Wilmot Proviso
Definition
The Wilmot Proviso was an unsuccessful proposal in 1846 that aimed at banning slavery in any territory gained from Mexico as a result of the Mexican-American War.
Analogy
The Wilmot Proviso is kind of like trying to set ground rules before playing a board game with friends; it tried to establish that no matter what new territories we gain from winning this "game" (the Mexican-American War), we're not allowing any more slaves there.
Related terms
Mexican-American War: A war between Mexico and the U.S from 1846 to 1848. The U.S won and gained new territories. It's like a sports match where the winner gets to take home some of the loser's gear.
Compromise of 1850: This was a package of five separate bills passed by Congress in an attempt to resolve disputes over slavery in new territories. Think of it as a group project compromise, where everyone gives up something to reach an agreement.
Popular Sovereignty: This principle allowed settlers in a territory to decide whether slavery would be allowed within their region’s borders. Imagine it as letting your classmates vote on whether or not homework should be assigned over the weekend.
"Wilmot Proviso" appears in:
Study guides (1)
Practice Questions (4)
- What was the purpose of the Wilmot Proviso proposed in 1846 by David Wilmot?
- What did the Wilmot Proviso propose regarding slavery in newly-acquired territories?
- What is the recurring theme between Wilmot Proviso (1846) proposal blocking spread of slavery into acquired territories after Mexican-American War, and Missouri Compromise (1820)?
- What was the main purpose of The Wilmot Proviso?
Resources
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