Issue of Slavery Again!! • • • • • • • Northwest Ordinance of 1787 Definition: a law passed by Congress in 1787 that specified how western lands would be governed the law divided Northwest into smaller territories, with each one governed with a territorial governor it stated that once there was 5,000 free males, the territory could elect its own legislature (law making body) once the population reached 60,000, they can apply to Congress to become a state it also banned slavery north of the Ohio River: the result was that Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois were free and Kentucky, Tennessee, Louisiana, and Mississippi were slave states In 1819, Alabama became a slave state because it was south of the Ohio River and it made the number of slave and free states equal But Missouri lead to another matter . . . The Tallmadge Amendment • • • • • • In the North the Tallmadge Amendment made strong feelings against slavery. Many towns sent petitions to Congress saying that slavery is immoral and unconstitutional. The Amendment was to support Missouri statehood if it banned slavery and provided emancipation of existing slaves.ecome a Union S And one New Hampshire representative Arthur Livermore spoke to many Northerners by saying that " An opportunity is now presented...to prevent the growth of a sin which sits heavy on the soul of every one of us. By embracing this opportunity, we may retrieve the national character, and, in some degree our own." The House voted to approve the Amendment, but in the Senate, the Southers were able to defeat it. The two houses were now arguing over the issue of slavery in Missouri. This would remain so as the 1819 session of Congress drew to a close. Three Constitutional Issues “equal rights” Guaranteed a state’s sovereignty No authority to infringe on the property rights of individual slaveholders Henry Clay and the Missouri Compromise “Great Compromiser” Who Was Henry Clay? Born in Virginia Father was a Baptist minister No formal schooling – self taught Studied law Congressman from Kentucky for 42 years Ran for President five times Free or Slave State? Each time a group of settlers asked to join the Union as a new state, a decision had to be made: Free State – No Slavery Allowed 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. If this happened, slave states would outnumber free states. The Missouri question became a heated debate that dragged on for months. Henry Clay to the Rescue Henry Clay worked on this problem for months. Henry Clay owned slaves but did not want to see the question of slavery tear the nation apart. He persuaded Congress to agree to a compromise. Missouri Compromise of 1820 Under Clay’s plan Missouri would be allowed to join the Union as a slave state. Maine would join as a free state. This would keep the balance between free and slave states. 12 to 12 An imaginary line would divide the lands of the Louisiana Purchase. 36 30’ North of the line would be free states and south of the line would be slave states. Results of the Compromise The Missouri Compromise kept peace for nearly 30 years. During this time six new states joined the Union, but the number of free and slave states remained equal. Henry Clay’s plan helped to avoid conflict in the Union until 1848. California – Free State After the War with Mexico, settlers in California asked to join the Union as a free state in 1848. Henry Clay once again found himself in the middle of an argument in Congress over slavery. His new plan was called the Great Compromise. Great Compromise of 1850 California joined the Union as a free state. The remaining land of the southwest was divided into two territories – New Mexico and Utah. The people of the territories would decide the issue of slavery. The Compromise also included the Fugitive Slave Law of 1850. The Henry Clay Legacy Henry Clay is remembered as the Great Compromiser. He died in 1852. He never gave up hope that the country would find a peaceful way to settle their differences. “I know no North – no South – no East – no West.”