2 COMPROMISES, A PROVISO, AND AN ACT

YOU HAVE A PROBLEM…

It’s the 1800’s. The nation wants to keep the balance of slave and free states equal in the United States. However, there is a lot of new territory…and these territories want to become states.

How do you decide which territories become slave states and which ones become free states?

4 MAIN CAUSES OF THE CIVIL WAR…

Sectionalism Economic Differences Social Differences

Slavery Morality of Slavery Economics of Slavery

States’ Rights Federal vs. Local Government

Stalemate No Political Compromise No Social compromise

FOLDABLE TIME!

Hot Dog Style

3 Cuts

Outside: Missouri Compromise, Wilmot Proviso, Compromise of 1850, Kansas – Nebraska Act

Inside: When, What, and Result

MISSOURI COMPROMISE

1820

Missouri: Slave State

Maine: Free State

Kept the balance

Lasted until Mexican-American War

WILMOT PROVISO

1846 Proposed by Congressman David Wilmot

All territory gained from Mexico (Texas, California, New Mexico, Utah)

All territory would become free states

Divided the parties along North/South Lines (sectionalism!)

Too controversial to pass

COMPROMISE OF 1850

1850

California would balance Texas

California: Free, Texas: Slave

Rest of Mexican Cession would be settled by Popular Sovereignty (Utah, New Mexico)

Fugitive Slave Law, Angered Northerners

KANSAS-NEBRASKA ACT

1854: New Territories determined their own status by voting (Popular Sovereignty)

Took away half of “Indian Territory”

Resulted in “Bleeding Kansas”

THE EXECUTION OF JOHN BROWN

John T. L. Preston was a teacher at the Virginia Military Institute. He was present at John Brown’s execution as the Institute provided a contingent of cadets as part of the security at the event. He wrote the following description of the scene:

"He was now all ready. The sheriff asked him if he should give him a private signal before the fatal moment. He replied in a voice that seemed to me unnaturally natural, so composed was its tone, and so distinct its articulation, that 'it did not matter to him, if only they would not keep him too long waiting'. He was kept waiting, however. The troops that had formed his escort had to be put into their position, and while this was going on, he stood for some ten or fifteen minutes blindfold, the rope around his neck, and his feet on the treacherous platform, expecting instantly the fatal act. But he stood for this comparatively long time upright as a soldier in position, and motionless.

I was close to him, and watched him narrowly, to see if I could perceive any signs of shrinking or trembling in his person, but there was none. Once I thought I saw his knees tremble, but it was only the wind blowing his loose trousers. His firmness was subjected to still further trial by hearing Colonel Smith announce to the sheriff, 'We are all ready, Mr. Campbell.' The sheriff did not hear, or did not comprehend; and in a louder tone the same announcement was made. But the culprit still stood ready until the sheriff, descending the flight of steps, with a well-directed blow of a sharp hatchet, severed the rope that held up the trap door, which instantly sank beneath him, and he fell about three feet. . .

John Brown was hanging between heaven and earth."

From a letter published in the Lexington (VA) Gazette, December 15, 1859