Tallmadge Amendment
Definition
The Tallmadge Amendment was proposed by James Tallmadge Jr. in 1819 during discussions about admitting Missouri into the Union. It sought to prohibit further introduction of slaves into Missouri and provide for gradual emancipation of existing slaves.
Analogy
Imagine you're trying to change your family's diet habits - no more junk food, only healthy stuff from now on! That's kind of what Tallmadge wanted with his amendment - no more addition (introduction) of unhealthy elements (slaves), while gradually phasing out what's already there (existing slaves).
Related terms
Emancipation Proclamation: An executive order issued by President Abraham Lincoln in 1862 that declared all slaves in Confederate-held territory to be free.
Abolitionism: A movement to end slavery, whether formal or informal. In Western Europe and the Americas, abolitionism was a historical movement that sought to end the Atlantic slave trade and set slaves free.
Free Soil Party: A short-lived political party in the United States active from 1848–1854 that opposed the expansion of slavery into the western territories.
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