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Slavery and the West 15.1. The M issouri Compromise. In 1819 Missouri was a territory with 50,000 white residents and 10,000 slaves It applied to become a state Its Constitution would allow for slavery At that time there were 11 slave states and 11 free states. The M issouri Compromise.
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The Missouri Compromise • In 1819 Missouri was a territory with 50,000 white residents and 10,000 slaves • It applied to become a state • Its Constitution would allow for slavery • At that time there were 11 slave states and 11 free states
The Missouri Compromise • A growing # of northerners were trying to restrict or ban slavery • The north and south had very different economies • Both wanted the land to the west for expansion • These all lead to sectionalism
The Missouri Compromise • Clay’s Proposal • Allowed Missouri in as a slave state and Maine in as a free state • This kept the balance between slave and free at 12-12 • Made 36°30’ latitude the line between slave and free territories in the Louisiana Territory • This is the Missouri Compromise of 1820
New Western Lands • The slavery issue was quiet for 25 years • Until Texas and then California and New Mexico came into the picture • These 3 states lead to war with Mexico, but eventually became part of the US • Texas became a slave state before war broke out with Mex.
New Western Lands • Conflicting Views • The Wilmot Proviso said that any land acquired from the war with Mexico would be free territory • Southerners protested • J.C. Calhoun said that Congress had no right to ban or regulate slavery • The Proviso did not become law • No steps had been taken when NM & CA became states concerning slavery
New Western Lands • Free Soil Party • The Election of 1848 saw 2 candidates who did not take a stand on the slavery issue • Anti-slavery voters from both the Whig Party and the Democrat (Democratic-Republicans) Party left and formed their own Free-Soil Party • Free Soil, Free Speech, Free Men, was their slogan • They endorsed the Wilmot Proviso and nominated Martin Van Buren for President • Only received 14% of the vote, but some members won seats in congress
New Western Lands • California • Zachary Taylor won the Presidency in 1848 and urged both New Mexico and California to apply for statehood • Wanted to settle the slavery issue there quickly • If CA, NM, OR, & UT all became free states the south would be badly outnumbered – no more balance • The south wanted a law that forced people to return fugitive slave • The north wanted to ban slavery in Washington DC
A New Compromise • Henry Clay made a plan to settle the issues dividing Congress • CA a free state • NM could decide for itself free or slave • No sale of slaves in DC, but could own them • Stronger fugitive slave law • Border dispute between NM and TX would be in NM favor • JC Calhoun worried that if CA became a free state the south would have to leave the Union
A New Compromise • JC Calhoun worried that if CA became a free state the south would have to leave the Union • Daniel Webster (great orator) supported the plan • thought that the anti-slavery people had little to worry about • The geography wouldn’t allow for plantations • The most important thing was to preserve the Union
A New Compromise • The Compromise of 1850 • All of Clay’s plan did not pass • Different people didn’t like different parts • Pres. Taylor threatened force if the south tried to secede • President Taylor died • Pres. Millard Fillmore wanted a compromise
A New Compromise • The Compromise of 1850 • StephenDouglas • Put each issue of Clay’s plan into separate bills to be voted on • Pres. Fillmore convinced some Whigs to abstain from voting allowing the 5 points of the plan to pass • This is known as the Compromise of 1850 • The pres. said this was a fine plan • The Civil War would prove him wrong
