1. The Origins of the Sectional Controversy Adapting Project HISTORY March 9, 2011

5. Sectionalism at the Constitutional Convention, 1787 Slaves--for Representation or Taxes--3/5ths Compromise—Gave South 12 extra representatives Pennsylvania’s Gouverneur Morris: “the inhabitants of Georgia [or] South Carolina who goes to the coast of Africa, and in defiance of the most sacred laws of humanity tears away his fellow creatures from their dearest connections and damns them to the most cruel bondages, shall have more votes in a Government instituted for protection of the rights of mankind, than the Citizen of Pennsylvania or New Jersey who views with a laudable horror, so nefarious a practice.”

6. Sectionalism at the Constitutional Convention, 1787 Slavery Left to States Slave Trade--Protected Against Action by Federal Government for 20 years—Even then (1808) not absolutely abolished—slaves continued to be imported ---custom duties at $10 per slave imposed to raise public revenue Estimated that 250,000 slaves illegally imported from 1808-1860

7. The Crisis over Missouri Northern Humanitarians Opposed to Slavery Northern Republicans Fearful of South’s Power Old Federalists Southern Fears of Declining Sectional Power and Influence (89 to 123 in Congress)

8. The Missouri Compromise 1817 Missouri Applied and Rejected for Statehood 1819 Enabling Act Passes House-- Restricts Slavery in Missouri--Failed in Senate Senator Thomas of Illinois-- Compromise-Divide Louisiana Territory 36 30 South Denied Congress Right to Legislate on Issue of Slavery

11. Annexation of Texas 1836--Texas Independence 1844 Election Congress--Joint Resolution Annexing Texas Mexico Refused to Recognize Texas Independence JFK: 1961 “Our Arms will never be used to strike the first blow in any attack.... It is our national tradition.”

14. War with Mexico Hostilities Begin on Rio Grande Abraham Lincoln and the “Spot Resolution”— ”the President had sent Genl. Taylor into an uninhabited part of the country belonging to Mexico, and not to the U.S. and thereby had provoked the first act of hostility.” War Popular in South--Unpopular in North Henry David Thoreau “Civil Disobedience”

18. Conflict Over Mexican Territory Wilmot Proviso Election of 1848--Election of General Zachary Taylor 1849-1850--Four Positions on Slavery in Territories –Missouri Compromise Line –Popular Sovereignty –Confine Slavery to Present Limits –Slavery Could Not Be Excluded from Territories

19. Background to Compromise of 1850 President Taylor’s Plan--Immediate Admission of California and New Mexico Texas and New Mexico Conflict South and Fugitive Slave Laws North and Slavery in D.C. Secessionist Sentiment in South and Nashville Convention

22. Clay’s Compromise Admit California as Free State Stricter Fugitive Slave Law Popular Sovereignty Organize New Mexico and Utah Territories U.S. Assumes Texas Debt for Texas Acquiescence in Border Dispute Slave Trade Prohibited in D.C.

24. Adoption of Clay’s Compromise Nashville Convention Controlled by Moderates President Taylor Died--Millard Fillmore More Amenable to Compromise Northern Businessmen Anxious for Harmony Majority in North and South Favored Compromise Compromise Bought Time--Did Not Solve Sectional Problems