Political disputes both local and international are common happenings around the world. However, it is important find appropriate ways of solving such disputes so as to ensure stability of a country. US is one of the countries which has experienced numerous political disputes both in the ancient and modern days. In the early 19th century most political disputes in the US were resolved through compromise. Most of the political disputes in the US took place between took place between 182-1860 (Parrish, 2001). Although in the early stages these disputes could be resolved through compromise, it is essential to note that some of the disputes were comprised of sensitive social matters of slavery, political leaders and successions. In the early days when little development on rights had been achieved, solving these political disputes through comprise was considered the best option and it worked perfectly then. However, the compromise resolution could not work anymore due to the increased complicated nature of the US society the entire globe (McKee, Foster, Mitchell, Palmer, Richardson, Young & Vogt, 1995).
Slavery is as political dispute was considered a serious case which not be compromised with increased right sensitivity within the society. The main disputing point on slavery was that some part of America considered it wrong while others still believed it was right. The Northerners maintained the opinion against slavery terming it as a major violation of human rights and indication that the Northern part of America had become sensitive to rights (Trentmann, 1998). On the other hand the southerners fully supported slavery terming it a business towards cheap labor. Based on this wide difference between the two areas, it is clear that compromise was impossible as every side maintained its stand (Bolton, 1998). Northerners and other who were against slavery pushed for a quick end to slavery, terming the activity as being against God’s laws. In addition to this they felt slavery had massive negative effects on the social lives of the US citizens. Slavery was also considered by the Northerners and those against as a major blow to smooth political operation as it led hatred within the US. Southerners on the side maintained the fact that slavery was a necessity and could hardly do without it. This is because they used slaves in their main economic activity of farming and ending slavery will reduce their access to labor (Nichols & Boyd, 1928). The difference on stand and ideology on slavery could not allow any element of compromise resolution.
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Political differences from leaders made it difficult to deploy comprise on any dispute resolution. This is because every leader had different personal opinion or actively defended the stand taken the region. Leaders like President Lincoln never supported slavery and fought hard to abolish it. However, this was not the stand taken by all leaders as some political leaders turned the argument into the southern succession (Roark, 2006). This led to a big stand off as leaders from the south felt abolishing slavery would lead an economic blow due lack of labor. Political stands in US were taken based on the interest and ideas held by the leaders, in addition to this no leaders were ready let go, change mind or take a soft stand on an issue or matter affecting his region. Due to the hard stands it’s clear that compromise could no longer help in solving any disputes in the US (Nichols & Boyd, 1928).
Succession of the southern states made it impossible for any compromise to succeed in any dispute situation in the US. The difference in ideologies between the southerners and the northerners let hostile conditions among the two regions which could allow them understanding anything from each other on the disputing issue. Based on the above analysis, it is clear that compromise could no longer solve political disputes in the US.
- Bolton, S. C. (1998). Arkansas, 1800 – 1860: Remote and restless. Fayetteville, Ark: Univ. of Arkansas Press.
- McKee, J. O., Foster, V., Mitchell, D. J., Palmer, J. J., Richardson, T. J., Young, S., & Vogt, D. C. (1995). Mississippi: A portrait of an american state. Montgomery, AL: Clairmont Press, P.O. Box 11743.
- Nichols, R. F., & Boyd, J. P. (1928). Syllabus for the social and economic history of the United States. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press.
- Parrish, W. E. (2001). 1860 to 1875. Columbia, Mo. [u.a.: Univ. of Missouri Press.
- Roark, J. L. (2006). The American promise: A compact history. New York: Bedford/St. Martin’s.
- Trentmann, F (1998). Political Culture and Political Economy: Interest, Ideology and Free Trade Review of International Political Economy, Vol. 5, No. 2 (Summer, 1998), pp. 217-251
