WILMOT PROVISO

WILMOT PROVISO The Wilmot Proviso was an amendment to an appropriations bill introduced into the United States House of Representatives in 1846 by Congressman David Wilmot of Pennsylvania. The amendment provided that neither slavery nor involuntary servitude be permitted to exist in any territory acquired from Mexico following the Mexican War. Although the amended bill was passed in the House on several occasions, it was repeatedly defeated by proslavery forces in the Senate. Nevertheless, the Proviso itself provided a basic principle for those individuals and groups that would ultimately form the Free-Soil Party — a political party committed to preventing the further extension of slavery into the territories. See also: FREE-SOIL PARTY.