1. Lesson 4: Attempts at Compromise Aim: What were the attempts at compromise that were made prior to the start of the Civil War?

2. Missouri Compromise (1820) Missouri applied to the Union as a slave state. caused debate in Congress because it would make the balance of free and slave states in the Senate uneven (more Senators from slave states which means they can pass laws in favor of slavery.) Compromise Missouri-admitted to the Union as a slave state Maine- admitted to the Union as a free state Territory below the 36 30 parallel (line) will be admitted as a slave state, and territory above the line will be admitted as a free state

3. Compromise of 1850 California- admitted to the Union as a free state Fugitive Slave Act- fine or imprisonment for anyone who helped a fugitive (runaway) slave. Required even Northerners to return runaway slaves to owners. Abolished the slave trade in Washington, D.C. Popular sovereignty in New Mexico Territory and Utah Territory. Popular sovereignty allows the people to vote on whether to become a slave state or a free state.

4. Kansas-Nebraska Act Popular Sovereignty in Kansas and Nebraska

5. Dred Scott Decision U.S. Supreme Court rules that slaves are property and not citizens. Therefore, they are not entitled to sue in court. U.S. Supreme Court rules that the Missouri Compromise was unconstitutional. Congress does not have the power to abolish slavery in a territory. The Constitution grants the people the right to own property. By not allowing slavery in the territories above the 36 30 line, Congress violated the right to own property.