The 1820 Missouri Compromise

The 1820 Missouri Compromise

Slavery and the Civil War

By Stephen Waters

Research Task- Describe the role of the 1820 Missouri Compromise in the campaign against slavery!

The 1820 Missouri Compromise played a large role in the campaign against slavery. In 1819 Missouri became a statehood and congress considered framing a state constitution, with this a representative attempted to add a anti-slavery legislation with it. This is what started the process of the campaign against slavery. Henry Clay made a large contribution toward this compromise in 1820, with his new ideas on how to settle the conflict between the North and the South, which lasted until 1954.All the compromise's made from 1820's to the Kansas Nebraska compromise in 1854, were all factors which led to the civil war.

The state constitution in 1819, was what began of this compromise when James Tallmadge, a representative from New York attempted to add a anti- slavery amendment to the legislation. This gave a ugly and conflicted debate over slavery and the governments rights to restrict slavery. This Tallmadge amendment restricted all further introduction of slaves into Missouri and provided setting free once they reached the age of 25.This legislation was not passed, as the House of Representatives which was controlled by the North passed the idea, but it failed in the Senate which was equally divided between the North and the South. Although the legislation didn't pass it led to Henry Clay taking it on when Maine became a free state.

When Maine became a free state, the plan was largely that of Henry Clay who became known as the Ð''Great Compromiser.' Before there was a Compromise, there was a lot of controversy as there was always a equal amount of free states and slaves states since 1789, if Maine was to become a free state (which was highly unavoidable as slaves started to migrate into Missouri and the West of Mississippi), there became a unbalance. This issue was resolved through a two-part compromise, the northern part of Massachuset became known as Maine and was made a free state, at the same time Missouri was a slave state which would once again maintain a balance of 12 slave and 12 free states. In addition to this, a line was drawn at 36 degrees 30 minutes North latitude, and any sections of Louisiana territory lying North of the compromise would be free. This act also provided that if any escaped slave, go into state or territory of the United States, can be legally reclaimed to the person who the slave is owned by.

Due to the compromise in the 1820, stimulation of freeing of slaves in the North was strengthened, along with the laws of slave rights in the south. It revealed to the North, that slavery was rapidly falling out, and the economic consequences could be a major problem as cotton gin was such a successful profit with the use of slaves in the south.

In 1832, the New England Anti-Slavery society was formed. Men in the North joined with the South in the effort to keep the subject of slavery out of National Politics, the reason for this is the extreme debate of 1820 Missouri compromise, and the angry defiance of the Tallmadge's. As the abolition of slavery of the National District of Columbia had been sent by people supporting anti-slavery, they had been referred, as it was only a small committee and it was thought that little conflict would occur. However, with opening of the sessions in 1835, some of the Northern Members began to debate the question. Slade of Vermont, who was serving his sixth congressional term, wanted a abolitionist petition be printed. The Southerners reaction to this was expressed through a violent protest, they also called on congress to stop interfering with slavery in the certain districts. Slade took up the challenge to speak with these protestors through a speech, which revived the unpleasantries of the 1820 Missouri Compromise.

By 1854 the Missouri Organization was overdue along with other states. As the falling out of slaves was becoming very common in certain territories which further complicated this issue, along with the location of the projected Transcontinental Railroad. This Missouri Compromise was the third debate on slavery in that certain area since