Question of Secession

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

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

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.

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