2. Slavery’s Limits
The expansion of slavery was brought
to the forefront of peoples concerns
with the acquisition of land in the
American Southwest. For supporters of
slavery, Wilmot's Proviso which stated
“neither slavery nor involuntary
servitude shall ever exist in any part of
said territory,” was taken as an insult.
Since the climate of the new territory
was so arid, owning slaves there was
foolish. Despite this Southern
offense, and the Proviso, Utah and
Mexico would soon legalize slavery.
3. The Influence of Gold
In 1848 Gold was discovered in
California, and by the next year tens of
thousands had made the trip there in
hopes of riches. The proposed state
constitution that resulted once again
brought the issue of slavery to the
forefront, banning it entirely. Many
slave owners disputed that salves were
best exploited working in the
mines, and that when compared to the
white men, slaves were naturally
better built to cope with the
conditions.
4. Political Balance
Whether or not California
would allow slaves was
crucial to the balance
between the North and
South, each side wanting to
gain from imposing there
principles on the new
territory. A compromise
abolished slaves in California
and the District of
Colombia, and allowed it in
Utah and New Mexico
without restiction.
5. Filibusters
California despite this compromise came to be led by many once
Southerners, who voted proslavery, and supported the
Confederacy during the Civil War. Still some felt a new slave state
was needed to offset California, and began crusades in efforts to
acquire such a state. Attempts were made from California to
Cuba, Nicaragua, and Mexico, but none were successful.
