Construct an argumentative essay that discusses the challenges that the expansion of the federal government, the Industrial Revolution, and, most importantly, chattel slavery posed to American freedom and democracy.  Why were these issues so challenging and what did America do to "restore" power to the people? 

It may be helpful to consider the following issues:

• The Northwest Ordinance
• Internal Slave Trade
• Industrialization/Lowell, Massachusetts
• Urbanization
• The Missouri Compromise
• Texas annexation
• The Compromise of 1850
• The Kansas-Nebraska Act
• The Dred Scott Decision
• Gettysburg Address
• Black Codes
• 13^th, 14^th, and 15^th Amendments