Unit 16.1 Slavery in the west Mr. Davis

Responding to Art

The main issue Thomas Jefferson wrote: “In the gloomiest moment of revolutionary war, I never had any [fears] equal to what I feel from this source… We have a wolf by the ears, and we can neither hold him nor safely let him go” Jefferson feared that the “wolf” or issue of slavery would tear the North and South apart. He was correct.

The main questions that Congress faced were the following when it came to Western states being admitted: Should it (congress) prohibit slavery in the territories and later admit them to the Union as free states? Or should it permit slavery in the territories and later admit them as slave states?

The Missouri compromise Missouri first tried to be admitted as a slave state and a crisis broke out. However, the balance of power in the Senate would change and many states believe this to be unfair. In 1819 there were 11 free states and 11 slave states.

With the admission of Missouri to the Union, the South would have a majority. During this time Maine was also applying for statehood. Senator Henry Clay proposed a compromise called the Missouri Compromise.

The compromise allowed Missouri into statehood as a slave state and Maine as a free state, balancing power. Part of the compromise drew an imaginary at the latitude of 36* and longitude 30*. Slavery was permitted in the part of the Louisiana Purchase south of that line and illegal north, except for Missouri.

New western land The Missouri Compromise only applied to the Louisiana Purchase. In 1848, the Mexican War added new land to the West.

The Wilmot Proviso: David Wilmot, a Congressman, stated that slavery should be banned in the lands that were acquired from Mexico. The South was very angered by this and stated that congress has no right to ban slavery in the western territories. The House passed the Wilmot Proviso in 1846, but the Senate defeated it.

Opposing Views Sectionalism: Loyalty to a state or section, rather than as a whole Many Northerners saw the South as a foreign country, where American rights and liberties did not exist. Southern slaveholders believed that slavery should be allowed in any territory, they also demanded that slaves who escaped to the free North had to be returned. One belief that was not extreme was that the Missouri Compromise should extend into the new Mexican territory The other belief was popular sovereignty, meaning people get the power, should decide the new territories status.

Free soil party By 1848 many northerners in both the Democratic party and the Whig party opposed the spreading of slavery. However, because they did not want to lose votes in the South neither side would take a position on the issue of slavery. Antislavery members met in Buffalo, New York and created the Free Soil Party. Their slogan was “Free soil, free speech, free labor, and free men”

Martin Van Buren was nominated as their presidential candidate in 1848 For the first time the issue of slavery was raised in this election. There was three stances: Democrats: Popular sovereignty Whig: Supported slavery (candidate was a slaveholder) Free Soil: Ban on slavery Zachary Taylor of the Whig party won the election.

Need for a new compromise For a long period of time there was no issue of states entering statehood, until California was trying to enter in 1850.

California’s Impact: In 1849 there were an even number of free states and slave states, 15 each to be exact. California wanted to enter as a free state, but the balance of power was threatened again. As a domino effect, Utah, Oregon, and New Mexico were talking about entering as free states. Many people believed that with these states entering, that the south would want to secede (remove themselves from the U.S.) With this crisis congress looked to Henry Clay for a new compromise.

Clay vs. Calhoun: Henry Clay ,who proposed the Missouri Compromise, was nicknamed “The Great Compromiser”. He warned that the nation was going to split again, still 30 years after the Missouri Compromise, he was 73 years old and wanted to have an agreement between the North and South. Calhoun on the opposing side insisted that slavery be allowed in the Western territories. Calhoun also supported that fugitive, or run away slaves, should be returned to their owners, they were considered ‘property’. Calhoun told the Senate “let the states… agree to part in peace”

Webster calls for Unity: Daniel Webster from Massachusetts spoke next and supported Clay’s position. Webster feared that the states could not ‘part in peace’ and it would cause a civil war. Webster believed that slavery was evil, but disunion was much worse.

Compromise of 1850 Calhoun died in 1850 of tuberculous. His last words were “The South! The South!” President Taylor also died in 1850. Millard Fillmore, the new president, supported Clay’s compromise, and an agreement finally was made.

The Compromise of 1850 had five parts: California was to enter as a free state. It divided the rest of the Mexican territory including New Mexico and Utah by popular sovereignty. Ended slave trade in Washington D.C. Strict fugitive slave law. Disputed the border dispute between Texas and Mexico.

Fugitive slave law of 1850 When slaves would run away from the South, to live in the North, they would usually live as free citizens in the North. The Fugitive Slave Law of 1850 required all citizens to help catch runaway slaves. There were even rewards for individuals who would turn slaves in to judges and courts. Because they were required to turn in slaves many northerners believed that they were a part of the slave system