Transcript Road to the Civil War

Causes of the Civil War
1
(1787) Banned slavery in the
Northwest territories
2
Created MO/ME and
banned slavery north of
the 36° parallel
Missouri Compromise - 1820
Kept the balance of free & slave states in the Senate
3
NULLFICATION CRISIS
(1832) – States’ Rights vs.
Preserving the Union
South Carolina nullifies Tariff of Abominations &
threatens to secede
The issue stayed in the background after the Missouri Compromise
The proposal to add new states and
territories (Texas, New Mexico, and
California) brought the issue back up
On numerous occasions, Congress made motions to not discuss
the topic in session
4
• A bitter debate over
slavery in the new west
• Rep. David Wilmot (Penn)
– Proposed slavery be
prohibited in any land
acquired from Mexico
• Sen. John Calhoun (S.C.)
– No govt. authority can
prohibit or regulate slavery
in a territory
• Neither proposal passed,
but intensified the debate
4
• Some say Missouri Compromise line should
extend west
• Others called for popular sovereignty
– People in the territories will vote on whether to
allow or deny slavery
1st president never previously
elected to a public office
Debate in Congress centered on
California becoming a state
The old guard of
19th century
politicians take
the lead in
Congress
Clay seeks a compromise and makes over
70 speeches in the House (Webster
supported holding the Union together)
In the Senate, Calhoun (too sick to read his
own statements) calls for the south to secede –
DIES DURING THE DEBATE
President Taylor wants to
abolish slavery and
threatens to veto the bill
Taylor dies suddenly–
Millard Fillmore
becomes President &
signs the bill
5
Terms:
For the
North
California admitted as a free state
Slave trade abolished in District of Columbia
Texas gave up its western lands for $10 million
For the
South
New Mexico & Utah organized under popular sovereignty
Fugitive Slave Law passed
6
Return escaped slaves to their
state & owner/all citizens
expected to help
Whig party dying!!!
Whigs choose another Mexican War
General (another war hero like Jackson)