18. RENEWING THE SECTIONAL STRUGGLE 1848 – 1854

Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo Ended the war with Mexico Debate over extension of slavery North supports Wilmot Proviso Support for the Democrats & Whigs becomes more sectional

Election of 1848 Polk did not seek a second term Over exhausted Diarrhea Diarrhea, cha cha cha!!

Gen. Lewis Cass Democrats nominated Cass Senator Veteran of War of 1812 Spoke of Popular Sovereignty Self Determination

Gen. Zachary Taylor Whig nominate Taylor Hero of Buena Vista No political experience Avoided discussing the issues

Free Soil Party Organized by Northerners to: Stop the spread of slavery Federal aid for internal improvements Free government homesteads for settlers Appealed to those who: Are angry about Oregon Don’t like Blacks in new territory Condemned slaver (“Conscience Whigs”) Nominate Martin Van Buren

Election of 1848

“CALIFORNY GOLD” 1848: Gold discovered Thousands flood into territory Most did not “strike it rich” Much lawlessness California drafted a Constitution then applied for statehood

Sectional Balance 1850 – South was secure Southern president (Taylor) Majority in cabinet & on Supreme Court Equality in Senate (15 to 15) Balance in Senate in danger California!?! Texas upset about lost land No slavery in D.C

Underground Railroad Secret organization that took slaves North to Canada Taking many slaves from South Harriet Tubman South demand stricter fugitive slave laws

The Three Giants Henry Clay – “The Great Compromiser” 73 yrs old Concession from N. & S. Seconded by Stephen Douglas John C. Calhoun Dying of tuberculosis States rights Runaway slaves Political balance Daniel Webster New land not good for slaves Seventh of March speech

Young Guard New group of politicians Wanted to purify nation William H. Seward – NY senator Against concession Christians must adhere to “higher law” Cost him 1860 election President Taylor vetoed every compromise

Breaking the Congressional Logjam Zachary Taylor dies suddenly Millard Fillmore takes over & signs the Compromise of 1850 Clay, Webster, & Douglas supported South hated it, but accepted it

Compromise of 1850

New Fugitive Slave Law 1. Fleeing slaves can’t testify 2. Handler of case got $5 if slave was free, $10 if not 3. People ordered to help catch slaves had to

1852 P RESIDENTIAL E LECTION √ Franklin Pierce Gen. Winfield Scott John Parker Hale Democrat Whig Free Soil

1852 Election Results

Expansionist Young America in the 1850s America’s Attempted Raids into Latin America

The Allure of Asia

Expansion in the Pacific Americans wanted to trade with Japan and China Japan was closed off from the rest of the world 1852 – Commodore Matthew C. Perry negotiates a trade treaty with Japan Japan opens two ports to American trade

Japan was impressed with American technology and military

Pacific Railroad Promoters U.S. to build a transcontinental railroad South want to build it through Texas Land was organized & could repel Indian attacks Was south of the Rocky Mtns Bought the Gadsden Purchase for $10 million North wanted to build it through Nebraska

Gadsden Purchase 1853

Douglas’s Kansas-Nebraska Scheme Stephen Douglas proposed the Kansas-Nebraska Act Popular Sovereignty for Kansas & Nebraska But the Missouri Compromise banned slavery North of the 36°30’ line Act had to repeal it South for North against Bill was passed, repealing the Missouri Compromise

Kansas-Nebraska Act, 1854

Congress Legislates a Civil War The Kansas-Nebraska Act wrecked the Missouri Compromise of 1820 Indirectly wrecked the Compromise of 1850 Northerners stopped enforcing the Fugitive Slave Law South was angry. Democratic Party was split