Document #2: The Tallmadge Amendment & Missouri Compromise
Background:
“Manifest Destiny” in action- Following the Louisiana Purchase in 1803, the defeat of the NW Indians and
Tecumseh’s “Western Confederacy”& The battle of Horseshoe Bend in the SE against the Creek Indians, and the end of
the War of 1812-1815, the American population surged westward, leading five new states to join the Union:
Louisiana (1812), Indiana (1816), Mississippi (1817), Illinois (1818), and Alabama (1819). In 1790, as GW takes office as
the 1st President, the population of the USA was just under 4 million. By 1820, the year of the Missouri Compromise,
the population of the USA had tripled to 12 million—2.4 million were Slaves (slave population becomes 4 million by
1860), according to the 1820 census. There were 11 Slave States and 11 Free States a balance existed—in the
Senate, so that either side could block any legislation they thought would be a threat. However, in the House of
Representatives, the Free States had an advantage due to the large increase in immigrants choosing to live and settle in
the Free states, thus in the House the Free States could pass legislation as they chose, yet were often blocked in the
Senate due to the balance.
Missouri applies for Statehood in 1819 as a Slave State. The second state to be formed within the
Louisiana Purchase lands (Louisiana, 1812) but the first west of the Mississippi River.
***** One concern of the Free States was that Missouri would be the most Northern State and first from west of the
Mississippi that included Slavery…How far north and west could Slavery spread? Also, this would upset the balance in the
Senate, 12-11, in favor of the Slave States…and many free state congressmen wondered, how much more powerful
would this make the South politically, due to its clear advantage in Presidential elections using the 3/5 ths clause, and-Could or would the spread of slavery west ever be stopped?
At this point James Tallmadge, NY, on Feb. 13, 1819 proposes an amendment to the bill requesting
Missouri’s statehood.
1)Tallmadge Amendment:
“Provided, That the further introduction of slavery or involuntary servitude be prohibited [In Missouri},
except for the punishment of crimes whereof the party shall have been duly convicted and that all
children born within the said State after the admission thereof into the Union shall be free, but may be
held to service until the age of twenty-five years.
The debate in the House of Representatives 
2)Thomas W. Cobb, Georgia
“That, if we [HOR] persist, the Union will be dissolved. We have kindled a fire which all the
waters of the ocean cannot put out, which seas of blood can only extinguish.”
3)James Tallmadge, NY
“Sir, language of this sort has no effect on me; my purpose is fixed… it is the freedom of
man… Sir, if dissolution of the Union must take place, let it be so! If Civil War, which
gentlemen so much threaten, must come, I can only say, let it come! Sir, the violence to which
gentlemen have resorted on this subject will not move my purpose…I have the honor to stand
here as a representative of freemen. I will proclaim their hatred to slavery…here I will hold my
stand. If I am doomed to fail, I shall fall as a fragment in the ruins of my country…people this
fair dominion with the slaves of your planters; extend slavery—this bane of man, this
abomination of heaven—over your extended empire, and you prepare its dissolution…With
this defect, your government must crumble to pieces, and your people the scoff of the world.”
The Tallmadge Amendment passes the house 79-67. But is defeated in the Senate, thus fails. So Missouri would
have to wait. As the next session of Congress begins, the Missouri statehood bill is again brought up for
consideration, and admitted without Slavery, again…but this time as the Senate is considering which action to
take….
****One concern of the Southern States at this point was…if Congress could deny slavery in
Missouri…what would stop it from banning slavery where it already existed…in the South?
The Missouri Compromise, 1820
The Missouri Compromise was the product of a struggle in Congress for regional control of the national, legislative process.
Southern states had lost majority influence in the House of Representatives because of their slower growing population as
compared with the northern states. This led to an effort by slaveholding states to maintain equal representation in the Senate
with free states as the nation added territories and hence new states to the Union. Balance
In January of 1820 a bill was presented to the House to admit Maine (formerly part of Massachusetts) as a Free
State. This bill passes the House and is sent to the Senate, where COMPROMISE BEGINS, The Senate decides to join
the two (2) bills together---entwining the fate of Maine and Missouri together… AND… to DRAW A LINE—THE 36-30
LINE---across the Louisiana Purchase---(this happens to be the southern border of Missouri). The 36-30 line
excluded Slavery North of this line in any FUTURE STATE created out of the LA. Purchase lands (Note: Missouri
is the only exception…this was its SOUTHERN BORDER)
The Senate approved the bill 24-20.
The House approved the bill 134 to 42.
1- Maine is admitted as a Free State
2- Missouri is admitted as a Slave State
3 –The 36-30 line is created that will ban slavery above this line (except Missouri)
in any future states that are admitted from the LA. Purchase lands.
Civil War is averted…there are 12 free states and 12 slave
states…but, can we still call this the “era of good feelings?”

Reaction:
4)T. Jefferson- (still alive ) April, 1820 (after the passage of the Missouri Compromise)
“But as it is, we have the wolf by the ears, and we can neither hold him, nor safely let
him go. Justice is in one scale, and self-preservation in the other…this momentous
question, like a fire bell in the night, awakened and filled me with terror. I considered
it at once as the [DEATH] knell of the Union. 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. I regret that I am now to die in the belief, that the useless sacrifice of
themselves by the generation of 1776, to acquire self-government and happiness to their
country, is to be thrown away by the unwise and unworthy passions of their sons, and that
my only consolation is to be, that I live not to weep over it.”
The Missouri Compromise lasts until the 1850’s…and becomes a
“sacred principle.”
Questions:
So you have four (4) primary sources and background information concerning the Tallmadge
Amendment to the Missouri Statehood bill, the debates concerning this amendment, and
Thomas Jefferson’s comments after the bill is passed.
1- Select two (2) noticings from the four (4) primary sources and explain why you chose them.
2- Show evidence of “active reading” through the entire document: make sure to note for each
“source,” Who & When…