliminated. However, during his term in office, a political rivalry emerged between the federalist and anti-federalist (Stobaugh 44).

According to the available literature, the disagreements between the two political groups were grounded on foreign policy, economy and the nature of the government. In actuality, disagreements about the nature of the government emerged after the revolution and escalated significantly throughout the 1790s. In particular, the political rivalry was shaped by the arguments of Thomas Jefferson, anti-federalist and Alexander Hamilton, a federalist (Stobaugh 44).

Alexander Hamilton preferred the British imperial form of government comprising of a central government, strong states’ political representatives, financial institutions, treasury, and a national military. Jefferson, on the other hand, preferred state governments and legislation to a central government. To him, a national army and central treasury would accord the central government with excessive power that would subject the finance-driven economy to gambling (Stobaugh 45).

In an economic context, Hamilton argued for the establishment of a national bank, a central government with the power to regulate tax and the use of paper money across the states. However, the anti-federalist led by Jefferson felt that such measures would erode states’ rights and benefit the financial-driven northern states at the expense of the agricultural-driven southern states (Stobaugh 45).

The origin of the two-party system was also fueled by disagreements on foreign policy. Hamilton advocated for close ties with the British as a means of achieving economic prosperity while Jefferson saw the move as a threat to their independence. The Federalist Party ended in 1800 when Jefferson became the president of a Democratic-Republican Party, beating John Adams of the Federalist Party. Nonetheless, this decade of mistrust, profound arguments and establishment of factional newspapers marked the origin of the two-party system in America politics (Stobaugh 46).

Question 2

Throughout the 19th century, the United States witnessed rapid economic and territorial growth, emerging as a world production center. The westward expansion of United States was kicked off by President Thomas Jefferson when he purchased Louisiana in 1803. He also initiated the purchase of Florida from Spain, an initiative that was accomplished by president James Monroe in 1819. After reaffirming their independence in the 1812 war, the Americans developed a sense of pride, nationalism, and optimism that encouraged the expansion across borders (Stobaugh 47).

The demand for the admission of Texas in the union increased significantly after Mexico gained independence from Spain. Subsequently, Mexico passed a law in 1830, prohibiting U.S citizens from immigrating into Texas. After Texas become independent in 1836, its leaders sought to join the union, a process that was finalized in 1845 (Stobaugh 49).

During the same year, the idea of manifest destiny was coined, creating the need for the U.S to expand westward towards the Pacific Ocean. The religious empowerment experienced during the second awakening provided an incentive for the growth towards the west. It created the idea that the U.S was a noble nation blessed by God and that native Americans were heathens. As such, American missionary spread across the Mississippi river to spread Christianity (Stobaugh 52).

The expansion across the Mississippi River was also driven by the need for land that could be used for agriculture. A defining feature of the manifest destiny was the American racial and cultural superiority. Hispanics and Native Americans were perceived to be uncivilized and inferior. This encouraged further expansion and by the end of 1850, the land between the Pacific and Atlantic ocean was under the control of U.S (Stobaugh 57).

The issues of morality, patriotism, race, money, and religion resulted in the war with Mexico that led to the addition of the U.S territory. However, it also led to the brutal mistreatment and dislocation of Hispanic and Native Americans among other non-European groups. The white Americans benefited from land and trade that contributed significantly to their superiority over others. The territorial expansion of U.S also introduced the debate on slavery that led to the civil war (Stobaugh 60).

Question 3

The origin of the American civil war of 1860 can be traced back in 1803 after the purchase of Louisiana. According to the available historic finding, Congress was forced to develop a policy to facilitate the growth of slavery towards the western territories. Subsequently, Missouri made an application to the Congress seeking to be recognized as a slave state. However, Missouri was accepted as a slave state while Maine was accepted as a free slave state order to ensure congressional balance. The Missouri compromise led to the separation of the south from the north along 360 30’ as a slave and free slave states, an idea that was criticized by Thomas Jefferson (Stobaugh 62).

Nat Turner, a slave, triggered a rebellion that intensified across plantation in Virginia in 1831. The rebellion lasted for two days leading to the killing of nearly 60 white Americans. 55 slaves were executed for the killings while over 200 slaves were executed without trial. As a consequence of this event, the Virginia legislators reacted by limiting the civil rights accorded to slaves during that period such as education (Stobaugh 63).

In 1846 and following the end of the American-Mexican war, the Wilmot Proviso legislation was proposed. The legislation aimed at outlawing slavery in all U.S territories stretching from southwest to California. Although the legislation was not passed by Congress, the controversies surrounding it led to the debate on secession (Stobaugh 63).

The 1850 compromise was another significant event in the history of the American civil war. The accord that was pioneered by senators Douglas and Clay led to the admission of California as a slave-free state. However, it failed to control slavery along the Mexican Cession. This led to the return of slaves who had escaped from the south to the north (Stobaugh 64).

In 1854, the Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854 was enacted leading to the overturning of the Missouri Compromise. As such, settlers in the two states were allowed to make their decision on whether to accept slavery or not through a popular vote. The two states endorsed anti-slavery laws after a long period of bloodshed (Stobaugh 64).

After Abraham Lincoln was elected as president in 1860 on a Republican ticket, the tension on anti-slavery intensified in many southern states. This led to the secession of South Carolina followed by other six states in 1861 hence the beginning of the civil war.

Works cited

Stobaugh, James P. American History: Observations & Assessments from Early Settlement to Today. Green Forest, Ark: Master Books, 2012.