The document discusses the debate over slavery in California as it sought statehood in the 1840s-1850s. Northern Congressmen opposed the expansion of slavery into new states like California, but Southern Congressmen supported it for economic reasons. California became a free state in 1850 after being admitted to the Union under a Republican administration. Some Southerners then attempted to seize new territories like Cuba and parts of Mexico and Central America to potentially introduce slavery, but these efforts ultimately failed. The debate over slavery in California exacerbated national political tensions in the years leading up to the Civil War.

1. The Fight for Slavery in CA by Bryan Cooper

3. The Southern Congressmen (Dems & Whigs) were for keeping slavery, both were for economic reason on both sides of the partisan isle.

4. The Senate for both north and south blocked the “Proviso” from being a reality.

6. Most of the Forty-Niners didn't want the competition of slave holders amongst them so they didn't want slavery either.

7. In 1859 the CA State Legislature created a bill to divide CA in two at the San Luis Obispo area, the Republican majority Congress voted it down.

9. Henry Crabb, from Mississippi of the Democratic party, led a filibustering invasion into Mexico, they failed and died.

10. William Walker from Tennessee, in 1855 led an Army of two thousand into Nicaragua and became President and re instituted slavery, but later in 1860 was taken over by Honduran troops.

11. The CA statehood debate of freedom was paramount to a polarizing effect in congress and led to attitudes of secession of the southern states.

13. During the Civil War most Californian's remained loyal to the United States and not towards secession. The states shipments of gold helped finance the Union war efforts.