THE MISSOURI COMPROMISE America’s First Slavery Debate OF STATES Photo by Alan Light The Pledging Process “New States may be admitted by the Congress into this Union…” U.S. Constitution (Art. 4) Photo by Libido Lounge 1819 Missouri applies for admission into the Union as a SLAVE STATE. Icon by Ted Grajeda The Noun Project Tallmadge Amendment "And provided, That the further introduction of slavery or involuntary servitude be prohibited… and that all children born within the said State, after the admission thereof into the Union, shall be free at the age of twenty-five years." 1819 Rep. James Tallmadge (R- NY) Tallmadge Amendment 1819 Missouri can be admitted to the Union upon accepting GRADUAL EMANCIPATION Rep. James Tallmadge (R- NY) PARITY Slave States Delaware Georgia Maryland South Carolina Virginia North Carolina Kentucky Tennessee Louisiana Mississippi Balance Between Slave and Free States Free States New Jersey Pennsylvania Connecticut Massachusetts New Hampshire New York Rhode Island Vermont Ohio Indiana Illinois PARITY Balance Between Slave and Free States 1820 - 1850 TRAJECTORY NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Northwest Ordinance in Northwest Territories Some rights reserved by National Museum of American History 1819 Alabama admitted as a SLAVE STATE without fanfare. Icon by Ted Grajeda The Noun Project Photo by James Willamor PARITY Slave States Delaware Georgia Maryland South Carolina Virginia North Carolina Kentucky Tennessee Louisiana Mississippi Alabama Balance Between Slave and Free States Free States New Jersey Pennsylvania Connecticut Massachusetts New Hampshire New York Rhode Island Vermont Ohio Indiana Illinois Bicameralism Passed without Tallmadge Amendment SENATE HOUSE Photo by Martin Falbisoner Bicameralism Passed without Passed with Tallmadge Amendment Tallmadge Amendment SENATE HOUSE Photo by Martin Falbisoner Bicameralism Passed without CONFERENCE Passed with Tallmadge Amendment Tallmadge Amendment SENATE HOUSE Photo by Martin Falbisoner HENRY CLAY U.S. Senator (Kentucky) THE GREAT COMPROMISER : Clay’s proposal Admit Missouri as a Slave State. Admit Maine as a Free State. Prohibit slavery in the territories of the Louisiana Purchase north of the 36˚30’ parallel. Bicameralism Passed Passed WITH WITH Clay’s Compromise Proposal Clay’s Compromise Proposal SENATE HOUSE Photo by Martin Falbisoner 36˚30’ 36˚30’ Map Credit: Golbez HAPPILY EVER AFTER nope THE SAGE of Monticello Thomas Jefferson to John Holmes 22 April 1820 “This momentous question, like a fire bell in the night, awakened and filled me with terror…” “I considered it at once as the knell of the Union.” n. the sound of a bell, especially when rung solemnly for a death or funeral. Photo by Vladimer Shioshvili “It is hushed indeed for the moment. but this is a reprieve only, not a final sentence. a geographical line, coinciding with a marked principle, moral and political, once conceived and held up to the angry passions of men, will never be obliterated; and every new irritation will mark it deeper and deeper.” I can say with conscious truth that there is not a man on earth who would sacrifice more than I would, to relieve us from this heavy reproach, in any practicable way. Johnson Eastman, The Lord is My Shepherd (1863) A general emancipation and expatriation could be effected: and, gradually, and with due sacrifices, I think it might be. Johnson Eastman, The Lord is My Shepherd (1863) 20 Latin Phrases You Should Be Using (Mental Floss) Photo by Neil McIntosh Michelle Mikiefsky Used With Permission http://windward.hawaii.ed u/facstaff/miliefsky-m “I regret that I am now to die in the belief that the useless sacrifice of themselves, by the generation of ‘76. to acquire self government and happiness to their country, is to be thrown away by the unwise and unworthy passions of their sons…” “My only consolation is to be that I live not to weep over it. if they would but dispassionately weigh the blessings they will throw away against an abstract principle more likely to be effected by union than by scission, they would pause before they would perpetrate this act of suicide on themselves and of treason against the hopes of the world.” ANTEBELLUM 1820-1860 A South Carolina Perspective… During the debate, Charles Pinckney (SC) defended slavery as a positive good. Pinckney’s opinions did not hold much water outside of South Carolina at the time, but as Northerners continued to criticize slavery, more Southerners began to defend the institution. Pinckney’s Speech Pinckney : LET’S REVIEW Admit Missouri as a Slave State. Admit Maine as a Free State. Prohibit slavery in the territories of the Louisiana Purchase north of the 36˚30’ parallel.