Slavery and States’ Rights

Vocabulary and terms Wilmot Proviso – outlawed slavery in lands won from Mexico Free-Soil Party – a political party that promised free soil, free speech, free labor, and free men popular sovereignty – followers believed a territory’s voters should decide themselves whether to allow slavery secede – to break away, especially from the Union Compromise of 1850 – legislation designed to avoid division between North and South over slavery Fugitive Slave Act – stringent laws that required citizens to apprehend fugitive slaves

Recap North vs South On a sheet of paper, jot down differences you know between the North and South Think economy, people, political party alliances, events etc…

The North, a manufacturing society The South, an agricultural society Cities and towns were trade centers Factories and farms produced goods Paid labor source, few slaves Many immigrants Cities and towns were few and far between Large plantations and small farms were source of wealth Enslaved labor force of African Americans Few immigrants

Expansion of Slavery into the New Territories Up until the mid 1800s, most Americans avoided discussion of slavery Why? By the end of the Mexican War, slavery would come front stage

Wilmot Proviso A Pennsylvania Congressman, David Wilmot had predicted the upcoming trouble and was preparing a law Proposed “neither slavery nor involuntary servitude shall ever exist in any” lands won from Mexico The House of Representatives (dominated by the north) would vote the law through while the Senate denied it

Class Activity One side of class reads Northern Views, other class reads Southern Views on page 325 After reading, find another person on the other side to share what you found

Northern Views of Slavery

Southern Views of Slavery

Slavery and the North Few people had slaves and slavery ended by Early in the 1800s, some northerners began to work for the abolition of slavery. Many northern states limited the rights and migration of free African Americans, so many white northerners had little contact with them. Slavery and the South Slavery was an integral part of life with over 1 million enslaved African Americans. Many believed God intended blacks to provide labor for whites. Southerners claimed that enslaved people were healthier and happier than northern wage earners.

Emergence of the Free Soil Party Both the Whigs and Democrats had avoided the issue of slavery Members of government who supported the Wilmot Proviso would start their own party Pledged to support “a national platform of freedom” that would “resist the aggressions of the slave power” “Free soil, free speech, free labor, and free men” MAIN GOAL: KEEP SLAVERY OUT OF THE WESTERN TERRITORIES

Election of 1848 The highlight issue of the election would be slavery Forced both the Whigs and Democrats to pick sides on an issue “Popular sovereignty” would be there solution Popular sovereignty stated that votes in a territory, NOT CONGRESS, should decide whether or not to allow slavery How would this help both political parties?

CandidatePartyElectoral VotePopular Vote Zachary TaylorWhigs1631,361,393 Lewis Cass (previous Governor of Michigan) Democrats1271,223,460 Martin Van Buren (New York) Free Soil Party0291,501

Results Free Soil Party captured 10 percent of the popular vote which showed its antislavery platform had captured American attention How does a 3 rd party impact the presidential election? Ex. Ralph Nader, Green Party, 2000 & 2004 elections, Ron Paul

California “threatens the balance” The Gold Rush helped Californians recognize the importance of assembling a government 1849, they would draft a constitution and ask permission to join the Union as a free state Southerners would cause an uproar knowing the balance between slave and free states would be tipped

Henry Clay “Saves the Day” Again! Henry Clay “The Great Pacificator” in his 70s, would again solve the issue The Compromise of 1850 would highlight…. Allowing California to be admitted as a free state Enforcing a stricter Fugitive Slave Law Popular sovereignty would determine the slavery issue in New Mexico and Utah territories

Calhoun Responds Calhoun was too sick and weak to deliver his own speech, so he had a younger Congressman read it for him Expressed that Clay’s proposal did not offer south enough protection Stressed if not dealt with the south would secede from the Union Ill and weak, but would deliver his own speech expressed the north and south stay unified Argued the cotton and tobacco crops would not grow well in California climate Argued the benefits of popular sovereignty Webster Responds

Terms of the Compromise 1. Allow California into the Union as a free state 2. Texas would relinquish its claims on New Mexico territory in return for $10 million 3. People of territories of New Mexico, Utah (any territories gained by the Mexican Cession would decide by popular sovereignty) 4. Washington D.C. would be free from the slave trade (slaves were still permitted) 5. Fugitive Slave Act would be stricter 1.Private citizens must assist in apprehending runaway slaves 2.Citizens who assisted slaves would imprisoned or fines