1. The Nation Breaking Apart

3. 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’

5. Economies Northern economy based on small farms and industry
Southern economy based on plantation farming and slave labor

6. Northern Views on Slavery Southern Views on Slavery
Many believed it was immoral
Others saw slavery as an economic threat – they feared that slaves might take their jobs
Southern Views on Slavery
Few Southerners actually owned slaves; only the very wealthy did
Many whites felt superior to blacks
Some whites believed they “helped” slaves
Provided food, shelter, clothing

7. Significance: Slavery became a key issue in national politics again
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 gained from the War with Mexico
Southerners claimed it violated the Constitution
Passed in the House, not in Senate
Significance: Slavery became a key issue in national politics again

8. California’s Statehood
Gold rush increases population in CA making it eligible for statehood
Missouri Compromise would cut CA in half
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 would be free, South California would have slaves

10. BOOOOOOOO!!!

11. 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 new laws would be passed to prevent slavery in future territories won from Mexico
Stronger laws would be passed to help protect the “rights” of slaveholders