David Wilmot, the Wilmot David Wilmot, the Wilmot Proviso and Stephen A. Proviso and Stephen A. Douglas and Popular Douglas and Popular

Sovereignty Sovereignty

Where were we coming from? Why did we Where were we coming from? Why did we need to make a decision regarding this need to make a decision regarding this

territory?territory? Based upon the Missouri Compromise of 1820, any Based upon the Missouri Compromise of 1820, any

area above the 36 degree 30 minute North Latitude area above the 36 degree 30 minute North Latitude line would be free, but no decision would be made line would be free, but no decision would be made regarding the Mexican territory to the South of the 36 regarding the Mexican territory to the South of the 36

The Results of the Mexican The Results of the Mexican WarWar

► In 1848, the United In 1848, the United States became the States became the owner of what later owner of what later become the states become the states of California, of California, Nevada, Utah, New Nevada, Utah, New Mexico, and Arizona.Mexico, and Arizona.

► This area had no This area had no previous legislation previous legislation done to it since no done to it since no decision was made decision was made upon it during the upon it during the Missouri Missouri Compromise Compromise

David WilmotDavid Wilmot► A Democrat who was a A Democrat who was a

Representative in the Representative in the U.S. House of U.S. House of Representatives from Representatives from 1844 through 1851, he 1844 through 1851, he was also later a member was also later a member of the Free Soil party, of the Free Soil party, which formed in the which formed in the 1850’s as a third party.1850’s as a third party.

► Wilmot was not Wilmot was not necessarily against necessarily against slavery, he was merely slavery, he was merely against the spread of against the spread of slavery into new slavery into new territories, which is the territories, which is the same stance that Lincoln same stance that Lincoln had taken for the had taken for the Republicans in the Republicans in the Election of 1860.Election of 1860.

The Wilmot ProvisoThe Wilmot Proviso► Wilmot, based on the justification that Wilmot, based on the justification that

slavery should not exist in the Mexican slavery should not exist in the Mexican War territory for geographic reasons, War territory for geographic reasons, proposed to Congress that slavery should proposed to Congress that slavery should be banned in all of the territory gained be banned in all of the territory gained from Spain.from Spain.

Popular Sovereignty and Popular Sovereignty and Stephen A. DouglasStephen A. Douglas

Popular Sovereignty and Popular Sovereignty and Stephen A. DouglasStephen A. Douglas

► Stephen A. Douglas, in the Stephen A. Douglas, in the 1850’s championed a new 1850’s championed a new idea that was proposed idea that was proposed regarding the new regarding the new territories… allow them to territories… allow them to vote and choose for vote and choose for themselves whether or not themselves whether or not they wish to allow slavery. they wish to allow slavery.

► This appeared to be a This appeared to be a great and successful idea great and successful idea until you delve into the until you delve into the statistics of slave-owners statistics of slave-owners and did not become much and did not become much of a volatile issue until the of a volatile issue until the fraudulent voting occurred fraudulent voting occurred in Kansas.in Kansas.

Finishing QuestionsFinishing Questions► 1. What territory was the Wilmot Proviso in regards to?1. What territory was the Wilmot Proviso in regards to?

The territory gained from the Mexican WarThe territory gained from the Mexican War► 2. What did Wilmot want these territories to become?2. What did Wilmot want these territories to become?

Free StatesFree States► 3. What is the justification of David Wilmot and Daniel 3. What is the justification of David Wilmot and Daniel

Webster in backing this Proviso?Webster in backing this Proviso? Slavery could not and should exist in the geographic Slavery could not and should exist in the geographic

areas around New Mexico, it was not economical or areas around New Mexico, it was not economical or necessarynecessary

► 4. What is the idea of Popular Sovereignty and who 4. What is the idea of Popular Sovereignty and who introduced this idea into the lawmaking bodies?introduced this idea into the lawmaking bodies?

Territories could vote for themselves if they wished to Territories could vote for themselves if they wished to have or not have slaveryhave or not have slavery

► 5. Why did Popular Sovereignty seem to be a less 5. Why did Popular Sovereignty seem to be a less controversial solution to the slavery issue?controversial solution to the slavery issue?

Because the people of those individual states would Because the people of those individual states would have a choice.have a choice.