The Compromises: Successes and Failures

 

As the US expanded and added territory, the slavery question created the need for compromises between North and South

 

The Missouri Compromise 1820:

     Missouri will be added as a slave state

     Maine will be added as a free state

     North of 36 degrees will be free

     South of 36 degrees will be slave

 

Compromise of 1850:

     California admitted as a free state

     Passage of the Fugitive Slave Law

     Slave trade is outlawed in Washington

           D.C.

     Other territories of Mexican Cession

           could decide slavery issue for

           themselves: Popular Sovereignty

 

Kansas-Nebraska Act 1854:

     Kansas and Nebraska territories were

           formed

     Popular Sovereignty in these states              Repeals Missouri Compromise line, allow

           all new territories to decide for

           themselves

 

This Act led to “Bleeding Kansas” when people from both sides rushed into Kansas and fought amonst themselves in a mini Civil War

 

Dred Scott Case 1857:

     Slaves are property; owners have the

           right to property under 5th amendment

     Dred Scott is a slave, not a citizen and he

           cannot sue for his freedom

     Declared the Missouri Compromise

           unConstitutional (based on property)

     * This decision was made to avoid Civil

           War

 

John Brown’s Raid on Harper’s Ferry 1859:

     Raid of a federal arsenal to arm slaves for

           a massive slave revolt

     The raid failed but John Brown became a

           martyr for the abolition movement