In 1819 there were 11 free states and

• 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.

Missouri Compromise • Congress drew an imaginary line across the southern border of Missouri at latitude 36º 30´N. Slavery would be permitted in the Louisiana Purchase south of that line.

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

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 • 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.

A New Political Party • 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 and founded Free. Soil Party

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

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

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

Slavery Debate…. . • 1849 - 15 slave states and 15 free states. • California enter as a free state - North would have a majority in the Senate. South fear territories Oregon, Utah, and New Mexico enter as free states

• Southerners worried would be outvoted in Senate • Southern States possibility secede or leave the US

Opposing Views • Clay - North and South reach an agreement and if they failed to do so - warned that the nation could break apart. • Calhoun - Refused to compromise insisted that slavery be allowed in the western territories

Calhoun Continued… • demanded fugitive slaves be returned to their owners, and warned if the North did not agree South would use force to leave the Union • 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 • All citizens must help catch runaway slaves. • People who let fugitives escape could be fined $1, 000 and jailed. • Special courts handle cases of runaways. There would be no jury trials. Judges receive $10 for sending an accused runaway to the South and $5 for setting

Response - Fugitive Slave Act • Some judges sent African Americans to the South whether or not they were runaways to receive extra money. • Act enraged antislavery northerners - made them feel as if they were part of the slave system.

Uncle Tom’s Cabin • Written by Harriet Beecher Stowe to show evils of slavery and the injustice of Fugitive Slave Act. • Book tells the story of Uncle Tom, an enslaved African American noted for his kindness. • Tom is bought by the brutal Simon Legree

Uncle Tom’s Cabin Continued. . • When Tom refuses to reveal the location of two runaways, Legree whips him to death.

Reaction to Uncle Tom’s Cabin • Northerners could no longer view slavery as a political problem for Congress to settle. More and more northerners now saw slavery as a moral problem facing every American.

Reaction to Uncle Tom’s Cabin • Southerners claimed that the book did not give a true picture of a slave’s life.