Literature published during the time only pitched the North and the South against each other by exposing the disadvantages of slavery and the moral wrong. Fence sitters on the issue of slavery, along with many minds in Europe, were turned against the South. The Panic of 1857 gave the South confidence it needed to secede, as it felt that the North was dependent on its business and cotton in order to prosper. Likewise, the election of Lincoln, who was against the expansion of slavery, and the execution of John Brown did nothing to appease the South or North during this period. Both sides were torn apart and had reasons to despise the other. With Lincoln’s final, wise decision to turn down the Crittenden Compromise, the North and South would enter the bloodiest conflict in American
Literature published during the time only pitched the North and the South against each other by exposing the disadvantages of slavery and the moral wrong. Fence sitters on the issue of slavery, along with many minds in Europe, were turned against the South. The Panic of 1857 gave the South confidence it needed to secede, as it felt that the North was dependent on its business and cotton in order to prosper. Likewise, the election of Lincoln, who was against the expansion of slavery, and the execution of John Brown did nothing to appease the South or North during this period. Both sides were torn apart and had reasons to despise the other. With Lincoln’s final, wise decision to turn down the Crittenden Compromise, the North and South would enter the bloodiest conflict in American