Books in the Perspectives on the History of Congress, 1801-1877 series

During the long decade from 1848 to 1861 America was like a train speeding down the track, without an engineer or brakes. The new territories acquired from Mexico had vastly increased the size of the nation, but debate over their status - and importantly the status of slavery within them - paralyzed the nation. This book examines these issues.

This volume explores the twin issues of how slavery made life possible in America's capital city, with black slaves serving the legislators, bureaucrats and military leaders, and how lawmakers in the District regulated slavery in the nation.