Sectionalism

A Nation Divides

Sectionalism

• The Country divides over:– Economy Differences– Expansion out West– Slavery Issues

3/5 Compromise

• 1787• Counting slaves in population for voting in the

South– Gets Constitution ratified

Northwest Ordinance

• 1787• Early law outlawed slavery in new territories

out West

Missouri Compromise

• 1819• Henry Clay: Keeps balance in Union with

compromise– Missouri: Slave state– Maine: Free state

Wilmot Proviso

• 1846• David Wilmot [PA]: New bill BANS slavery in

lands won in the Mexican War [Southwest & West]– It does NOT get passed

Compromise of 1850

• Henry Clay: Creates another compromise– California: Free state– New Mexico & Utah: Popular Sovereignty

• Border Dispute: Texas & New Mexico settled• Congress Power: NO POWER over slave trade

between states

Popular Sovereignty: the people make the decision by voting

Compromise of 1850• Washington D.C.: Slave trade BANNED• Fugitive Slave Law: Required ALL citizens to

help catch runaway slaves.– 6 months or $1,000 fine– Special Courts were created– North HATED this new law

Kansas-Nebraska Act

• 1854• Popular Sovereignty: People vote to decide

on slavery for the states• Border Ruffians: Moved across state lines to

influence the voting

Kansas-Nebraska Act

• Kansas: Pro slave government– DEATH PENALTY for helping runaway slaves– 2-yr Prison term for speaking out against slavery

• Bleeding Kansas: John Brown leads abolitionists in guerilla warfare. Killed 200 people

Abolitionists: against slavery- wanted to ‘abolish’ it,Many fought against slavery in the name of religion.

Slavery

• Slavery was dividing the nation– Slaveholders– Abolitionists– Moderates

Slaveholders

• South– Their way of life was being threatened– Economy would be crushed– Wanted slavery in ALL STATES– Wanted North to help catch runaway slaves

Abolitionists

• North– South was like a “foreign country”– Wanted slavery stopped EVERYWHERE– Slavery was a moral wrong

Moderates

• Moderates– Lived everywhere– Wanted Missouri Compromise to go across the

entire nation– Wanted Popular Sovereignty to decide slave

issues

END