To Preserve The Union of the Missouri Compromise by KaaVonia Hinton

 

Title: To Preserve The Union of the Missouri Compromise

Author: KaaVonia Hinton 

Illustrator: None

Genre: Historical Fiction, Informational

Award: None

Ages: 8-10 Years old

Summary:

This Historical fiction book, begins speaking about how in the 1800's, the United States had the issue of slavery. This issue was tearing the United States apart because some people believed they had the right to own slaves, while others believed that slavery should be illegal. In 1803, President Thomas Jefferson purchased the Louisiana Territory. When people heard this news, many people began to move in the west. Soon, those people wanted the territories to become states. Some people wanted slavery to be legal in the new states, while others did not. These issues brought arguments among the people and in the Congress. Therefore, the lawmakers made the effort to settle this problem by making the law with the Missouri Compromise. Nevertheless, little did people know that this new law would change the country forever. By the late 1700's, the slave trade was big in business in the American colonies. Slaves from Africa and West Indies were sold to slaves owners in America. In the Revolutionary War, Colonist fought for their freedom against the Great Britain. When the Colonist won, they had to develop a new country with a government and laws. Nevertheless, these new government and laws brought several changes for the United States. There was the Northwest Ordinance, where the law provided the Northwest Territory to become states. Then, there was Slavery in the Constitution, where the slave issues, arise once again. Next, there was a Western Expansion, where the new states joined the Union. This would determine if the state would allow slavery. After, there was a tipping in the balance. This meant that there was an equal number of free and slave states. Lawmakers fiercely wanted to ass an amendment to the Missouri bill. This amendment would not allow any more slaves into the area. Henry Clay was greatly known for being the great compromiser because of his leadership during the Missouri Compromise. Henry Clay was a successful lawyer in Kentucky. The Missouri Compromise was a major turning point in America history, but it did not solve the issue. Instead, it made people aware that a permanent decision would have to be made. 

Book Evaluation:

1) I would recommend this book to my students because it has a lot of informational facts that they can learn from. I also, liked that there were pictures that would help the visual learners, and I also liked that there was a glossary at the end of the book.

2) I would recommend this book from third grade level all the way through fifth grade level.

3) I would use this book in the unit of History. I would create an activity, where they all get a role, and they have to reenact the book. I would have them have a classroom debate.