What Led Up To The Compromise Of 1850

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Though, there were many contributions to the downfall of the Union during the 1800’s, the major issues were due to lack of communication. The constitution was misinterpreted and left out many key topics. One of the many stressed topics was slavery. The resolution was far worse than they would have imagined, but it was much needed.

In 1820, Missouri was admitted to the Union as a slave state, and Maine as a free state. This was called the Missouri Compromise. At the time, there were 22 states and half were free states, the other half, slave states. Many were confused as to how this would even work because the slaves would just be able to run away to free states. This compromise was to maintain a balance between the slave states and the free states in the Senate. Though it was to maintain peace, it only brought trouble. The Compromise of 1850 made it so that the fugitive slave act was in motion and abolished the slave trade in Washington, D.C. This compromise also made California a slave-free state.

In 1854, the Missouri compromise was set aside and declared unconstitutional. The Kansas-Nebraska Act canceled out the Missouri compromise and made it so slavery was legal again since it was unconstitutional to deny slavery when the congress didn’t have the authority to deny it. …show more content…

In 1857, the Supreme Court decision denied African Americans any citizenship rights. This meant that even the freed slaves would not receive any citizen rights. The Court declared that slavers were property and this completely sealed any possibility of the free-states’ return since the Missouri Compromise. Finally, in 1860, Abraham Lincoln stepped up and began the process to resolution. Lincoln opposed the expansion of slavery into the territories. He beat out the three candidates and became president. As the 16th president, Abraham Lincoln would be a hero for thousands of