The Nation Divided Chapter 14

New territory The Missouri Compromise of 1820 successfully quieted the issue of slavery. After the Mexican-American War, the United States added a huge amount of territory. Renews the struggle between free/slave states for power in Congress.

Wilmot proviso Questions began to arise of what would happen to the newly acquired lands. Northerners feared the spread of slavery to western territories In 1846, David Wilmot of Pennsylvania proposed that Congress ban slavery in all of the Mexican cession. Though it was rejected by Congress, it aroused great concern in the South. The north was directly attacking the South’s way of life.

New party Neither the Democrats or the Whigs took a strong stance on slavery. Democratic candidate Lewis Cass proposed the idea of popular sovereignty. People in the territory or state would vote directly on issues (slavery) Anti-Slavery Democrats and Whigs formed the Free-Soil Party. Martin Van Buren was selected to be their candidate.

12th President Van Buren performed terribly in the election, but did steal away votes from the Democrats Hero of the Mexican-American War: Zachary Taylor wins the election for the Whig Party.

A bitter debate Several issues were at hand at the beginning of Zachary Taylor’s term in office:

1. California: Free or Slave State? California petitioned to be a state in 1849. Northerners argued that because the majority of the state was above the Missouri Comp. line that California should be a free state.

2. Slavery in Washington D.C. Northerners were not happy that slavery was in the nation’s capital.

3. Fugitive Slaves Southerners wanted northerners to return runaway slaves to the south

“The great compromiser” Henry Clay introduces the Compromise of 1850: 1. California is a free state 2. Banned slave trade in Washington DC 3. Popular sovereignty to determine fate of Mexican Cession (free/slave) 4. Tough new fugitive slave law

Opposition States’ rights supporter: John C. Calhoun Calls for secession of slave states President Zachary Taylor also is against the Compromise.

Death in the white house Zachary Taylor dies Millard Fillmore becomes the 13th president. Fillmore supports Clay’s Compromise and signs it into law.

Fugitive slave act of 1850 Allowed special government officials to arrest any person accused of being a runaway slave. Suspects had no right to trial No evidence needed Also required northerners to help capture “fugitives”

Outrage Examples of injustice: Indiana man torn from family because slave owner claimed he ran away 19 years earlier. A wealthy tailor was taken back to South Carolina after living in New York for several years. White Northerners could be arrested and fined $1,000 for not helping ‘slave-catchers’

OUTRAGE African Americans began fleeing to Canada in fear of being stolen into slavery Mobs form in northern cities. Bostonians rise up against ‘slave-catchers’. Threaten harm if they don’t leave immediately.

outrage The Fugitive Slave Act further proved the evil of slavery to northerners. Created a sense of urgency to rid the nation of it.

Uncle tom’s cabin Harriet Beecher Stowe, the daughter of an abolitionist minister, writes the influential book. “something that will make this whole nation feel what an accursed thing slavery is.” Sold 300,000 copies in the first year.

Uncle tom’s cabin Showed the evil and severity of slavery Turned slavery from a political issue to a moral issue. Northerners were shocked and disgusted Southerners claimed it to be propaganda

Kansas-Nebraska act Stephen A. Douglas suggested forming two new territories. Kansas Territory and Nebraska Territory To win southern support, Douglass proposed that slavery in the new territories would be determined by popular sovereignty. Undoes the Missouri Compromise.

Kansas-Nebraska Act When passed by the 14th President: Franklin Pierce, Douglass predicted: “the issue of slavery will now forever be banished from the halls of Congress” OMG, he was completely wrong

Trouble in Kansas White citizens of the Kansas and Nebraska territory could now vote on the issue of slavery. Both proslavery and antislavery citizens flooded into Kansas to vote illegally. Although Kansas had only 3,000 citizens; 8,000 votes were cast on election day.

Results 36 of 39 legislators elected are pro-slavery. Anti-slavery Kansans refuse to accept the results and hold a second election. Kansas now had two governments

Bleeding Kansas Border-ruffians: armed groups from Missouri who used violence against abolitionist. 800 pro-slavery men attack anti-slavery city: Lawrence, KS. John Brown led 7 men into a pro-slavery town and murdered 5 men.

Blood in congress Charles Sumner, an anti-slavery senator, rants about pro-slavery supporters. Singles out Andrew Butler, a senator from South Carolina. Butler was not present for the speech. A few days later Butler’s nephew, Congressman Preston Brooks, marched into the Senate chamber and beat Sumner with a heavy cane until he was bloody and unconscious. The south felt Sumner got what he deserved. To the north, this proved the brutal and inhumane ways of the south.

Another new party The Whig Party splits up. The Republican party forms. northern, anti-slavery

Election of 1856 James Buchanan John C. Fremont Democrat Republican