Question of Secession In 1820, Thomas Jefferson, predicted that the issue of slavery could tear the country apart. Abraham Lincoln Member of the anti-slavery Republican Party, Ran against Stephen A. Douglas for the Illinois Senate seat in 1858 Lincoln argued that slavery would fracture the Union Douglas argued the Union could go on forever with both free and slave States

Missouri Compromise of 1820 Missouri asked to join the Union as a slave state This would upset the balance of power in the Senate and give the South a majority. Senator Henry Clay proposed Maine enter as a free state to balance out Missouri entering as a slave state = Missouri Compromise Kept slave & free states equal Mason Dixon Line, latitude 36, 30 N – slavery permitted in Louisiana Purchase south of that line and banned north of the line Henry Clay Author of the Missouri Compromise

Missouri Compromise http://www.phschool.com/curriculum_support/brief_review/us_history/images/unit2_dbq.gif

Wilmot Proviso Northerners afraid of slavery extending into the West David Wilmot Pennsylvania Congressman Called for a law to ban slavery in any of the territory won from Mexico (war in 1848) Southerners were against Wilmot Proviso Stated that Congress had no right to ban slavery in western territories 1846, Result = passed in House; defeated in Senate Question about slavery in the West continued

Opposing Views: South Sectionalism strengthened by Mexican American-War Sectionalism = loyalty to a state or section rather than to the whole country Southerners Supported slavery Slaveholders wanted slavery allowed in territories & demanded that runaway slaves be returned Wanted the North not interfere in the practice of Slavery

Opposing Views: North Many saw South as a foreign country where American rights & liberties did not exist Abolitionists wanted slavery ended throughout the U.S. Moderates = people who didn’t agree with Northerners or Southerners Wanted a little of each with modifications Supported popular sovereignty – allowing voters in new territories to decide for themselves whether or not to allow slavery

California to Enter the Union California wanted to enter Union as a free state 1849 – 15, free states, 15 slave states – California would upset this balance of power in the Senate There was also a chance that Oregon, Utah, & New Mexico might join as free states, tipping the balance of power in favor of the North. The South feared the North was to powerful, many were afraid South would secede from Union Compromise of 1850 helped settle things for the time being

Compromise of 1850 California joined Union as a free state Land from Mexican Cession divided into territories of New Mexico & Utah Voters would decide slavery question (popular sovereignty) Slavery ended in Washington, D.C. Included stricter fugitive slave law of 1850 Senator John C. Calhoun of South Carolina demanded the law or else the South would secede Settled border dispute between Texas & New Mexico Henry Clay proposing Compromise of 1850

Compromise of 1850 http://edusolution.com/myclassroom/classnotes/expansion/1850compromise.jpg

Fugitive Slave Law of 1850 Made it harder for Northerners to ignore the Fugitive Slave Law and required all citizens to help catch runaway slaves You could be fined $1,000 & sentenced to 6 months in jail for letting slaves escape North resented, or hated, the new slave law It made them feel like they were part of the slave system by being forced to capture runaway slaves. It convinced the North that slavery was wrong.

http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/treasures/images/s33a.1.jpg