Chapter 18: Renewing the Sectional Struggle

Making Connections The end of the Mexican American War raised debate over the extension of slavery into the territories Debate over slavery in the area of the Mexican Cession threatened to disrupt politics along North-South Sectional lines

The Wilmot Proviso Introduced by David Wilmot in 1846 to the House of Representatives Wilmot Proviso: Called to ban slavery in any territory to be acquired from Mexico or in the future Passed in the House but failed in the Senate where the south had greater representation.

What is your solution to the slavery issue? You are now a politician during the 1840’s

Popular Sovereignty vs. slavery Popular Sovereignty: Doctrine that stated that the sovereign people of a territory, under the general principles of the Constitution, should themselves determine the status of slavery Politicians liked it because it was a compromise between the abolitionist attempt to ban slavery and the southern demands for congress to protect it Sweeping Slavery Under the Rug

The Free Soil party Main purpose was to oppose the expansion of slavery into the western territories Argued that free men on free soil comprised a morally and economically superior system to slavery Believed the extension of slavery directly threatened the free labor system and created competition with white workers

War Hero – Mexican American War Election of 1848 Zachary Taylor Lewis Cass Whig Party Slave Owner War Hero – Mexican American War Democratic Party

California would upset the free slave state balance California Gold Rush 1848 Most profits came from selling supplies not actually mining Thousands overwhelm California Crime and violence increase California drafts constitution without slavery and applied to Congress for admission California would upset the free slave state balance

Controversy Emerges Addition of California as a Free slate would upset political balance of 15 free states and 15 slave states Texas wanted to claim additional land and threatened to seize what they regarded as rightfully theirs Talks of the abolition of slavery in the District of Columbia unsettled southerners Southerners lost about 1,000 slaves a year because of the underground railroad and wanted stricter fugitive slave laws

Compromise of 1850 Who Got a Better Deal? North or South Henry Clay John Calhoun Daniel Webster Concessions to the North Concessions to the South California admitted as a free state New Mexico and Utah open to Popular Sovereignty Territory disputed by Texas will be surrendered to New Mexico Texas received $10 million from the government as compensation Abolition of the slave trade but not slavery in the District of Columbia Stricter fugitive slave law

Millard Fillmore Becomes President and passes Compromise Taylor Dies in 1850 Millard Fillmore Becomes President and passes Compromise

Fugitive Slave Law of 1850 Runaway Slaves could not testify on their own behalf Denied a jury trial Judges handling a case involving a runaway slave would receive $5 if the runaway was freed and $10 if returned to slave owner People found guilty of helping a runaway were subject to heavy fines and jail time

The Fugitive Slave law was very controversial as many Northerners openly opposed it, enacting “personal liberty” laws that prohibited state officials from returning slaves Southerners viewed attempts to obstruct the return of runaways as a violation of the federal law

Election of 1852 Franklin pierce Winfield scott Democratic Party Whig

The South and Expansion

The South and Expansion Southerner William Walker attempted to seize Nicaragua in 1856, turning it into a slave state, but was overthrown and killed by a Honduran firing squad in 1860 Southerners attempted to overthrow Cuba twice but were unsuccessful. Southerners attack Spain’s consulate in New Orleans Spain seized an American steam ship in 1854 Pierce was in position to wage war against Spain The Secret Ostend Manifesto Urged the US Government to offer $120 million for Cuba. If Spain refused, and it continued to endanger American interests, The US would be justified in taking the Island from Spain. Information Leaks and Controversy surrounds the Manifesto forcing Pierced to abandon the plan

The Gadsden Purchase 1853 Mexican Cession leads to transportation issues Transcontinental railroad was the only answer to unify newly acquired lands in the west South wanted the railroad in hopes of reaping economic benefits Treaty negotiated in 1853 that ceded the Gadsden purchase for $10 million

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 18

The Kansas Nebraska Act Stephen A. Douglas proposed the Territory of Nebraska be sliced into two, Kansas and Nebraska Slavery would be settled by popular sovereignty

Kansas Nebraska Debate The Missouri Compromise of 1820 had forbidden slavery in the Nebraska Territory, North of the 36’ 30 line Must be repealed to open the region to popular sovereignty Northerners strongly opposed The Kansas Nebraska Act wrecked two compromises The Missouri Compromise of 1820 The Compromise of 1850 North now refused to honor the fugitive slave law Republican Party Organizes in response Moral Protest against slavery Disgruntled Whigs, Democrats, Free-Soilers, and Know Nothings

Additional Resources Kansas Nebraska Act