From Compromise to Conflict: The Crisis Unfolds Part 1: The Missouri Compromise

The United States in 1819 By 1819, settlers had formed 7 new states west of the Appalachians. 2. The Northwest Ordinance provided for the formation of new states. This law outlined the steps for statehood and banned slavery north of the Ohio River.

The United States in 1819 3. In 1819, two more western territories had applied for statehood, Alabama and Missouri - both wanted to be SLAVE states. Alabama would be admitted as a slave state Most of Missouri lies North of the Ohio River. The decision would be up to Congress.

The United States in 1819 4. Many felt that Congress did not have the power to decide whether a state should be FREE or SLAVE. They felt the decision should belong to the people of the STATE White Southerners protested the decision. The North had more votes in the House of Reps and they had EQUAL voting power in the Senate Some people talked of secession.

How can this problem be solved?

Outcome of the Missouri Compromise By the time Congress was deciding the issue, Maine had applied for statehood as a FREE state. Missouri would join the Union as a slave state and Maine would join the Union as a free state. This kept the balance between slave states and free states equal.

Outcome of the Missouri Compromise Congress also drew a line across Louisiana Territory at latitude 36/30. North of this line slavery was banned forever. This compromise kept the Union together but it pleased no one.

Wilmot Proviso Missouri Compromise did not apply to the new territory gained from Mexico in 1848. Would this territory allow for slavery??? David Wilmot of Pennsylvania proposed a ban on slavery in all territory that resulted from the Mexican American War This proposal passed in the House but failed in the Senate-so it never passed but…. It aroused great concern in the South and many believed it was an attack on slavery by the North