The Nation Breaking Apart Chapter 15

Missouri Compromise Congress argued over admitting Missouri as a slave state or free state Maine also wants statehood Henry Clay suggests admitting MO as a slave state and ME as a free state 1820 Congress passes plan – keeps balance of power between free & slave states –Slavery banned north of parallel 36º 30’

Economy Northern economy based on small farms and industry Southern economy based on plantation farming and slave labor

Views on slavery Northern Views on Slavery Immoral Economic threat Southern Views on Slavery Few owned slaves; only wealthy Superior feeling for some whites Some whites believed they “helped” slaves –Provided food, shelter, clothing

Wilmot Proviso War with Mexico, 1846 –Northern suspicion was that southerners wanted Mexican territory to expand slavery Wilmot Proviso –Would outlaw slavery in any territory acquired from the War with Mexico –Southerners claimed it violated the Constitution –Passed in the House, not in Senate Significance: Slavery now a key issue in national politics

California’s Statehood Gold rush increases population in CA making it eligible for statehood –MO Compromise would cut CA in 1/2 –Most Californians want to be free This would tip the balance of power in Congress to the North (more representatives from free states) –Southerners wanted a divided state North California-free, South California-slave

BOOOOOOOO!!!

Compromise of 1850 Congress passed the Compromise of 1850 which stated: –CA would be free –Slave trade would be abolished in Washington D.C. –No laws would be passed regarding slavery in future territories won from Mexico –Stronger laws would be passed to help slaveholders