The divisions in the United States in the mid1800s were about States Rights and Political Power Slavery was the face of these differences but NOT the cause of these differences North Industrial ID: 170530
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Slide1
Balance of Power
The divisions in the United States in the mid-1800s were about
States’ Rights and Political Power
Slavery was the face of these differences, but NOT the cause of these differences.Slide2
North
Industrial
Urban
Wage laborHigh TariffsPowerful national gov SouthAgriculturalRuralSlave laborLow tariffs States’ Rights (powerful state gov) Slide3
Congress:
House of Representatives:
Votes are based on population
Urban North has more votesSenate:Every state has 2 Senators11 Free states have 22 votes11 slave states have 22 votes1819- Missouri applies for statehood, threatens to tip power balance… Slide4
Tallmadge Amendment
Law
suggested
in 1819 that said: Missouri could only enter the Union as a Free statePassed in the House of Reps (north had more votes)Blocked in the Senate (north and south have equal votes)Never became lawThis was a WARNING to the south (they must keep the balance of power or the North would have the power to pass laws against southern interests!) Slide5
Missouri Compromise 1820
Missouri would enter Union as a Slave State
Maine would enter Union as a Free State
This would maintain the balance of power in the Senate 12 to 123. 36* 30’ line: and imaginary line drawn across Louisiana territory North of the line slavery was bannedSouth of the line slavery was allowedThis kept the country together but few were pleasedSlide6
Gag Rule
The growing Abolition movement of the 1830s pressured Congress to interfere with slavery
Congress believed it didn’t have the power to interfere
During the 1830s Congress tabled all talk of slavery and refused to take up any debate on the topic of slaveryThis worked to hold the country together, but only until new Territories were added to the country in the 1840s.Slide7
Wilmot Proviso
A
suggested
law in 1846To prohibit slavery in territories added to the United States as a result of the Mexican-American WarPassed in the House of Reps (north had more votes)Blocked in the Senate (north and south have equal votes)Never became lawThis was a WARNING to the south (they must keep the balance of power or the North would have the power to pass laws against southern interests) Slide8
1849 California Applies for Statehood
Settled during the gold rush
The people of California do not own slaves
Southern states fearing a loss of power reject the requestDead lockSlide9
The Senate Debates California statehood
Discuss these questions. Make sure everyone in at your table can answer them from the perspective you have been assigned
How do you think Congress should settle the issue of slavery?
What do you think Congress should do about fugitive slaves?Should California be granted statehood? Why or why not?Will the admission of California into the Union keep the country together or pull it apart? Why?