Crittenden Compromise

Definition

The Crittenden Compromise was a proposal made in late 1860 by Senator John J. Crittenden aimed at preventing the secession of Southern states and preserving the Union. The compromise suggested constitutional amendments to protect slavery in existing slave states and extend the Missouri Compromise line westward, hoping to appease Southern interests while keeping the Union intact. However, it ultimately failed to gain sufficient support, highlighting the deep divisions within the country as tensions escalated toward civil war.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The Crittenden Compromise proposed protecting slavery south of the Missouri Compromise line, which aimed to create a lasting peace but faced strong opposition from anti-slavery factions.
2. Despite Crittenden's efforts, President-elect Abraham Lincoln rejected the compromise, insisting on a platform that opposed the expansion of slavery into new territories.
3. The compromise was introduced at a time when seven Southern states had already voted to secede from the Union, reflecting how dire the national situation had become.
4. The Crittenden Compromise was ultimately defeated in Congress in early 1861, signaling that attempts at political solutions were failing as tensions mounted.
5. The failure of this compromise underscored the inability of political leaders to reconcile differences over slavery, paving the way for civil conflict.

Review Questions

• What were the main proposals of the Crittenden Compromise and how did they aim to address the sectional conflict between North and South?
  • The main proposals of the Crittenden Compromise included constitutional amendments that would protect slavery in existing slave states and extend the Missouri Compromise line westward. By suggesting these amendments, Crittenden aimed to appease Southern states and prevent further secession while maintaining the Union. However, the compromise ultimately failed because it could not garner enough support from both sides, illustrating how deeply entrenched and polarized opinions were regarding slavery.
• Analyze why President-elect Abraham Lincoln opposed the Crittenden Compromise despite its intention to preserve the Union.
  • Abraham Lincoln opposed the Crittenden Compromise because he was committed to preventing the expansion of slavery into new territories. He believed that allowing such protections for slavery would undermine his party's platform and weaken efforts toward emancipation. Lincoln's firm stance reflected his view that compromise on slavery would only delay inevitable conflict rather than solve underlying issues, marking a turning point in how he approached national unity amidst rising tensions.
• Evaluate the significance of the failure of the Crittenden Compromise in relation to the broader events leading up to the Civil War.
  • The failure of the Crittenden Compromise was significant as it highlighted the limitations of political negotiation in addressing deep-seated sectional conflicts over slavery. With seven Southern states already seceding from the Union and Congress unable to reach an agreement, this event marked a critical moment where political solutions were no longer seen as viable. The inability to compromise set a precedent for escalating tensions and conflicts that would soon erupt into full-scale civil war, illustrating how divided the nation had become on issues central to its unity.

Related terms

Missouri Compromise:

An agreement passed in 1820 that allowed Missouri to enter the Union as a slave state and Maine as a free state, establishing a line at latitude 36°30' which determined future slavery in territories.

Secession: The act of formally withdrawing from an organization or political entity; in this context, it refers to Southern states leaving the Union in response to perceived threats against slavery.

Union: Refers to the United States as a whole, particularly the government and territory that remained loyal to the Constitution during the Civil War, opposing the Confederacy formed by seceding states.