REGENTS REVIEW – ESSAYS
TOPIC: SLAVERY
3/5 Compromise – At the Constitutional Convention, the Founding Fathers debated how to count slaves
in the population. They decided to count three out of every five. This benefitted the southern states by
providing them with more electoral college. Some historians believe that the 3/5 compromise
contributed to many early presidents coming from the south.
1807 – The slave trade ended 20 years after the Constitution.
1816 – The American Colonization Society was formed as a group committed to sending blacks back to
Africa. The country of Liberia with the capital of Monrovia (named after President James Monroe) was
founded. The group was made up of abolitionists and racists. Henry Clay was a member.
In 1819, Missouri applied for statehood. As a slave state, this would upset the balance of 11 free and 11
slave states in the Union. James Tallmadge, a representative from New York, proposed that Missouri
enter as a slave state, but all slaves should be freed at the age of 25. This plan was rejected.
Henry Clay then prosed the Missouri Compromise in 1820.
a. Missouri entered as a slave state.
b. Maine entered as a free state.
c. The rest of the territory was divided at 36 30. Above this line was free and below this line was
slave territory.
In 1836, Texans won independence from Mexico. But even though the residents wanted to become a
state, Congress was following the gag rule that prevented any discussion on slavery. For ten years, Texas
was an independent country, the Lone Star Republic, until the United States annexed it in 1845 (during
the lame-duck presidency of John Tyler).
Famous abolitionists:
1. Frederick Douglass – At the age of 23, Douglass gave a remarkable speech in New England about his
life as a slave. He escaped from Maryland as a slave and became one of the most eloquent speakers for
racial equality. He witnessed brutal whippings and learned how to read even though it was against the
law. He was greatly influenced by William Lloyd Garrison. Douglass published his autobiography in
1845. His weekly newsletter was called the North Star. Garrison was actually more radical than
Douglass. Eventually, there relationship ended. He was the first African-American invited to the White
House (by Abraham Lincoln). He recruited black soldiers during the Civil War. After the war, some
women were disappointed with him, claiming he did not fight enough for female rights.
2. William Lloyd Garrison – This white, radical abolitionist believed that the Constitution was a
slave document. He published a newsletter called The Liberator. He burned a copy of the
Constitution in public. He denounced churches, political parties and voting. He called for the
dissolution of the Union.
3. Harriet Tubman – She was an organizer of the Underground Railroad and a Union spy during
the Civil War. She also helped John Brown recruit men for his raid on Harper’s Ferry.
4. Harriet Beecher Stowe – She was the author of Uncle Tom’s Cabin. This fictional book
illustrated the horrors of slavery. Many northerners, especially those in states with few black
residents, did not have a strong understanding of the impact of slavery. When Lincoln met her, he
said, “So you’re the little woman who wrote the book that started this great war.”
1846-1848 The Mexican-American War was a victory for the United States. As a result, the United
States received the Mexican Cession. This area of land increased sectional tensions between the
North and the South over the status of slavery.
David Wilmot, a congressman from Pennsylvania, proposed that all newly acquired territory should
be free. His Wilmot Proviso, which became the platform of the free soil movement, was rejected.
Instead, Henry Clay along with Stephen Douglas, proposed the Compromise of 1850.
Compromise of 1850
1. California entered as a slave state
2. The rest of the Mexican Cession would use popular sovereignty
3. A stricter Fugitive Slave Law
4. Banned the slave trade in D.C.
5. $10 million from Texas for a strip of land
Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854
Both territories used popular sovereignty to determine the status of slavery. Stephen Douglas
agreed to this in order to get the transcontinental railroad to go through his home state of Illinois.
“Bleeding Kansas” – Abolitionists from New England, led by John Brown, traveled to Kansas to
vote against slavery. Border Ruffians from Missouri crossed the border to vote in favor of slavery.
Fighting ensued as John Brown and his men hacked people to pieces. (Topeka and LeCompton
Constitutions were passed in conflict with each other)
Sumner-Brooks Incident: Charles Sumner gave a passionate speech in the Congress against
slavery. He personally attacked the cousin of Preston Brooks. Brooks used his cane to violently
attack Sumner two days later. Sumner almost died. Brooks, from South Carolina, received gifts in
the mail from his constituents. This episode shows the sectional tensions in the country.
1857 Dred Scott vs. Sandford Supreme Court decision
Dred Scott was a slave who was taken from Virginia to Missouri by his master. Two years later,
his master died and a doctor purchased Dred Scott, who brought him to the free state of Illinois. He
was later brought to Wisconsin, also free territory. His master moved to Louisiana but rented Scott
and his wife out in Illinois. When the doctor died and his brother (Sandford) inherited the slaves,
Scott sued for his freedom. Scott lost his first trial. Then, the St. Louis circuit court ruled that
Scott was free but the Missouri Supreme Court overturned the decision. Scott and his lawyers took
the case to the U.S. Supreme Court. The court decided that all people of African ancestry -- slaves
as well as those who were free -- could never become citizens of the United States and therefore
could not sue in federal court. The court also ruled that the federal government did not have the
power to prohibit slavery in its territories. Scott, needless to say, remained a slave.
Some people suggest that President-elect James Buchanan influenced the decision given by Chief
Justice Roger Taney. After the case, Scott’s original owner’s sons purchased him and gave Scott
his freedom. He died nine months later.
1859 John Brown’s Raid – The same John Brown from Bleeding Kansas now organized a slave
revolt at Harper’s Ferry, Virginia (today in West Virginia). He tried to break into a federal arsenal
and provide slaves with weapons. Brown was captured, convicted of treason and sentenced to
death.
1860 Abraham Lincoln was elected even though he did not receive one electoral vote from a
slaveholding state. In December, South Carolina seceded.
Emancipation Proclamation – During the Civil War, Lincoln decided to provide freedom for all
slaves living in states in rebellion of the Union. He did NOT free the slaves in the border states.
Missouri, Kentucky, Delaware and Maryland were all states that allowed slavery but did NOT
secede to join the Confederacy. His goal was to preserve the Union by winning the war. Then, he
planned to abolish slavery. If he freed the slaves in the border states, they may have seceded,
making it more difficult for Lincoln to win the Civil War.