Henry Clay and the Missouri Compromise Who Was

Henry Clay and the Missouri Compromise

Who Was Henry Clay? Born in Virginia n Father was a Baptist minister n No formal schooling – self taught n Studied law n Congressman from Kentucky for 42 years n Ran for President five times n Nickname - “Great Compromiser” n

Free or Slave State? n Each time a group of settlers asked to join the Union as a new state, a decision had to be made: n Free State – No Slavery Allowed n Slave State – Slavery Permitted *For a time there were as many free states as slave states. This kept a balance between the North and South.

A Problem Develops. . In 1819, settlers in the Missouri Territory asked to join the Union as a slave state. n If this happened, slave states would outnumber free states. n The Missouri question became a heated debate that dragged on for months. n

Henry Clay to the Rescue Henry Clay worked on this problem for months. n Henry Clay owned slaves but did not want to see the question of slavery tear the nation apart. n He persuaded Congress to agree to a compromise. n

Missouri Compromise of 1820 Under Clay’s plan Missouri would be allowed to join the Union as a slave state. n Maine would join as a free state. n This would keep the balance between free and slave states. n An imaginary line would divide the lands of the Louisiana Purchase. n North of the line would be free states and south of the line would be slave states. n

Results of the Compromise The Missouri Compromise kept peace for nearly 30 years. n During this time six new states joined the Union, but the number of free and slave states remained equal. n Henry Clay’s plan helped to avoid conflict in the Union until 1848. n

California – Free State After the War with Mexico, settlers in California asked to join the Union as a free state in 1848. n Henry Clay once again found himself in the middle of an argument in Congress over slavery. n His new plan was called the Great Compromise of 1850. n

Great Compromise of 1850 California joined the Union as a free state. n The remaining land of the southwest was divided into two territories – New Mexico and Utah. n The people of the territories would decide the issue of slavery. n The Compromise also included the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850. n

The Henry Clay Legacy Henry Clay is remembered as the Great Compromiser. n He died in 1852. n He never gave up hope that the country would find a peaceful way to settle their differences. n “I know no North – no South – no East – no West. ” n