The Missouri Compromise Lecture Notes
Introduction
- Topic: The Missouri Compromise
- Context: Admission of Missouri as a state and the political implications regarding slavery.
- Key Issue: Balancing power between pro-slavery and anti-slavery states as America expanded westward.
Sectionalism in America
- North vs. South: The country was divided into North (anti-slavery) and South (pro-slavery).
- New States/Territories: Each new state or territory's stance on slavery influenced the national balance of power.
Representation and Power
- House of Representatives: Representation based on population.
- Three-Fifths Compromise: Southern states could count three out of every five slaves for representation and taxation.
- Senate: Each state had equal representation with two senators, regardless of size.
- Power Struggle: Most power struggles localized in the Senate.
Economic Necessities of the South
- Southern Economy: Dependent on large-scale cotton and tobacco farming.
- Workforce: Required large workforce, hence the reliance on slavery.
Equilibrium of States
- Alabama Admission (1819): Admitted as a slave state, achieving a balance between slave and free states.
- Missouri's Admission: Threatened to tip the balance in favor of slave states.
- Maine's Admission: Proposed to be admitted as a free state to maintain balance.
The Compromise
- Agreement: Maine admitted as a free state, Missouri as a slave state.
- Stipulation: Territories west of Missouri and north of the 36°30' parallel would be free.
- Trade-offs: Included measures to encourage the return of runaway slaves.
Thomas Jefferson's Warning
- Division: Recognized the deep division in the nation over slavery.
- Prediction: Believed unresolved issues would lead to eventual conflict and war.
Political Power Struggle
- Henry Clay: The Great Compromiser, Speaker of the House, played a key role in brokering the compromise.
- Temporary Solution: Seen as a stopgap measure, prolonging the inevitable conflict over slavery.
Conclusion
- Civil War: The question of slavery vs. freedom ultimately led to the Civil War in the 1860s.
- Further Resources: Information and e-book available through a provided link.
This overview highlights the key points of the Missouri Compromise of 1820, focusing on the balance of power between slave and free states, the economic implications for the South, and the broader political struggle that eventually led to the Civil War.