What was the Crittenden Compromise attempting to achieve in 1860?

The Crittenden Compromise was proposed by Senator John J. Crittenden in 1860 with the primary goal of preventing the impending Civil War. During this period, tensions between the North and South were escalating significantly over issues related to slavery and states’ rights. The compromise sought to resolve these tensions by offering a set of constitutional amendments aimed at preserving slavery in Southern states while prohibiting it in Northern states.

Crittenden's idea included reinstituting the Missouri Compromise line, allowing slavery in territories south of that line, and protecting slavery in existing slave states. The intent was to provide assurances to Southern states, encouraging them to remain in the Union and avoid conflict. Thus, the proposal was fundamentally about negotiation and compromise to avert war, making it a pivotal moment in American history as it was one of the last attempts to maintain peace between an increasingly divided nation.