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The 1833 compromise succeeded...

Northern antislavery activists grew more outspoken in the 1830's. Many Northerners called for the immediate end ("to abolish") the institution of slavery and for their to be "civil equality" between white and black people in the United States.

Important figures:
Theodore Dwight Weld
William Lloyd Garrison
Lydia Maria Child
Frederick Douglass

By 1840, 200,000 Americans had joined abolitionists causes which scared the South.

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Southerners feared the abolitionist... was a threat to slavery and slaveholders.

Virginia slave Nat Turner led a violent rebellion against slave owners which scared Southerners.

Southerners also believed antislavery activists (abolitionists) had control of schools, the church, and newspapers.

This furthered the divide between the North and South.

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A gag rule is a rule that limits or forbids the raising, consideration, or discussion of a particular topic by members of a legislative or decision-making body. Congress imposed the gag rule in 1836 to limit the discussion of abolition of slavery.  this silence lasted until 1844.

President Martin van Buren...

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The battle over slavery...

The U.S. went to war with Mexico due to a dispute against Texas's boarder. President James Polk was a slaveholder and wanted to get more southwestern land. Many believed Polks true motivation for bringing the nation to war was "to Strengthen the ‘Slave Power.’”

James K. Polk:

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In August 1846...

In 1846 representative David Wilmot wanted to pass a bill declaring that there won’t be slavery in any Mexican territory, because he wanted to preserve a good idea of America and he thought that slavery made them look bad. There was debate over this, northerners were for the bill, southerners felt as if they were being controlled by it.

Image of David Wilmot--