Chapter 16
Slavery Erupts
The Balance of Power

Missouri Compromise
 1819
-11 free states / 11 slave states
 Missouri asks to join the Union as slave state
 South would then have power in the Senate
 Maine asks to join the Union

Henry Clay’s Compromise
 Admit
Missouri as a Slave State
 Admit Maine as a Free State
 Latitude 36 30 - North Free / South Slave
 Except Missouri - Stays Slave
The Balance of Power

Missouri Compromise = Louisiana
Purchase Only – Missouri stays Slave
Balance of Power

Mexican War adds lots of new territories
 Wilmot
Proviso
 Ban
Slavery in any territories won from Mexico
 It’s defeated in the Senate
 Opposing
Views
 North
- ban slavery in new territories
 South - allow slavery in new territories
 Options


Extend Missouri Compromise line to California
Popular Sovereignty - Voters in territory – Slave/Free
Balance of Power

The Free-Soil Party
A
new Political Party
 Formed
by antislavery members of both Dem/Rep
 Goal – Keep slavery out of western territories
 For the first time slavery becomes an issue in a
Pres. election. (1848.)
Nothing Changes
1849 – 15 Free / 15 Slave
 California wants to enter the Union

 Many
other territories are thinking the same
South = losing the Balance of Power
 First talk of Southern Secession
 Congress turns to the Great Communicator

Compromise of 1850

Clay / Douglas – 5 Parts
 California
enters as Free State
 Creates states – New Mexico and Utah
 New
 Ends
States use Popular Sovereignty
Slave trade in Washington DC
 Includes Fugitive Slave Law
 Settle border dispute between Texas / New
Mexico
Fugitive Slave Act
Requires ALL citizens to help catch
runaway slaves
 Special Courts handle Slave issues
 No jury trials
 Judges = $10 send back - $5 set free

Uncle Tom’s Cabin

Author – Harriet Beecher Stowe
 Shows
the evils of Slavery
North = bestseller
 South = was not true
 Changes the way the North views Slavery

 Not

Political = now MORAL ISSUE
One of the most important books in
American history.
Closer To War

Kansas-Nebraska Act - Douglas

Nebraska Territory is broken into 2 states
 Kansas
 Popular
and Nebraska
Sovereignty is used to decide
Free/Slave
 Pro/anti slavery men fight-blood is spilled
 John Brown kills proslavery men
Closer To War

Dred Scott Case
 Enslaved
AA moves to Free State
 Lives there one-half of his life
 Considers himself free
 SC rules that he is not a citizen
 SC rules Slaves are property
 SC returns him to slavery
New Republican Party
Goal to keep slavery out of western
territories
 Not END slavery – stop the spread
 Abraham Lincoln takes a leading role
