ipl-logo

The Missouri Compromise: Cause Of The Civil War

808 Words4 Pages

Abdelrahman Abdelhamid
History 1301
Prof. O'Gilvie
The Missouri Compromise
In the years leading up to the Missouri Compromise of 1820, tensions began to rise between pro-slavery and anti-slavery factions within the U.S. Congress and across the country. They reached a boiling point after Missouri’s 1819 request for admission to the Union as a slave state, which threatened to upset the delicate balance between slave states and free states.
At this moment in time, Congress was in the middle of deliberating Missouri statehood, by this time a normal expectation whenever a boundary territory accomplished the qualifying number of white settlers. Rapidly Tallmadge had thrilled the proceedings by introducing a debatable proposal: statehood should …show more content…

In a moment the smoldering coals of the slavery issue threatened to catch fire and burn out of control.
While on the other side, some Americans were strong-minded to surpass sectionalism and create an "era of good feelings." Inspired moderates such as President James Monroe, Rep. Henry Clay of Kentucky, and Secretary of War John C. Calhoun seized the initiative away from the truculent sectional extremists to avoid civil war. They worked out one of the most memorable compromises of American history.
In an attempt to improve the situation, Northern congressmen were quick to bring up that many of the South's most respected statesmen, either Thomas Jefferson, had often expressed a desire to find any solution of perpetuating slavery. So far now the South presented a virtually solid opposition and Thomas Jefferson joined their campaign which were required to force manumission upon a new state. Many days of arguments in the congress debates between the Northern and Southern congressmen about the Missouri controversy and the way headed the sessions were portending that the next era will initiate to a recurring sectional no way. Later on, this arguments will be a main and important reason in the civil war …show more content…

The House of Representatives narrowly approved gradual manumission 80 Northern votes to 14 while the South object just two votes to 64. But the slave states had greater strength in the Senate; besides, three of the four senators from Illinois and Indiana reflected the sentiment of settlers from the South and voted against the amendment. The Senate refused to accept any restriction on slavery and that was the reason that led to the Missouri compromise. Many of the senate leaders worked behind the scenes to create a compromise and break the dead end. The Senate leadership quickly joined the admission of Maine to be either a free state of not with Missouri into a single bill, which if passed would domain the concise balance of sections in the Senate. While the Northern majority still determining to enforce gradual manumission, Senator Jesse Thomas of Illinois suggested that slavery should be prohibited not in Missouri but in all the rest of the Louisiana Purchase lying north of 36°30′ latitude.
The Thomas proviso passed the House 95 out of 100 Northern rep. while Southerners were 39 to 37. By the Thomas proviso, 18 Northern rep. voted for Missouri statehood which was enough for it to pass with the support of a solid South. In the Senate, all the compromise measures were voted on together as a package: the South voted 20 to 2 in favor; the North, 18 to 4

Show More
Related

Why The Compromise Of 1850 Failed

175 Words | 1 Pages

The Compromise of 1850 was an attempt by the U.S Congress to settle divisive issues between the North and South, including slavery expansion, apprehension in the North of fugitive slaves, and slavery in the District of Columbia. The Compromise of 1850 failed because Senator John C. Calhoun from the South and Senator William Seward from the North could not agree on what Henry Clay was putting down. Part of the compromise was to make California a slavery free state which benefits the North, and enforcing a stricter fugitive slave law which benefits the South. Both the North and South opposed what the other was benefiting from. What sparked the failure of the Compromise was the Fugitive Slave Law of 1850.

Read More

What Are The Causes Of The Missouri Compromise

205 Words | 1 Pages

The Missouri Compromise was made as an attempt to deal with the debate that had been going on about slavery. It lasted thirty-four years, but never truly made the North orouth totally happy with the situation. Although the Missouri Compromise did push back the debate on slavery in Missouri, it did not solve the problem as a whole. The tension between the North and South was, in fact reduced for a period of time. Once the Missouri Compromise was declared unconstitutional, the tension once again grew.

Read More

Examples Of Conflicting Presidential Views

495 Words | 2 Pages

In his presidency, Monroe had to address the introduction of Missouri into the Union as a slave state since slavery was not in practice in the North, yet existed in the South. Monroe was forced to sign the Missouri Compromise in order to prevent the development of a civil war which ultimately became inevitable. Even though Monroe claimed to oppose slavery, he never took a strong viewpoint in the establishment of yet another slave state into the Union. Former President Adams was more insurgent in his efforts to annihilate slavery since he did not own slaves. Not only did he disagree with the institution of enslavement, but in the government “he became an important antislavery voice in Congress”(“Slavery Views”).

Read More

Political Compromises Leading Up To The Civil War

700 Words | 3 Pages

These compromises were very unpopular, especially in the south where pro-slavery politicians felt that their states were on the loosing end of these compromises. The first of these compromises was the Missouri Compromise which allowed Missouri to be admitted as a slave state while Maine was admitted as a free state. This compromise set a precedent that continued to be followed in which the number of new free states and new slave states was balanced. This compromise ensured that power in the senate would be balanced between free and slave states and would prevent either side from gaining the upper hand in the legislature. While this was a good idea in practice it created political gridlock and the compromise was effectively repealed in 1854 by the Kansas-Nebraska act which was the catalyst for the armed conflict fought over slavery known as Bleeding Kansas.

Read More

What Caused The Civil War Dbq

1122 Words | 5 Pages

These were a big deal involving slavery because they either strengthened slavery or made it seem like it was going to end all together. To the South, the thought of slavery ending was a complete disaster. In Document 9: Excerpt from the Dred Scott Decision, shows how Scott saw the Missouri Compromise. He says, “(I)t is the opinion of this court that the Act of Congress (the Missouri Compromise) which prohibited a citizen from holding and owning property of this kind (slaves) in the territory of the United States north of the line therein mentioned,...” This quote from his speech says he thinks that the Missouri Compromise was a good thing because it prohibited people who own slaves to cross the North and South border with their “property” or slaves.

Read More

What Is The Compromise Of 1860

378 Words | 2 Pages

Due to the fact that the South had more of an agricultural economy, the Southerners thought that the states should have the right to decide whether residents could own slaves, rather than the federal government. In 1846 a congressman from Pennsylvania named David Wilmot introduced a bill to the House of Representatives called the Wilmot Proviso. This said slavery would not be allowed in any western territory acquired from Mexico. Of course most of the politicians from the North loved the idea, while the politicians from the South did not. The Missouri Compromise on March 3, 1820 (also called the Compromise of 1820) was the first major legislative compromise that was passed to draw a line between slave and free territory.

Read More

Causes Of The Compromise Of 1850

518 Words | 3 Pages

When Missouri wanted to enter the union as a slave state, conflicts started between Congress and the South. The South began bringing up “ Civil War” and “Secession.” However, they created a compromise known as the Missouri Compromise. The Missouri Compromise allowed Missouri to join the union as a slave state and Maine to join as a free state and preserve the balance of power. Congress also drew an imaginary line across the Louisiana Purchase.

Read More

The Caning Of Sumner In 1856

989 Words | 4 Pages

Congress and across the country. They reached a boiling point after Missouri’s 1819 request for admission to the Union as a slave state or a free state, which threatened to upset the balance between slave states and free states. To keep the peace, Congress orchestrated a two-part compromise, granting Missouri’s request but also admitting Maine as a free state. It also passed an amendment that drew an imaginary line across the former Louisiana Territory, establishing a boundary between free and slave regions that remained the law of the land until it was negated by the Kansas. The north’s reaction towards the MIssouri Compromise was that they condemned it for acquiescing in the expansion of

Read More

Era Of Good Feelings Dbq Analysis

776 Words | 4 Pages

When Congress issued tariffs on foreign goods, Southerners believed that Congress favored the North since this tariff would benefit them. John Randolph spoke of this issue, arguing that Congress was being unfair since the South was not benefiting from the actions of Congress at all while the North benefited (Doc A). As for political conflict, there was a clear case of factionalism and political rivalry in 1824 (Doc I). With these conflicts amongst the varying factions and political parties, the political tension and sectionalism within America continued to grow. Accusations and anger from the South further separated them from the North, which did not contribute “good feelings” to the country at

Read More

Short And Long Term Effects Of The Civil War

866 Words | 4 Pages

He was famous for his insistence on the annexation of Texas. The acquisition of such western lands fed northern fear of the Slave Power Slave masters from the South held a conspiracy to maintain their traditional slaveholding ways when moving to acquired territory. The Southern white threatened the idealism of the Missouri Compromise. The Missouri Compromise was an effort by Congress to defuse the sectional and political rivalries triggered by the request of Missouri late in 1819 for admission as a state in which slavery would be permitted. A line was also drawn through the unincorporated western territories along the 36⁰30 parallel which divided the north and south as free and slave states.

Read More

Political Dispute Around 1820-1860 Essay

61 Words | 1 Pages

The cause of most political dispute around 1820-1860 was mostly about slavery. There has been division between the North and the South, though compromise had usually serve in calming the disagreement. However, nearing 1860, political compromise appeared useless. Comprises simply postponed addressing the issue, and led to even more greater issues than needed,compromise wasn’t working politically, socially,and economically for our nation.

Read More

Missouri Compromise Essay

1563 Words | 7 Pages

The South did not like the Missouri Compromise, though. They did not like it due to the fact that Congress would now have the power to make or change any rules dealing with slavery if they felt that they needed to (Forbes

Read More

Dbq Era Of Good Feelings

557 Words | 3 Pages

Although in the Missouri Compromise, Missouri became a slave state and Maine became a free state, it was an example of disunity. All new states north of the Mason-Dixon Line would be free and new states southward would be slave states. As a result, there was also an unbalanced sectional population between the North and South. (Doc. E & F).

Read More

What Was The Missouri Compromise

261 Words | 2 Pages

The Missouri Compromise greatly limited the growth and development of slavery in the United States. It allowed Missouri to become a state, and to allow slaves, and Maine, as a free state. The compromise also prohibited the practice of slavery in the northern portion of the Louisiana Territory. By this time, the importation of slaves from Africa had been outlawed, and they could only be purchased within the country. This meant also meant, that states that entered would be free states.

Read More

Compromises Between 1820 And 1860

1121 Words | 5 Pages

The issue the compromise was about was whether there should be slavery in the western territories. Maine wanted to be added to the Union, however, slavery was banned there. If Maine were to be added to the Union, it would upset the balance between free and slave states in the nation and the Senate. So, the Missouri Compromise, proposed by Senator Henry Clay, allowed Maine to enter the Union as a free state, and allowed Missouri to be entered into the Union as a slave state.

Read More

More about The Missouri Compromise: Cause Of The Civil War

Related Topics

Open Document