Slavery & the West

1. Slavery & the West Chapter 12,Section 2 The American Journey, Glencoe http://www.buffalosoldier.net/CivilWarFlags.jpg

2. Questions for the Nation • Should slavery be permitted to spread to the West? • Should slavery be abolished throughout the nation? • For awhile northerners & southerners settled their differences through compromises. • Later, violence became more and more common.

3. Question of Seccession • In 1820, Thomas Jefferson, now in his 70’s, feared that the issue of slavery would tear the North & South apart. • Abraham Lincoln • Member of the anti-slavery Republican Party • Elected President in 1860 • Southern states withdraw from Union • North & South prepare for war http://www.cooperativeindividualism.org/lincoln-abraham.jpg

4. Missouri Compromise of 1820 • Missouri asked to join the Union as a slave state • This would upset the balance of power in the Senate and give the South a majority. • Senator Henry Clay proposed Maine enter as a free state to balance out Missouri entering as a slave state = Missouri Compromise • Kept the number of slave & free states equal • Mason Dixon Line, latitude 36, 30 N – slavery permitted in Louisiana Purchase south of that line and banned north of the line Henry Clay Author of the Missouri Compromise http://edsitement.neh.gov/lesson_images/lesson658/Sectionalism01.jpg

5. Missouri Compromise http://www.phschool.com/curriculum_support/brief_review/us_history/images/unit2_dbq.gif

6. Wilmot Proviso • Northerners afraid of slavery extending into the West • David Wilmot • Pennsylvania Congressman • Called for a law to ban slavery in any of the territory won from Mexico (war in 1848) • Southerners were against Wilmot Proviso • Stated that Congress had no right to ban slavery in western territories • 1846, Result = passed in House; defeated in Senate • Question about slavery in the West continued Letters against the Wilmont Proviso http://www.americaslibrary.gov/assets/aa/polk/aa_polk_wilmot_1_e.jpg

7. Opposing Views • Sectionalism strengthened by Mexican American-War • Sectionalism = loyalty to a state or section rather than to the whole country • Southerners • Supported slavery • Slaveholders wanted slavery allowed in territories & demanded that runaway slaves be returned • Saw North as a growing threat to their way of life http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/odyssey/archive/03/0320001r.jpg

8. Opposing Views • North • Many saw South as a foreign country where American rights & liberties did not exist • Abolitionists wanted slavery ended throughout the U.S. • Moderates = people who didn’t agree with Northerners or Southerners • Wanted a little of each with modifications • Supported popular sovereignty – allowing voters in new territories to decide for themselves whether or not to allow slavery http://www.qsl.net/w5www/civilwarmap.gif

9. California to Enter the Union • California wanted to enter Union as a free state • 1849 – 15, free states, 15 slave states – California would upset this balance of power in the Senate • There was also a chance that Oregon, Utah, & New Mexico might join as free states. • South was upset & many were afraid South would secede from Union • Compromise of 1850 helped settle things for the time being http://www.pueblo.gsa.gov/cic_text/misc/ourflag/california.gif

10. Compromise of 1850 • California joined Union as a free state • Land from Mexican Cession divided into territories of New Mexico & Utah • Voters would decide slavery question (popular sovereignty) • Slavery ended in Washington, D.C. • Included stricter fugitive slave law • Senator John C. Calhoun of South Carolina made demanded item or else the South would secede • Settled border dispute between Texas & New Mexico Henry Clay proposing Compromise of 1850 http://ap.grolier.com/images/cache/132/pl502.jpg

11. Compromise of 1850 http://edusolution.com/myclassroom/classnotes/expansion/1850compromise.jpg

12. Fugitive Slave Law of 1850 • Made it harder for Northerners to ignore the Fugitive Slave Law and required all citizens to help catch runaway slaves • You could be fined $1,000 & sentenced to 6 months in jail for letting slaves escape • North resented, or hated, the new slave law • It made them feel like they were part of the slave system by being forced to capture runaway slaves. • It convinced the North that slavery was wrong. http://score.rims.k12.ca.us/score_lessons/impact/caution.jpg Political Cartoon of Fugitive Slave Law http://loc.harpweek.com/LCPoliticalCartoons/DisplayCartoonMedium.asp?MaxID=12&UniqueID=13&Year=1851&YearMark=1787

13. http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/treasures/images/s33a.1.jpg

14. Questions • Describe three different views on the issue of slavery in the west. • What were the results of the Compromise of the 1850? (explain the five parts) • How did the Compromise of 1850 create new conflict over the slavery issue? (hint: Fugitive Slave Law)