How the Fugitive Slave Act lead to tension in the North and South

     The fugitive slave act had a significant amount of influence on the increasing tension especially in the north and south. The fugitive slave act required citizens to capture and return any runaway slaves. This not only angered the northern abolitionists but also northern citizens who were now being forced to show support of slavery. This act was one of several reasons and causes of the civil war.
     This act also left a lot of people often confused and questioning themselves. While this law legally required people to turn in runaway slaves, they knew it was morally wrong. If someone was caught helping a runaway slave they could be fined or imprisoned as well. This left several people in the north both angry and confused at the same time. Northerners were now being forced to make a choice between their morals and what the law said. If they assisted a runaway slave they would be fined or imprisoned. If they turned a runaway slave in they would most likely be going against their moral beliefs and values.
     From this act, the north and south experienced even more tension. It lead to several protests and violent acts. The southerners were completely on board with the fugitive slave act.  The northerners saw this as the federal government  stepping in on independent states and ultimately taking away states rights. However, several of the northern citizens fought back at the fugitive slave act by passing personal liberty laws. These laws ultimately nullified the fugitive slave act.  As a result, this allowed the state to arrest slave catchers for kidnapping runaway slaves.

American Renaissance Artwork

     American Renaissance artwork has had a tremendous influence on America. Some of the pieces of work created during this time changed a lot of views on artwork.  Personally, one of my favorite pieces of art during this period was created by Albert Bierstadt. My favorite piece of work by Bierstadt is called " Among the Sierra Nevada Mountains". This piece really makes me think and process the beauty of it.  The way that he blends in the different features is very calming and peaceful. Every time that I look at this painting it calms me down.
      When I look at this piece of work it makes me think about all of the wonders that happen in the world. Bierstadt evokes several emotions in this artwork and this heavily defines the time period. Another idea that I think of when looking at this painting, is what could be beyond the clouds in the painting. Romanticism and its effects on people during the time plays a huge role in this painting as well.  Romanticism inspired people in several different ways which evoked a numerous amount of emotions in people around America and the world.

Identifying the Influences of Colonial America on America Today
By: Kourtney Steppe

Looking back, today we as Americans can see that we have gotten several social, economical, and political attributes from the New England, MidAtlantic, and Southern Colonies.  Although they are not exactly the same, they are pretty similar.  From the New England colony, the most famous is the puritan work ethic, which today we call our american work ethic.  They believed that the harder they worked the more they looked like the chosen one by God. Today, we believe that the harder we work the more successful or better we will look to our neighbors and the public. As mentioned before, the modified version of the puritan work ethic is what we call our American work ethic today.  We also base our political decisions and reasoning just like them as well.  They were a theocracy and they based all of their decisions on their religion and all of the high authorities were religious leaders.  However, today we are a little different. We are somewhat biased towards religion in politics but politicians are not required to be religious leaders.  For example, if someone were to run for president and were atheist, they would have a very low chance at winning the campaign against someone who was under a religion. From the MidAtlantic colony, we get some of our social reasoning.  They had a very laid back religious view.  There was a freedom of religion similar to how America is today. As Americans, a majority of people are under some form of Christianity but it is not required nor forced on anyone.  The southern colony on the other hand is where we get some of our economical reasoning.  The southerners believed in slavery and hard labor.  They needed people to work in their fields and on their plantations to tend to their cash crops which were their source of income. Although today we do not practice slavery or look highly upon it, we do make money off of crops and essential items. Tied all together, we can see how colonial america did leave an impact on our society today.  Whether its economical, social, or political, colonial america did have an influence on what we know and love as the new America today.    

Sources:
United States History Text Book  By Pearson