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What was the Wilmot Proviso, and why did Southerners oppose it?
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Step 1
: Understand the Wilmot Proviso

The Wilmot Proviso was a proposal in the United States Congress in 1846, introduced by Congressman David Wilmot from Pennsylvania. It aimed to prohibit slavery in any territory acquired from Mexico as a result of the Mexican-American War. The proviso was an amendment to a larger appropriations bill, and it passed in the House of Representatives twice but failed to pass in the Senate.

Step 2
: Analyze Southerners' Opposition to the Wilmot Proviso

Southerners opposed the Wilmot Proviso for several reasons: a) Economic interests: The Southern economy was heavily reliant on cotton plantations, which in turn relied on slave labor. The expansion of slavery into new territories would ensure the continuation of their economic system and prevent a labor crisis. b) States' rights: Southerners believed in the principle of states' rights, which meant that individual states should have the power to make decisions about issues like slavery, without federal interference. The Wilmot Proviso would have imposed a federal ban on slavery in the territories, infringing upon states' rights. c) Fear of slave uprisings: Slave owners feared that the abolition of slavery in new territories would incite their slaves to rebel or flee to freedom. This fear was heightened by the recent slave uprisings, such as Nat Turner's Rebellion in 1831. d) Balance of power: Southerners were concerned about maintaining a balance of power between free and slave states in the Senate. The admission of new free states would tip the balance in favor of the North, potentially threatening Southern interests.

Final Answer

The Wilmot Proviso was a proposal to prohibit slavery in any territory acquired from Mexico. Southerners opposed it because they wanted to protect their economic interests, uphold states' rights, prevent slave uprisings, and maintain the balance of power between free and slave states in the Senate.

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