Question

Write an editorial on the Wilmot Proviso that might have appeared in an 1846 newspaper. Define the issue and give reasons to support one position.

Answer 1

The Wilmot Proviso was a proposal to ban slavery in newly acquired territories. It gained support in the north but failed in the Senate. Supporters invoked the Revolutionary generation's compromise on slavery to argue for its passage.

Step-by-step explanation:

The Wilmot Proviso was an issue of great importance in 1846. It was a proposal introduced by Democrat David Wilmot to bar slavery in any territory acquired as a result of the Mexican-American War.

The Proviso gained northern support and even passed the House, but failed in the Senate. Supporters of the Wilmot Proviso invoked the legacy of the Revolutionary generation and the compromise they made on slavery to argue for its passage.