“The boisterous sea of liberty is never without a wave.” - Thomas Jefferson
The retired Thomas Jefferson wrote a letter to his friend Marquis de Lafayette in 1820 as an attempt to justify spreading human slavery across America. Lafayette had identified the hypocrisy of slavery in the United States since the American Revolution. Jefferson argues that spreading human slavery "thinly" across the West would "dilute" the institution's power and lead to the end of slavery in America.
This issue of course came up in 1820 when the territory of Missouri attempted to enter as a state. Many believed that its position on slavery would set a precedent for all new states in the West.
Looking at the Missouri Compromise that was created by Henry Clay, would you say that the pro-human slavery factions won or did the 36' 30' line set a precedent that gave the anti-slavery factions a victory.
If you feel that no one has won, share why.
As is our practice write your answer into the comments section, and reply to the the comments of at least two other classmates
