The Challenges of Growth

1. The Challenges of Growth Chapter 11, Section 4

2. Growing Population • Early 1800’s the flow of immigrants to the West became a flood. • As areas grew, many applied to become states • 1792-1819 eight states joined the Union: • Kentucky, Tennessee, Ohio, Louisiana, Indiana, Mississippi, Illinois, Alabama

3. Slave and Free States • 1819: nation consisted of 11 slave states and 11 free states • Problem: Missouri had been seeking admission as a slave state since 1817 • Northerners reacted strongly • Adding another slave state would upset the balance in the Senate. Slave states would be more powerful in the Senate.

4. Upset Balance • Each State has how many Senators? • 2 Senators each so adding 2 senators to a slave states makes it so the slave states will have 2 more votes in the Senate • 1819 New York representative proposed that Missouri be admitted as a slave state • However, once it was admitted no more slaves could be brought into it.

5. Missouri • The Bill passed the House of Representatives, but failed in the Senate • Southern Senators feared that slavery itself-the South’s economic well-being-was being threatened

6. Missouri Compromise of 1820 • In the next session of Congress, Maine applied for admission to the Union. • Unlike Missouri, Maine prohibited slavery. • Admission of a slave state and a free state would maintain the balance in the Senate

7. Compromise Details • Maine admitted as a free state • Missouri admitted as a slave state • NO slavery north of the southern border of Missouri in the Louisiana Territory • Fugitive Slave Law: Gave southern owners right to pursue escaped slaves into the free states and return them to slavery

8. Continuing Problem • Missouri Compromise revealed a deep division • White southerners were not happy that Congress had given itself the right to make laws about slavery • Northerners were not happy that slavery had been allowed to expand to another state. • Lose-Lose situation for Congress