Slavery Disputes and Westward Migration before 1850

Title: The Impact of Westward Migration on Disagreements over Slavery before 1850

Introduction:
The issue of slavery was a contentious topic in the United States during the first half of the 19th century. Disagreements over slavery intensified as the country expanded westwards, leading to challenges to existing compromises such as the Missouri Compromise. This essay aims to explore the extent to which westward migration contributed to the disagreements over slavery before 1850. It will discuss the impact of westward migration on the Missouri Compromise and its unworkability, as well as the consequences of territorial expansion and the balance of sectional interests.

Body:

I. The Unworkability of the Missouri Compromise:
- The concept of the Missouri Compromise in 1820 was formulated at a time when the country was only looking westward, but not actively moving there.
- The rapid growth and migration of people westwards, particularly after 1840, posed challenges to the Missouri Compromise.
- The entrance of new states to the union became increasingly focused on the issue of slavery as more territories were being settled.
- The 36°30' "Dixie" line, which had previously divided slave and free states, became unworkable as people, goods, and slaves moved west.
- California's population explosion during the gold rush exemplified the challenges faced, as the state's transition from a territory to a state raised questions about the status of slavery.

II. Impact of Territorial Expansion:
- The inclusion of Texas into the union in 1846 and the subsequent territorial gains after the Mexican-American War brought about significant changes in the debate over slavery.
- The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo in 1848 enlarged the United States' territory, particularly in the southwest, increasing concerns among Northerners regarding the extension of slavery into these regions.
- The newly acquired territories were subject to the Missouri Compromise, which raised fears among Northerners that they could potentially become slave states.
- Northerners argued against the extension of slavery into these territories, while Southerners vehemently advocated for its allowance.

III. Balance of Sectional Interests:
- The debates over the inclusion of new territories in Congress revealed a profound division between the interests of the North and the South.
- Northerners contended that the new territories should not be bound by the Missouri Compromise, as they argued for the prohibition of slavery.
- Conversely, Southerners fiercely supported slavery's expansion into the territories, in order to protect their economic and social institutions.
- The debates surrounding the issue of slavery in the new territories eventually led to the demise of the Missouri Compromise and prompted discussions that culminated in the 1850 Compromise.

Conclusion:
The migration of people westwards played a significant role in intensifying disagreements over slavery before 1850. The expansive growth of the country into new territories challenged the existing compromises, such as the Missouri Compromise, which became unworkable as settlers moved further west. The inclusion of new territories through territorial expansion generated fervent debates over the extension of slavery, exposing deep divisions between the North and the South. These discussions ultimately led to the erosion of existing compromises and the eventual formulation of new agreements, such as the 1850 Compromise.