HIST 127 Lecture Notes - Lecture 28: Know Nothing, Lecompton Constitution, Nebraska Territory
Document Summary
Four proposals regarding the debate about slavery in the west. Extension of the missouri compromise to the pacific. Protection of the property of slave holders even if few lives in the territory. Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude shall exist in any part of said territory. Passed mostly by northern lawmakers (more than 50 versions) Religions divided into sects because of the proviso: baptists, methodists, Belonged to no party and never voted. Emerged bc northern whigs (anti slavery whigs) didn"t like that taylor owned slaves. Taylor elected - first president from the lower south. 1849-1850 100,000 people fled to california. 1853: gold mining operations had undergone structural and technological changes that made many miners superfluous. Ca constitution contained no provision for slavery. Admission of ca as free state would tip the balance and give free states the majority. Clay urged that congress should take 5 steps. Allow residents of nm and utah to decide.
