1. 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

2. 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

3. Missouri Compromise

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. Compromise of 1850

10. 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.