The Union Family: Nancy & Sam

Prior to marriage with Sam, Nancy had some concerns. While dating neither was faithful to each other and had a history of causing abusive relationships. Still, he was the most familiar mate; he even helped her get away from Brian. Her father Alex convinced Nancy that this marriage of convenience was the best for her. One day she would have more freedom, opportunities, and wealth for marrying, using, and later reforming Sam. Nancy and Sam agreed on one rule. Sam could do as he pleased, without Nancy’s interference, in the backyard den. The marriage had its ups and down (Sam kept his mistress against her will, while Nancy gradually ended her extramarital affair), but they were always willing to compromise.

Then Nancy had a baby, her 31st child named Cali. Sam was against having another child, and wanted to put Cali up for adoption. Sam agreed to keep Cali for the good of the Union family, however, any time one of the children took without asking from his den, they had to return his property. A deal was a deal.

Things only became worse. Sam brought his mistress around town to new restaurants, even bringing her to meet their new friends Ken and Nelly. Nancy did not like this as Sam could do as he pleased in the den, but not outside it. He had to obey her rules outside the den. She had second thoughts about the original rule. Instead of getting better, Sam got worse in her eyes.

Later that night she screamed at her husband. Listen, we have a failure to communicate- you must have jumped outside your body, you know you can’t bring your mistress outside the den. Don’t you have manners- my friends told me not to marry a country boy! Here is how its going to go down- I don’t need you. I make more money than you; I own factories and even own more farms than you. I even share my rails and steamboat with you! If I hear about you again with the mistress in public, I am going to ruin you. But you ain’t ever leaving me! You will change!

Sam shot back- I’m the head of the house, without my farm, you would not be rich. I don’t need to listen to your rules. My mistress makes me happy and is the only source of my success, which Jefferson said I’m entitled to. You knew I always had a mistress; if I want to introduce her to new friends, too bad. She belongs to me. You’re a hypocrite; you don’t believe in equality either and your workers live in urban ghettoes.

Nancy replied, but I don’t force my workers and use their bodies for profit. It’s their chance at a better life. I know what you do to your mistress’s children- you can’t get one over an Oberlin graduate, country boy.

Later that week, Nancy invited her friends Harriet, Frederick, and Charles; and Sam invited his boys Taney, Preston, Hinton (who secretly no longer liked Sam), and Stephen. Nancy and Sam realized that they hated the others’ friends. To keep the story brief, over dinner, the group ate less, and argued more, eventually leading to a breakdown that involved the police coming later that night to arrest John (a late un-welcomed guest invited by Frederick). Outside the house, one heard shouts of sin, bully, slavery, wage slavery, Judas, and Republican. Taney even said that Sam could bring his mistress anywhere he wanted, even into the house.

Sam wanted a divorce. He thought Nancy wanted to ruin his livelihood. He no longer trusted her and he though they could never agree again. The more Nancy said she knew what was best, the more he feared.

After listening to both sides at the divorce proceeding (Nancy refused to accept the divorce), Judge Abe made his decision. He would NOT accept the divorce under any circumstances. He said to Sam: You ain’t goin’- real talk! The Union family must stay together- the family prospered for so many years together and the future is even brighter. The fate of the mistress concerned Abe. She was forced against her will. Yet, he sometimes thought she could not, if ever free, live in the same town as the Union family. Abe ruled that Sam could keep his mistress only in the den as Sam was needed for the Union family’s future.

Still, Sam said to forget it; they were divorced. He was taking his things out of the house and putting them in his den. Nancy said: if I have to hurt you for you to learn, then so be it. But you are not leaving!

Why did Sam’s relationship with Nancy break down?

Question:

a. Why did the north & south break up? Was slavery a cause? If so, primary?