Causes of the Civil War

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Causes of the Civil War
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Northwest Ordinance
(1787) Banned slavery in the Northwest territories
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Created MO/ME and banned slavery north of the 36
parallel
Missouri Compromise - 1820
Kept the balance of free slave states in the
Senate
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NULLFICATION CRISIS (1832) States Rights vs.
Preserving the Union
South Carolina nullifies Tariff of Abominations
threatens to secede
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Slavery in America
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
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Wilmot Proviso

• 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

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Moderate Views

• 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

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1st president never previously elected to a
public office
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Debate of 1850
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
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COMPROMISE OF 1850
President Taylor wants to abolish slavery and
threatens to veto the bill
Taylor dies suddenly Millard Fillmore becomes
President signs the bill
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COMPROMISE OF 1850
Terms
California admitted as a free state
For the North
Slave trade abolished in District of Columbia
Texas gave up its western lands for 10 million
New Mexico Utah organized under popular
sovereignty
For the South
Fugitive Slave Law passed
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Fugitive Slave Law
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Return escaped slaves to their state owner/all
citizens expected to help
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Whig party dying!!!
Whigs choose another Mexican War General (another
war hero like Jackson)