Chapter 16

Slavery Divides the Nation

Lesson 1

Slavery in the Territories

The Missouri Compromise

• 1819 – 11 Slave states and 11 Free States• Missouri applied for statehood• Henry Clay’s proposal:

• Missouri slave state• Maine free state• Missouri Compromise line

• 36°30’ N Latitude• Slavery permitted south of line,

banned north of line• Applied only to Louisiana Purchase• Missouri became slave state –

despite being north of the line.

Slavery in the West

• Wilmot Proviso - 1846• New territory added

after war with Mexico• David Wilmot

proposed to ban slavery in all newly acquired territory

• Passed in the House, but not the Senate

Opposing Views

• Opposing Views• Abolitionist – a person who wanted to end (abolish)

slavery• Insisted slavery was morally wrong

• Southerners wanted slavery in any territory• Wanted escaped slaves returned

• Moderates – wanted to extend Missouri Compromise• Popular Sovereignty

• The right of people to create their own rules/laws/government

• Each territory would decide for themselves if they wanted slavery

Free-Soil Party

• 1848 – A new political party

• Main goal – keep slavery out of the new territories

• Former president Martin Van Buren was presidential candidate

• Took 10% of vote• 13 Free-Soilers were

elected to Congress