1. The Slavery Issue in the west
Chapter 16

2. Chapter 16.1 Topics The Missouri Compromise The Wilmot Proviso
Sectionalism
Free Soil Party
Compromise of 1850
Fugitive Slave Law of 1850

3. The Missouri Compromise
Missouri wanted to become a state-but it would disrupt the balance of slave and free states
Maine had applied for statehood, allowing Henry Clay to propose his Missouri Compromise
Missouri would be a slave state
Maine would be a free state

4. Louisiana Purchase

5. 36°30' latitude line: Allowed slavery south with the exception of Missouri in the Louisiana purchase area

6. New Lands in the west new slave/free state problems

7. Example: Loyalty to Michigan, but not to the United States
Sectionalism
Sectionalism: is loyalty to a state or section, rather than to the country as a whole
Example: Loyalty to Michigan, but not to the United States

8. Opposing views

9. Popular sovereignty
Voters in a new territory would decide whether or not their territory would become a slave or a free territory.
Slaves were not entitled to a vote

10. Free Soil Party
Slavery brought about the creation of the Free Soil Party- Northern Democrats and Whig party members did not want slavery to spread
Speaking out may mean they would lose votes in the south
Feared slavery would become an issue that would
force the nation to divide
Antislavery members from both parties created the Free Soil Party in 1848
“Free soil, free speech, free labor, and free men”
Their goal was to prevent slavery from expanding to the Western Territories

11. Free Soil party
“Free Soilers” nominated former President Martin Van Buren
as their candidate for the 1848 Presidential election
Lewis Cass (Michigan!)
Zachary Taylor; Mexican War Hero
Zachary Taylor elected because southern slave owners
assumed as a slave owner, he would support their cause
Free Soil Party members did win several seats in Congress, proving that slavery was no longer a minor issue

12. Review The main purpose of the Missouri Compromise was
a) to abolish slavery in all of the Louisiana Purchase.
b) to allow slavery in all of the Louisiana Purchase.
c) to keep the Union from splitting.
d) to keep slavery out of the Mexican Cession.
People who favored popular sovereignty argued that
a) voters in a new territory should decide whether to allow slavery there.
b) the Missouri Compromise line should be extended across the Mexican Cession.
c) slavery should be banned completely everywhere in the country.
d) slavery should be allowed everywhere in the country.

13. Answer

14. A New compromise
With California now wanting admission as a free state as part of the Union (United States), the balance of free and slave states was put in jeopardy

15. California requests statehood
Fear of California’s admittance would lead to Oregon, Utah, and New Mexico joining as free states as well
Why would the south be upset with this?
Imbalance of power in Congress
Southern States could be outvoted in the Senate

16. Clay vs Calhoun
Senator John C. Calhoun refused any compromise because he believed slavery was the right of the Southern States
“let the states…agree to part in peace. If you are unwilling that we should part in peace, tell us so, and we shall know what to do.”
Henry Clay- Desperately wanted the North and South to reach an agreement rather than have the South secede from the Union
Secede: to formally remove oneself from a union, group, or alliance

17. Opinions

18. The Compromise of 1850 Fugitive Slave Law of 1850
California Admitted as a Free State
Fugitive Slave Law of 1850
Popular Sovereignty in New Mexico & Utah
Slave Trade Ban in Washington D.C
Texas/New Mexico Border Dispute Settled

19. Compromise of 1850

20. The fugitive slave law of 1850
The Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 stated:
1. All citizens must help catch runaway slaves.
2. People who let fugitives escape could be fined $1,000 and jailed.
3. Special courts would handle cases of runaways. There would be no jury trials. Judges would receive $10 for sending an accused runaway to the South and $5 for setting someone free.

21. Response to the fugitive slave act
1. Some judges sent African Americans to the South whether or not they were runaways.
2. The act enraged antislavery northerners. It made them feel as if they were part of the slave system.
3. Tensions remained high because neither side got what it wanted.

22. Review
Which one of the following statements was NOT a part of the Compromise of 1850? a) California was admitted to the Union as a free state. b) The slave trade ended in Washington, D.C. c) Southern states that objected to the compromise could secede peacefully. d) A strict fugitive slave law required northerners to return runaway slaves. The Fugitive Slave Law resulted in all of the following EXCEPT a) Required all citizens to return escaped slaves. b) Anyone who allowed a slave to escape could be fined $1,000 and jailed. c) Set up special courts to handle the cases of runaway slaves. d) Judges often helped free African Americans by sending them North to Canada.

23. Answers
Which one of the following statements was NOT a part of the Compromise of 1850?
a) California was admitted to the Union as a free state.
b) The slave trade ended in Washington, D.C.
c) Southern states that objected to the compromise could secede peacefully.
d) A strict fugitive slave law required northerners to return runaway slaves.
The Fugitive Slave Law resulted in all of the following EXCEPT
a) Required all citizens to return escaped slaves.
b) Anyone who allowed a slave to escape could be fined $1,000 and jailed.
c) Set up special courts to handle the cases of runaway slaves.
d) Judges often helped free African Americans by sending them North to Canada.