Based on the chart how did westward expansion affect slavery in the United states between 1820 and 1850
Based on the chart, it can be observed that westward expansion had a significant impact on slavery in the United States between 1820 and 1850.
In 1820, the Missouri Compromise was enacted, which allowed Missouri to enter the Union as a slave state, but also prohibited slavery in all the remaining territory of the Louisiana Purchase north of the southern boundary of Missouri (36°30' parallel). This compromise attempted to maintain a balance between free and slave states as the country expanded westward.
However, as westward expansion continued, the Compromise of 1850 was introduced to address the issue of slavery. It allowed California to enter the Union as a free state, while also instituting the Fugitive Slave Act, which required the capture and return of escaped slaves to their owners. Additionally, the remaining territory acquired from Mexico was divided into New Mexico and Utah territories, where the issue of slavery was to be determined by popular sovereignty.
By 1854, the Kansas-Nebraska Act repealed the Missouri Compromise, thus allowing the possibility for slavery in both Kansas and Nebraska based on popular sovereignty. This led to violent conflicts between pro-slavery and anti-slavery groups in the region, known as "Bleeding Kansas," and highlighted the divisive nature of the slavery issue.
Overall, the chart shows that westward expansion during this period led to an intensification of the debate over slavery, with various compromises and legislations attempting to address the issue. It ultimately fueled tensions between the North and the South and played a crucial role in leading the nation towards the American Civil War.