/krit"n deuhn/ , U.S. Hist.
a series of constitutional amendments proposed in Congress in 1860 to serve as a compromise between proslavery and antislavery factions, one of which would have permitted slavery in the territories south but not north of latitude 36°30'N. Also called Crittenden Plan .
[ named after its proponent, John J. Crittenden (1787-1863), U.S. Senator from Kentucky ]