Renewing the Sectional Struggle Chapter 18

A. Popular Sovereignty After the war with Mexico, the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo gave many new territories to the U.S. This land included Texas and California and all the area in between The acquisition of this new land raised a new question: Should slavery be allowed in these territories? Northern antislavery advocates rallied behind the Wilmot Proviso which answered “no” to the question The debate over slavery in the new territories began to split parties (Northern/Southern Democrats and Whigs) To politicians, the wisest thing to do was sit on the issue

President Polk pledged himself to a single term as president (I’m outta here) The Democratic National Convention turned to General Lewis Cass for leadership He said that each territory should be able to decide for themselves about slavery This is called popular sovereignty People liked the idea because it made slavery a local issue rather than a national one

B. Political Triumphs for General Taylor Whigs turned to General Zachary Taylor for their leadership They dodged the question of slavery and focused more on the virtues of their candidate Taylor himself, lived on a plantation and owned slaves Antislavery people in the north disliked Taylor and Cass and formed the Free-Soil Party The Free-Soil party backed the Wilmot Proviso and fought for federal aid urging free gov’t homesteads for settlers

The Free-Soilers were able to appeal to a wide range of people including Whigs and Democrats Free-Soilers wanted to get rid of slavery not to benefit African Americans, but because African Americans took jobs away from whites They said that free soil in the western territories was the only way to ensure white wage-earners the opportunity to make money and own property They chose former president Martin Van Buren as their candidate The Party foreshadowed the emergence of the Republican party six years later During the election, Zachary Taylor was able to beat Cass by a narrow margin, only because Van Buren took votes away from Cass

C. Californy Gold President Taylor would have been fine if he could have continued to sit on slavery In 1848, gold was discovered in California Scores of people flooded into California to strike it rich Few actually did The big money-makers were those who sold services to the miners Gold fever led to lawless men and women, and lots of crime A majority of Californians grappled with making California a state

President Taylor privately encouraged California to draft a constitution They did in 1849 and it excluded slavery They boldly applied for statehood, bypassing the territorial stage in order to block southern congressmen seeking to block free soil Southerners were infuriated Many thought that California would be the straw that broke the slavery camel’s back

D. Sectional Balance and the Underground Railroad The South in 1850 was well off A slave owner was President, there were 15 slave and free states and no one thought slavery was threatened The addition of California as a state was threatening the balance Even worse to the south was the amount of runaway slaves escaping through the Underground Railroad The most amazing conductor of the RR was Harriet Tubman She was an escaped slave who made 19 trips back to the South and helped over 300 slave escape

Slaves were taken north by the U.R. into Canada The south was losing around 1,000 slaves a year and wanted more strict fugitive slave laws In actuality, more slaves won their freedom from voluntary emancipation and self-purchase than by escaping The south depended on Constitutional laws that upheld slavery and promoted “slave catching” to solve their problems

E. Twilight of the Senatorial Giants Many southerners threatening successionMany southerners threatening succession A congressional forum was held to discuss the situationA congressional forum was held to discuss the situation All the legends showed up and gave speechesAll the legends showed up and gave speeches Henry Clay urged compromise btwn north and south and north enact a more feasible fugitive slave lawHenry Clay urged compromise btwn north and south and north enact a more feasible fugitive slave law John C. Calhoun pleaded with the north to leave slavery alone, return runaway slaves and give south right as a minorityJohn C. Calhoun pleaded with the north to leave slavery alone, return runaway slaves and give south right as a minority Daniel Webster argued for a new southern fugitive slave lawDaniel Webster argued for a new southern fugitive slave law He also argued that the Mexican cession did not contain a plantation climate, so no need for slavery thereHe also argued that the Mexican cession did not contain a plantation climate, so no need for slavery there

F. Deadlock Newer Northern senators refused to compromise William H. Seward of NY said that a “higher law” was needed than the constitution (God) Taylor vetoed any compromise put forth Taylor dies in 1850, and Millard Fillmore takes over Fillmore signed many of the compromises put forth As Congress debated the compromises, tensions began to calm

G. The Compromise of 1850 California becomes a free state (tipped balance in Senate toward North) Fugitive Slave Law was passed Imposed harsh penalties on runaway slaves and white who helped Imposed harsh penalties on runaway slaves and white who helped Fugitive Slave Law was very bad for the Union It angered Northerners who were considered moderate and pushed them toward abolition It angered Northerners who were considered moderate and pushed them toward abolition It angered Southerners b/c the northerners refused to enforce it It angered Southerners b/c the northerners refused to enforce it It did create peace for a time

H. The Election of 1852 Franklin Pierce (D) v. Winfield Scott (W) Pierce an unknown, therefore no enemies Pledges to retain status quo Whig party deeply split Pierce wins, and the Whig party eventually goes away

I. Expansionist Stirrings South of the Border New feelings of Manifest Destiny arose Of particular interest was Central America due to its shape (Isthmus) British and US arguing for transportation superiority Almost fought, but saved by the Clayton-Bulwar Treaty which said US and Britain would not fight over any Isthmuses (Isthmi? Who knows?) South looking for new territory to counteract Ca. being a free state Some unauthorized attempts to take over Honduras

South attempted but failed to invade Cuba Southerners (authorized by Pierce) met secretly w/ European leaders in Belgium to discuss taking Cuba Called the Ostend Manifesto News of the meeting leaked out and Northerners were outraged Southerners backed down

J. The Allure of Asia Pres. John Tyler had earlier dispatched Caleb Cushing to China to est. trade Cushing able to secure “most favored nation status” and “extraterritoriality” Also opened the door to missionaries Called the Treaty of Wanghia President Fillmore sent US Commodore Matthew Perry to open trade with Japan Japan had been closed to foreigners for centuries Treaty of Kanagawa est. the beginnings of trade w/ Japan

K. Pacific RR Promoters and the Gadsden Purchase Travel btwn US and new lands very difficult Transcontinental RR needed North and South both want it An ideal southern place was in Mexican territory Sec. of War Jefferson Davis authorized James Gadsden (SC RR man) to offer to buy the territory from Mexico Mexico agrees to the Gadsden Purchase ($10 Million) Northerners say best place would be through Nebraska Territory, although it was unorganized

L. Congress Legislates a War Stephen Douglas Sen of Illinois says build from Chicago to Ca. through Neb. His scheme said divide Neb. Terr. Into 2 (Kansas Terr. And Neb.) Allow both states popular sovereignty He was able to push the bill through Congress although there was much animosity Northerners hated it b/c it undid Missouri Compromise line The Kansas-Nebraska Act deeply influenced the outbreak of war Led to the creation of the Republican Party