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In 1819, there were 11 free states and 11 slave states. Representation in the Senate was evenly balanced between the North and the South. Missouri wanted to join the Union as a slave state. That would give the South a majority in the Senate.

Missouri Compromise Henry Clay proposed the Missouri Compromise. Missouri would join the Union as a slave state. Maine would join the Union as a free state.

Congress drew an imaginary line across the southern border of Missouri at latitude 36º30´N. Slavery would be permitted in the Louisiana Purchase south of that line. Missouri Compromise

Issue of Slavery in the West Problem: Result of the Mexican War, US acquired a vast amount of land. Missouri Compromise applied only to the LA Purchase, not the new western lands.

Arguments - Issue of Slavery in the West North: Congressman David Wilmot (PA) called for a law to ban slavery in any territories won from Mexico. (Wilmot Proviso)

Arguments - Issue of Slavery in the West South: Southern leaders said Congress had no right to ban slavery in the West

The Outcome House passed the Wilmot Proviso, but the Senate defeated it. The argument continued.

Opposing Views Abolitionists - Slavery should be banned throughout country & morally wrong. Southern Slaveholders - Slavery should be allowed in any territory. Slaves who escape to the North should be returned.

Other Viewpoint - Moderates Idea of Popular Sovereignty - right of people to create their government Voters in a new territory would decide for themselves whether or not to allow slavery.

 Many northern Democrats & Whigs opposed the spread of slavery, but leaders of both parties refused to take a stand. Antislavery members of both parties met & founded Free- Soil Party (a new political party)

Free-Soil Party - main goal was to keep slavery from spreading to the western territories.

Presidential Election of 1848 Free-Soilers - Van Buren: ban on slavery in land gained from Mexican War Democrats - Cass (Michigan): supported popular sovereignty Whigs-Taylor-LA slaveowner

Winner of 1848 Presidential Election- Taylor Even Congress contained 13 Free- Soilers

Slavery Debate… slave states and 15 free states. CA enter as a free state - North would have a majority in Senate. South fear territories Oregon, Utah, and New Mexico enter as free territories/states

Southerners worried would be outvoted in Senate Southern States possibility secede or leave the US (Union)

Opposing Views Clay - North and South reach an agreement and if they did not - nation could break apart. Calhoun - Refused to compromise - slavery should be allowed in the western territories

Calhoun Continued… fugitive slaves be returned to their owners, & warned if the North did not agree South would secede Webster - slavery evil but the breakup of US worse - warned against civil war

Compromise of 1850 Admits CA as a free state Territories of New Mexico & Utah voters decide slavery question by popular sovereignty Bans slave trade in Washington, DC (not slavery) Fugitive Slave Act

Compromise Continued… Settles Texas/New Mexico border dispute - (Texas gave up land in eastern New Mexico and in return US assumed payment of their debts)

Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 Citizens must help catch runaway slaves. Let fugitives escape - fined $1,000 & jailed. Special courts handle cases of runaways. No jury trials. Judges receive $10 for sending a runaway to the South and $5 for setting someone free.

Response-Fugitive Slave Act Some judges sent African Americans to the South to receive extra money. Act enraged antislavery Northerners - made them feel as if they were part of the slave system.

Uncle Tom’s Cabin Harriet Beecher Stowe - shows evils of slavery & the injustice of Fugitive Slave Act. Uncle Tom - enslaved African American noted for his kindness.

Uncle Tom’s Cabin Continued.. Tom is bought by the brutal Simon Legree When Tom refuses to reveal the location of two runaways, Legree whips him to death.

Reaction to Uncle Tom’s Cabin Northerners now saw slavery as a moral problem facing every American. Southerners claimed that the book did not give a true picture of a slave’s life.

Leading up to Kansas-Nebraska Act Compromise of 1850 dealt w/ Mexican Cession (CA & New Mexico Territory, Utah Territory) Did not deal with land that was part of the LA Purchase (Missouri Compromise of 1820)

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Kansas-Nebraska Act Senator Douglas - IL proposed setting up a government for Nebraska Territory by dividing it into 2 territories - Kansas and Nebraska(part of LA Purchase) Settlers in each territory decide issue of slavery by popular sovereignty

Reaction to Kansas-Nebraska Act Southerners hoped slave owners from MO would move into Kansas and make it a slave state Northerners - MO Compromise already banned slavery in Kansas and Nebraska

Reaction to Kansas-Nebraska Act Kansas-Nebraska Act would overturn/repeal Missouri Compromise Slavery could now spread to areas that were free for over 30 years Some challenged Fugitive Slave Act

Kansas consisted of … Abolitionists brought over 1,000 settlers from New England Proslavery settlers also came Proslavery groups from MO rode across border - Border Ruffians - fought with antislavery groups

Two Governments 1855 Kansas held elections for governor and legislature Border Ruffians voted illegally and helped elect proslavery legislature- passed laws to support slavery Antislavery settlers refused to accept new laws

Two Governments Continued … Antislavery settlers elected own governor and legislature Two governments resulted in chaos Armed gangs roamed the territory

“Bleeding Kansas” Proslavery men raided town of Lawrence - (founded by abolitionists) destroyed homes and smashed press of Free- Soil newspaper John Brown - abolitionist - and other men attack town of Pottawatomie Creek - murder 5 proslavery settlers at night

“Bleeding Kansas” Both sides engaged in guerrilla warfare - hit and run tactics Late 1856 over 200 people killed Newspapers started calling the territory “Bleeding Kansas”

Dred Scott Case Dred Scott was a slave in Missouri He moved with his owner to Illinois and Wisconsin Territory - slavery not allowed Scott returned to MO with his owner who then died Antislavery lawyers helped Scott file a lawsuit

Dred Scott Case Scott’s lawyers argued that since he lived in a free state/territory, he became a free man Supreme Court decided - Scott could not file a lawsuit b/c a slave was not a citizen

Dred Scott Case Continued… Slaves considered property - (5th Amendment - cannot have property taken away w/o applying the law) Congress did not have the power to outlaw slavery in any territory

Dred Scott Case Continued… MO Compromise - unconstitutional b/c denies people right to their property

Reaction to Dred Scott Case Slave owners - slavery now legal in all territories African Americans - condemned ruling - held public meetings Northerners hoped that slavery would eventually die out if restricted to the South

Reaction to Dred Scott Case Northerners worried now slavery could spread to the West