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Compromises over Slavery

This article explores the compromises made regarding slavery during the Constitutional Convention, the 3/5 Compromise, Slave Trade Compromise, Missouri Compromise, Compromise of 1850, and the Kansas-Nebraska Act. It highlights the failure of political compromise to resolve the issue of slavery and the impact on national unity and sectionalism.

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Compromises over Slavery

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  1. Compromises over Slavery Why did political compromise fail to solve the issue of slavery in the United States?

  2. National Unity or Sectionalism? John C. Calhoun: "The South asks for justice, simple justice, and less she ought not to take. She has no compromise to offer but the Constitution and no concession or surrender to make.” Daniel Webster: "I wish to speak today, not as a Massachusetts man, not as a northern man, but as an American.... I speak today for the preservation of the Union. Hear me for my cause.” Henry Clay: "I know no South, no North, no East, no West to which I owe any allegiance."

  3. US Constitution • At the Constitutional Convention, what compromises did the framers make regarding slavery? • 3/5 Compromise • Slave Trade Compromise

  4. Missouri Compromise

  5. Missouri Compromise (1820) • Tallmadge Amendment: • Further slavery would be prohibited in MO • Existing slaves would be freed at 25 • Henry Clay found a solution • MO admitted as a slave state • ME admitted as a free state • No slavery in Louisiana Territory north of 36˚ 30’ parallel

  6. Compromise of 1850

  7. Compromise of 1850 • Question of slavery in Mexican Cession • Wilmot Proviso- no slavery in Mexican Cession • Extension of Missouri Compromise (36 30’) • Slavery cannot be excluded from new territories • Popular Sovereignty – citizens of territories should decide for themselves whether or not to have slavery • CA applied for statehood after Gold Rush—state constitution excluded slavery! • Southern “fire-eaters” threatened secession

  8. Compromise of 1850

  9. Compromise of 1850 • Henry Clay helped orchestrate the Compromise of 1850 • California free state • Popular sovereignty would determine legality of slavery in territories of Utah and New Mexico • Disputed territory b/w Texas and NM awarded to NM • Slave trade (not slavery!) abolished in D.C. • New, more stringent Fugitive Slave Law

  10. Kansas Nebraska Act

  11. The Kansas-Nebraska Act • After Gadsden Purchase, Illinois Democratic senator Stephen Douglas wanted transcontinental RR for Chicago • Needed Nebraska territory and Southern support • Introduced bill to organize Nebraska territory: Kansas-Nebraska Act • Question of slavery would be decided by popular sovereignty • Repealed Missouri Compromise • Realigned party politics

  12. Realignment of the Party System • Since 1830s, party system (Whigs & Dems) had limited sectionalism • Sectional, rather than national, parties emerged in mid-1850s • Whig party died by 1856; Democrats became Southern dominated party • Know-Nothings (American Party) emerged as an anti-Catholic, anti-immigrant (nativist) party • Republican Party emerged after K-N Act • Comprised of northern Whigs, Free-Soilers, northern Democrats • Opposed extension of slavery – wanted to keep western territories free • Lincoln-Douglas Debates (1858) • Douglas defeated Lincoln for senate seat in Illinois

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