Renewing the Sectional Struggle Chapter 18 HNRS

The Election of 1848 President Polk Precursors to 1848 Besides expansion President Polk had other goals for the future of the country He wanted to lower tariffs and government spending During his four year term Polk added more then a million square miles of land, lowered tariffs and government spending Despite all of his success he refused to run for a second term Precursors to 1848 Americans were excited about the victory over Mexico and about the land that was added The biggest problem was the possible spread of slavery into the western region Slavery was the most important issue during the election of 1848 Whigs and Democrats took a limited stand on the issue because both sides were not sure how a stand would affect the success of their candidates

The Election of 1848 The Free-Soil Party is created by disgruntled anti-slavery politicians The Free Soilers chose Martin Van Buren as their candidate This new party favored free speech, free labor and free men Free Soilers backed the Wilmot Proviso Zachary Taylor, Whig, won the election receiving 163 electoral votes; Cass had 127 Hero of the Mexican American War The Democrats lost the popular vote too because the Free Soil Party took some of their votes away The issue of slavery decided the election by splitting the Democratic party

Social Movements 1830-1850 Abolition Transcendentalism William Lloyd Garrison (The Liberator), Sojourner Truth, Frederick Douglass Transcendentalism Emerson, Thoreau The Second Great Awakening Development of the Methodist, Baptist, Unitarian, Mormon (Church of Jesus Christ and the Latter Day Saints), Millenialist (Seventh Day Adventists), and AME churches Large gains in population, the economy, and infrastrucure

The Debate Over Territorial Expansion and Slavery Amistad – “Gag” order in House John C. Calhoun and SCs threat of secession Southern platform = popular sovereignty or self determination Northern views – don’t concede to South’s wishes Clay and Webster – compromise Taylor dies in office, a more conciliatory Millard Fillmore signs the Compromise of 1850

The Compromise of 1850 Concessions of the North California admitted as a free state Territory disputed by Texas and New Mexico to be surrendered to New Mexico Abolition of slave trade in DC Concessions of the South The remainder of the Mexican Cession area to be formed into the territories of New Mexico and Utah, without restriction on slavery Texas to receive $10 million from the federal government in compensation Fugitive Slave Law

The Election of 1852 Whig Candidate – Winfield Scott Decorated war general – 1812, Mex-Am Wars Clay and Webster die during the campaign Antislavery Whigs split over Fugitive Slave Law Democratic Candidate – Franklin Pierce From NH, “Young Hickory” vs. “the Fainting General” Enemyless, pro-southern northerner Endorsed all terms of the Compromise of 1850 Pierce wins the election 252 electoral votes to 42 1,601,117 to 1,385,453 in popular vote Whig Party dies

Manifest Destiny continued Nicaragua South looks to Central America to expand slavery Renegade William Walker seizes control Walker ousted by coalition of Central American nations 1850 Clayton-Bulwer Treaty - created over proposed canal Cuba Pierce had plans to seize Cuba Offers Spain $100 million, rejected Spain’s seizure of the Black Warrior gave US an excuse Plan leaks out, Northerners are furious and Pierce loses support Gadsden Purchase US buys a narrow strip of land from Texas to California for $10 million Future site of the Southern Pacific Railroad

Kansas-Nebraska At Issue – How to handle the issue of slavery in the Kansas and Nebraska territories (1854) Stephen Douglas (IL) proposes that BOTH territories utilize popular sovereignty Repeal of Missouri Compromise is required because Nebraska lies above 36, 30 line