Journal #44  15.1 Review 1.REVIEW  Explain the difference between the Wilmot Proviso and popular sovereignty. 2.OPINION  Why do you think that of 343 fugitive slave cases, fugitive slaves were declared free only 11 times? 3.Uncle Tom’s Cabin changed the way many people viewed slavery. Write a paragraph about something you read or saw that made you change your mind about something you believed in. (It could be a book, a speech, a television show – even a teacher.)

15.1 The Debate over Slavery

The Big Idea: Antislavery literature and the annexation of new lands intensified the debate over slavery.

New Land Renews Slavery Disputes Additional land gained after Mexican- American War caused a bitter slavery dispute. The Missouri Compromise of 1820 prohibited slavery north of latitude 36°30’ but let Missouri become a slave state.

New Land Renews Slavery Disputes President Polk wanted to extend the line to the West Coast, dividing the Mexican Cession into free and slavery parts. Some leaders – including Senator Lewis Cass of Michigan – wanted popular sovereignty (the idea that political power belongs to the people) to decide on whether to ban or allow slavery in their territory.

SENATOR LEWIS CASS FROM MICHIGAN

Regional Differences about Slavery Growing Sectionalism Some northerners wanted to ban slavery in all parts of the Mexican Cession. Some northerners wanted to ban slavery in all parts of the Mexican Cession. David Wilmot proposed the Wilmot Proviso (a document stating that “neither slavery nor involuntary servitude shall ever exist in any part of the territory”) – it passed in the northern-controlled House but not in the Senate. David Wilmot proposed the Wilmot Proviso (a document stating that “neither slavery nor involuntary servitude shall ever exist in any part of the territory”) – it passed in the northern-controlled House but not in the Senate.

Regional Differences about Slavery The Wilmot Proviso spurred a debate that showed growing sectionalism (favoring the interests of one section or region over the interests of the entire country) The Wilmot Proviso spurred a debate that showed growing sectionalism (favoring the interests of one section or region over the interests of the entire country) Antislavery northerners formed a new political party–the Free-Soil Party– to support the Wilmot Proviso. Antislavery northerners formed a new political party–the Free-Soil Party– to support the Wilmot Proviso. In the presidential election of 1848 however, a Whig candidate & former military general, Zachary Taylor, was elected. In the presidential election of 1848 however, a Whig candidate & former military general, Zachary Taylor, was elected.

ZACHARY TAYLOR 12 TH PRESIDENT (died of heat stroke)

Regional Differences about Slavery California Question California applied to enter the Union. California applied to enter the Union. Southerners did not want California to be a free state because it would upset the balance of slave and free states – which was at 15 slave states and 15 free states. Southerners did not want California to be a free state because it would upset the balance of slave and free states – which was at 15 slave states and 15 free states.

The Compromise of 1850 Senator Henry Clay – who had helped settle the Missouri dispute and the nullification crisis by proposing compromises – offered the Compromise of The compromise had 5 parts: 1.California would enter the Union as a free state. 2.The rest of the Mexican Cession would be federal land. The slavery question would be decided by popular sovereignty.

The Compromise of Texas would give up land east of the upper Rio Grande. In return, the government would pay Texas’s debt from when it was an independent republic. 4.Slave trade, but not slavery, would end in the nation’s capital. 5.A more effective fugitive slave law would be passed.

The Compromise of 1850 Daniel Webster defended & agreed with the compromise while John C. Calhoun asked that the slave states be allowed to secede (formally withdraw or leave) from the Union. The compromise was passed with the majority of Clay’s proposals staying the same and settled most disputes between slave and free states.

The Compromise of 1850 Compromise of 1850: California entered the Union as a free state; the rest of the Mexican Cession was divided into 2 territories – Utah and New Mexico – where the question of slavery would be decided by popular sovereignty; parts 3-5 of the original proposal stayed exactly the same. With this compromise the balance between slave and free states ended in the Union. With this compromise the balance between slave and free states ended in the Union.

Fugitive Slave Act Fugitive Slave Act: made it a crime to help runaway slaves and allowed officials to arrest runaway slaves in free areas Slaveholders could take suspected fugitives to U.S. commissioners, who decided their fate. Commissioners received more money for returning them to slaveholders($10 as opposed to $5). Commissioners received more money for returning them to slaveholders($10 as opposed to $5).

Fugitive Slave Act Accused fugitives could not testify on their own behalf. People who were caught helping fugitive slaves would serve 6 months in jail and be fined $1,000.

Reaction to Act Enforcement of act began immediately. Thousands of northern African Americans fled to Canada in fear. Act upset northerners who were horrified that some free African Americans were captured and sent South because of the act. Anthony Burns was a fugitive returned to slavery with federal help in His story persuaded many to join the abolitionist cause

Antislavery Literature Northern abolitionists used stories of fugitive slaves to gain sympathy for their cause. Uncle Tom’s Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe was an influential antislavery novel published in More than 2 million copies sold within a decade. More than 2 million copies sold within a decade. Still widely read as source about harsh realities of slavery. Still widely read as source about harsh realities of slavery.

1)Create 2 circle maps: 1 on the Compromise of 1850 & the other on the Fugitive Slave Act  Fill with information about the Act (definition, details, etc.) 2) Write 2 summary paragraphs about each act. Paragraphs must be 3-7 sentences long. Include the details from your circle maps. Proper grammar, punctuation, spelling, etc. is a MUST!