The Causes of the Civil War Part One: The Compromise of 1850
Sectionalism Sectionalism (thinking of your region as more important that the nation) was growing stronger and stronger.
Slavery in the Territories Back in 1820, the issue of slavery in the territories was addressed by the Missouri Compromise.
Slavery in the Territories But by 1848, the US added Texas, Oregon, and the Mexican Cession. The Missouri Compromise dealt only with Louisiana.
The slavery issue Slavery had gone from a tough issue in 1820 to an impossible one by 1848. Abolitionists were gaining power. Congress decided to ignore all petitions to end slavery in the 1820’s
Revivals The revivals preached abolition as God’s will. An increase in religious events, known as revivals, increase America’s spiritual awareness. The revivals preached abolition as God’s will.
The Word gets out Abolitionist literature, such as the Liberator, was fueling public anti-slavery emotions.
Slavery is against God’s will! Southerners response Most Southerners ignored the abolitionists as a simple annoyance. Slaves are people too! Free your slaves! La la la. . . Free my people! Slavery is against God’s will!
In 1831, the South would stop ignoring abolitionists. . .
Nat Turner’s Rebellion Nat Turner (a Virginian slave) armed himself and six other slaves, and set out to kill every white person they saw.
Nat Turner’s Rebellion Before Turner and his rebellion was stopped, 60 white southerners were killed. The South could no longer ignore the abolitionists
The Compromise of 1850 After the Mexican War, the issue of slavery in the territories was raised again. Divisions on slavery had grown even more tense.
The Compromise of 1850 Slave States California asked for admission into the Union as a free state, threatening the balance in the Senate. Slave States Free States
Compromise of 1850 The North approved, but the South did not. The South wanted to see slavery allowed in rest of the Mexican Cession
Compromise of 1850 Henry Clay AKA “The Great Compromiser”, came up with a solution. So what happened . . . ????? Compromise Worksheet
FREE The Compromise of 1850 1. California was added as a free state A win for the North FREE
Slave The Compromise of 1850 2. Slavery would be allowed in the Utah and New Mexico Territories Free A win for the South Slave
The Compromise of 1850 3. The slave trade will be banned in Washington, DC. A win for the North FREE
The Compromise of 1850 4. Congress passed a tougher Fugitive Slave Law A win for the South
However. . . All that work would go for nothing in 1854. . .