| THE BURNING QUESTION: SLAVE STATE OR FREE The great schism, the rift, that this nation did see Brought fracture and fracas to the land's history. As hearts turned against hearts along the Mason-Dixon, Despite every effort toward healing and fixing. Indeed, a bell tolled and folks could tell by the math That the interests of all would not share the same path. As the tea leaves did hold that the future would tip In favor of places that now grew by a clip. So as the North surged in its population, It garnered more sway via representation. While recalling those tariffs on New England's behalf, Southern gents did now bridle, did grumble and chafe. Whereas regions still wild now posed a hard question: To be slave state or free? And by whose direction? With some voices ringing that the best path was clear: Let those in each precinct decide how to veer. While others were fervid and high moral in tone, That of human bondage we ought nowhere condone! Whose members did form The Free Soil Party To halt slavery's spread to more territory. And neither cared much for Mister Clay's compromise, Which added states of each ilk to keep equal both sides. (Yes, each new one with slaves saw one other go free -- As free soil in Maine had offset Missouri). And tempers did rise, as by a flame burning slow, And the law's final word, the country needed to know! Ah, but how to keep peace in a nation so vast, With divisions so deep and of a hard iron cast? As the South asked of itself, and of the U.S. of A.: What place did it have and what reason to stay? Thus to craft a new rule, one which all would applaud, Was like shoeing a bobcat -- without being clawed!... |
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| Worksheet # 66 |
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