Question

What do you think life was like during the transition from slavery to freedom? What must have been the concerns and activities of this suddenly-free population of African Americans?

Answer 1

Answer:

In the early 1800s, Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois applied for statehood. Because they were north of the Ohio river, they entered the union as free states. During the same period, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama-all south of the Ohio-entered as slave states. By 1819, the number of slave states and free states was balanced at 11 each. That meant neither North nor South had a controlling majority in the senate. But that year, Missouri, which lay to the west of Ohio River, applied for admission as a slave state. If admitted, Missouri would tip the balance of power in the senate toward the south. Suddenly slavery became a national issue. Northerner in congress protested that most of Missouri, which lay north of the point were the Ohio River met the Mississippi. By all rights, they said, it should be a free state. They also worried that making Missouri a slave state might turn the rest of Louisiana Territory toward slavery. So they insisted that Missouri could only enter as a free state. The southerners disagreed. Congress was deadlocked

Explanation: