What did the Wilmot Proviso propose in 1846?

The Wilmot Proviso proposed to outlaw slavery in any territory gained from Mexico during the Mexican-American War. Introduced by Congressman David Wilmot in 1846, the proviso aimed to prevent the expansion of slavery into the new territories that were being acquired. This proposal highlighted the growing tensions between the North and South over the issue of slavery and was significant in shaping the political landscape leading up to the Civil War. The focus was specifically on territories such as California and New Mexico, where debates about the extension of slavery were intensifying.

Understanding the historical context is crucial, as the Wilmot Proviso did not seek to establish new states in the West, provide land for veterans, or end the slave trade in the South, but rather concentrated on the issue of slavery's expansion into newly acquired lands, making it a pivotal point in the history of American slavery and territorial governance.