Questioned about slavery allowed in new territories
Many compromises were made
Raised in 1857 before the Supreme Court (Dred Scott v. Sanford)
Dred Scott - Slave of army surgeon John Emerson
Sued Emerson's wife for his freedom in a free state and free territory for a period of time
Case reached the Supreme Court
Verdict:
- Scott's "sojourn" of two years to Illinois and the Northwest Territory didn't make him free when he returned to Missouri - Because of his race, Scott was excluded from U.S citizenship - Congress never had the right to prohibit slavery in any territory; banning slavery was a violation of the 5th Amendment, which prohibited denying property rights without process of law - Missouri Compromise was unconstitutional
The Kansas-Nebraska Act was an 1854 bill that mandated popular sovereignty, allowing settlers to decide whether slavery was allowed in their territories. Proposed by Douglas, the bill overturned the use of the Missouri Compromise, changing the boundary between slave and free territory. Because of this, Bleeding Kansas was born and helped pave the way for the American Civil War.
Yes, I agree with the statement. Bleeding Kansas was the war that inspired the Civil War, believe it or not. But what triggered the war was the Kansas-Nebraska Act, which changed the boundary and increased the antagonism between pro-
North and South differ strongly on slavery. Because the northern states had more industrialization, they didn't hold slavery as positive development for the nation. One example of their division would be the Northwest Ordinance of 1787. The land west of the Mississippi River and east of the Appalachian Mountains was to outlaw slavery, helping to establish the idea of free and slave states. Another example is the Missouri Compromise of 1820 created to solve the dispute over what would become of the states in the western part of the nation. Also allows Missouri and Maine to join as free states.
Westward expansion stroked tensions in Congress as North and South disputed whether or not to have slavery in new territories. During the Mexican War, David Wilmot of Pennsylvania attempts to limit slavery in the West through an amendment to a war appropriations bill. His proviso of banning slavery passed the House but not the Senate. The Wilmot Proviso kept slavery at forefront of congressional debate.
They all dominated national politics from the End of the War of 1812 until their deaths in the early 1850s. Although none became President, their impact created in Congress was far greater than any President of the era, with the exception of Andrew Jackson. Throughout their time in power, slavery was an issue. However, they continuously kept peace in America by forging a series of compromises.
Tensions rises between pro-slavery and anti-slavery within U.S Congress and across the country
After the Missouri's 1819 request for admission to Union as free state, the balance between slave and free states are threatened
Congress creates 2-part compromise to grant Missouri and Maine as free states
Passes amendment drawing imaginary line across former Louisana Territory, establishing boundary between free and state regions until it was negated by the Kansas-Nebraska Act
Compromise of 1850
Divisions over slavery in territory gained the Mexican-American War from 1846-1848
Resolves the War
Admits California as free state
Creates Utah and New Mexico territories with the question of slavery to each be determined by popular sovereignty
Settles Texas-New Mexico dispute, ending slave trade in Washington D.C