Chapter 15Chapter 15Road to the Civil War

Section 1: Slavery and the Section 1: Slavery and the WestWestMissouri Compromise: Afraid to upset the balance between slave and free states

SectionalismSectionalism

Exaggerated loyalty to a particular region of the country

Clay’s ProposalClay’s Proposal Missouri Compromise: Preserved

the balance between slave and free states in the Senate.

1. Maine comes in as free state2. Missouri comes in Union as

slave state

New Western LandsNew Western LandsTexasNew Mexico CaliforniaIssue Slave or Free state?

Conflicting ViewConflicting View

What do you do we do with the land we won from Mexico in the Mexican War?

Slave or Free?????

Wilmot ProvisoWilmot ProvisoIt sailed that slavery should be prohibited in any lands that might be acquired by Mexico

Southerners hated this!Northerners thought it was a great idea.

It sailed through the House of Representative but failed in the Senate. Why?

John C. CalhounJohn C. CalhounHe believed that Congress should

not regulate the decision of slavery for the new western lands.

Free Soil PartyFree Soil PartyPolitical party formed to keep

slavery out of the new western lands

Free Soil, Free Speech, Free Labor, and Free Men

Their 1848 candidate was former president Martin Van Buren

WhigsWhigsWhigs 1848 candidate was

Zachary TaylorHe took no position on slaveryDebate over slavery was too

controversial

Zachary Taylor Zachary Taylor WonWonWhy?

CaliforniaCalifornia

California in 1850 wanted to apply for statehood.

Why and why was it controversial?

The Compromise of 1850The Compromise of 1850 Henry Clay presented a compromise to

the crisis of California wanting statehood1. California will be a free state2. New Mexico Territory would have no

restrictions on slavery: Popular Sovereignty

3. New-Mexico-Texas border dispute will be settled in favor of New Mexico

4. Slave trade in Washington, DC will be abolished

5. The Fugitive Slave Law: Hated!

Fugitive Slave LawFugitive Slave LawIf you are caught helping a run

away slave, you can be fined or imprisoned.

Slaves must be returned to their owners

Northerners hated this law!

Compromise of 1850Compromise of 1850Many Southerners threatened to

secede from Union if this was passed

President Taylor threatened South with force if they try to secede

President Taylor diesMillard Fillmore becomes new

PresidentUnlike Taylor, he supported this

compromise

Fillmore called this a “Final Fillmore called this a “Final Settlement”Settlement”But is it?