200TH ANNIVERSARY OF PASSAGE OF MISSOURI COMPROMISE
Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) Two centuries ago, on March 3, 1820, the Congress of the United States passed a bill to resolve the first serious problem the nation faced over the slavery issue.
In 1819, there were 19 states where slavery was prohibited and 19 states where slavery was legal. This "balance" between slave and free states represented in the United States Senate was threatened when MISSOURI sought admission to the Union.
Representative James Tallmadge, Jr.* of New York (Democratic-Republican) proposed Missouri be admitted as a FREE state. This idea was not to the liking, however, of those who represented SLAVE states. It would upset the balance in favor of the free states.
Henry Clay, Sr.** of Kentucky proposed this solution....
1) Missouri would be admitted as a slave state.
2) Maine would be admitted as a free state.
3) Slavery would be allowed in territories south of the 36th parallel.
4) Slavery would be prohibited in territories north of the 36th parallel.
While imperfect, the MISSOURI COMPROMISE (1820) stood until 1854 when it was repealed by passage of the controversial Kansas-Nebraska Act which allowed a popular vote on slavery in territories north or south of the 36th parallel.
In Profiles in Courage, Senator John F. Kennedy wrote that Henry Clay...
'had visions of a greater America beyond those of (Daniel Webster & John C. Calhoun). In 1820, 1833 and 1850, he initiated, hammered and charmed through reluctant Congresses the three great compromises that preserved the Union until 1861."
*James Tallmadge, Jr. (1778-1853) was born in Stanford, NY & educated at Brown University. JTJ was a member of the House of Representatives (1817-1819) & served as Governor of NY (1825-1826).
**Henry Clay, Sr. (1777-1852) was born in Hanover County, VA & educated at William & Mary. HCS was a member of the House of Representatives (1806-07, 1810-1811, 1811-1820), Speaker of the House (1823-1825), Sec of State (1825-1829), & U.S. Senate (1831-1842, 1849-1852).
SOURCES
"Full Text of 'Profiles In Courage,' by John F. Kennedy," Internet Archives, www.archive.org/
"The Missouri Compromise," U.S. History, www.ushistory.org/
Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) Two centuries ago, on March 3, 1820, the Congress of the United States passed a bill to resolve the first serious problem the nation faced over the slavery issue.
In 1819, there were 19 states where slavery was prohibited and 19 states where slavery was legal. This "balance" between slave and free states represented in the United States Senate was threatened when MISSOURI sought admission to the Union.
Representative James Tallmadge, Jr.* of New York (Democratic-Republican) proposed Missouri be admitted as a FREE state. This idea was not to the liking, however, of those who represented SLAVE states. It would upset the balance in favor of the free states.
Henry Clay, Sr.** of Kentucky proposed this solution....
1) Missouri would be admitted as a slave state.
2) Maine would be admitted as a free state.
3) Slavery would be allowed in territories south of the 36th parallel.
4) Slavery would be prohibited in territories north of the 36th parallel.
While imperfect, the MISSOURI COMPROMISE (1820) stood until 1854 when it was repealed by passage of the controversial Kansas-Nebraska Act which allowed a popular vote on slavery in territories north or south of the 36th parallel.
In Profiles in Courage, Senator John F. Kennedy wrote that Henry Clay...
'had visions of a greater America beyond those of (Daniel Webster & John C. Calhoun). In 1820, 1833 and 1850, he initiated, hammered and charmed through reluctant Congresses the three great compromises that preserved the Union until 1861."
*James Tallmadge, Jr. (1778-1853) was born in Stanford, NY & educated at Brown University. JTJ was a member of the House of Representatives (1817-1819) & served as Governor of NY (1825-1826).
**Henry Clay, Sr. (1777-1852) was born in Hanover County, VA & educated at William & Mary. HCS was a member of the House of Representatives (1806-07, 1810-1811, 1811-1820), Speaker of the House (1823-1825), Sec of State (1825-1829), & U.S. Senate (1831-1842, 1849-1852).
SOURCES
"Full Text of 'Profiles In Courage,' by John F. Kennedy," Internet Archives, www.archive.org/
"The Missouri Compromise," U.S. History, www.ushistory.org/
