In the beginnings of the United States slavery was a main component to the society and the economy created by settlers of America. As time continued some felt that slavery was still needed and that it was necessary for slaves to exist. Others thought they should not even be around black people and that America should be a white only country. The side that won out today was neither slavery nor white supremacy, but the abolition of slavery entirely. This change took many years to occur and even a war to settle this conflict once and for all. Speaking about this topic became a problem in itself becomes of the sorrow and destruction that followed slavery in its wake. The waters of america become filled with waves and no politician wanted to be the first one to dive in. Looking back into American history how do we know the debate over slavery was “the elephant in the room” for politicians in the U.S.A?
Politics in particular started to become a balancing act around 1820. As new territories started to be founded in the west both the north and south wanted to maintain power in congress. The south and the north both had the same number of states which meant that those who wanted slavery to be abolished and those who wanted slavery could both have their say. The Missouri compromise kept this balance and created an even split of 11 states to both the south and north. Similarly, in 1850 California attempted to be recognized as a state. Henry clay, senator of Kentucky, predicted this dispute and he proposed a 5-part compromise. After the victory in the Mexican war America had acquired more land. The land would be broken up into New Mexico,Nevada, Utah, and Arizona. These territories would let those who populate them decide whether or not they would be slave states or anti-slave states. In addition, the compromise would prohibit slave trade in Washington D.C, but one could keep their slaves if they had some preceding the bill. The Fugitive Slave Act was also drafted required slaves to be returned to their masters no matter the circumstances, and when the slave was caught a trial would occur and if the judge let the slave go free he would receive $5 and receive $10 if given back to the master. The 1850 compromise let the population decide whether or not the west would be anti-slavery or slaves states, stopped slave trade in the capitol (even though they allowed it), and encouraged the capture and favored those who returned the runaway slaves to their master. The Kansas Nebraska act was followed the 1850 compromise and allowed the north to build a railroad into the west, but the north was now allowed to own slaves. For the most part the north did not start to have slaves, but the borders of the south to the north did see some slave plantations.
American politicians tackled handling the dispute of slavery by avoiding to solve the problem directly. Most solutions did not drastically change slavery in America. The majority of ideas involved trying to sway what the population wanted so that eventually either slavery or anti-slavery won out. This would allow the politicians to avoid the topic and let the population choose what they wanted.
The class work was as followed, reading articles, creating a timeline of laws and bills that were passed, and class discussions on the information.
Article on 1850 Compromise
http://socialstudieswithasmile.com/Kensasnebraskaact.html
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