Missouri Compromises

Slavery existed at the beginning of the United States

Eventually northern states banned slavery saying it was wrong, and southern states kept slavery saying it was needed for their economy

Economy- a system of making and trading things of value (WAY OF MAKING MONEY for a people).

Slaves in the south and the west were used for free labor on farms

The south's economy was based on this. Known as agriculture (farming). They took advantage of slaves to become rich.

They believed they needed slaves to stay profitable and maintain equal power to those in the North

The north used factories and harbors to get rich

The westward expansion carried slavery down into Mississippi, Alabama, crossing the Mississippi River into Louisiana. Finally, by the 1840's, it was pouring into Texas.

As it expanded West it became more and more apart of the country's identity

So the expansion of slavery, (which was the major question of the 1850's) was not just about politics. It was a fact of life that every American had experienced at this point.