Section 1
Mexican-American War Triggers Slavery Debate
The territory gained from Mexico in 1848 reignited conflict over slavery. Northerners feared slavery would spread west, while southerners worried about losing political power in Congress.
In this Grade 8 lesson from America: History of Our Nation, students examine how the Mexican-American War reignited the slavery debate by threatening the balance between free and slaveholding states, exploring key concepts such as the Wilmot Proviso, popular sovereignty, and the formation of the Free-Soil Party. Students also analyze Henry Clay's Compromise of 1850 and the contrasting positions of John C. Calhoun and Daniel Webster as the North and South moved closer to crisis over the expansion of slavery into new territories.
Section 1
Mexican-American War Triggers Slavery Debate
The territory gained from Mexico in 1848 reignited conflict over slavery. Northerners feared slavery would spread west, while southerners worried about losing political power in Congress.
Section 2
Free-Soil Party Fights Slavery's Expansion
Antislavery Whigs and Democrats formed the Free-Soil Party in 1848 to oppose slavery's spread into western territories, challenging both major parties that avoided taking firm positions on the issue.
Section 3
Clay Proposes Compromise to Prevent Crisis
Senator Henry Clay, known as the Great Compromiser, offered proposals in 1850 to resolve tensions between North and South over California's admission as a free state and fugitive slave policies.
Section 4
Senators Debate Union's Future
John C. Calhoun opposed compromise and threatened southern secession, while Daniel Webster supported Clay's proposals to preserve the Union, creating one of America's greatest political debates.
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Section 1
Mexican-American War Triggers Slavery Debate
The territory gained from Mexico in 1848 reignited conflict over slavery. Northerners feared slavery would spread west, while southerners worried about losing political power in Congress.
Section 2
Free-Soil Party Fights Slavery's Expansion
Antislavery Whigs and Democrats formed the Free-Soil Party in 1848 to oppose slavery's spread into western territories, challenging both major parties that avoided taking firm positions on the issue.
Section 3
Clay Proposes Compromise to Prevent Crisis
Senator Henry Clay, known as the Great Compromiser, offered proposals in 1850 to resolve tensions between North and South over California's admission as a free state and fugitive slave policies.
Section 4
Senators Debate Union's Future
John C. Calhoun opposed compromise and threatened southern secession, while Daniel Webster supported Clay's proposals to preserve the Union, creating one of America's greatest political debates.
Book overview
Jump across lessons in the current chapter without opening the full course modal.
Continue this chapter