Question

according to the lecture, did congress have the legal right to stop the spread of slavery into new territories?
yes, because article iv section iii of the constitution states that congress has the right to make rules and regulations for new territories and congress already did so in the northwest ordinance and the missouri compromise
no, because the fifth amendment of the constitution protects an individuals property
all of the 3 above answers were argued successfully by different factions in the country and the matter was never officially settled prior to the civil war
it didnt matter because the decision should be left up the settlers living in the actual territories to decide for themselves whether or not they want slavery to be legal

Explanation:

Article IV, Section 3 of the U.S. Constitution gives Congress the power to make rules and regulations for new territories. The Northwest Ordinance and Missouri Compromise were examples of Congress exercising this power to address slavery - related issues in new territories.

Answer:

Yes, because Article IV section III of the Constitution states that Congress has the right make rules and regulations for new territories and Congress already did so in the Northwest Ordinance and the Missouri Compromise.