New Political Parties Ch. 10-3 P. 355

Key Terms Compromise of 1850 Fugitive Slave Act Nativism Kansas-Nebraska Act Popular sovereignty

Essential Questions… What were the effects of the Missouri Compromise? What did the Compromise of 1850 accomplish? How did political parties change in the 1850’s? Why did Stephen Douglas propose the Kansas-Nebraska Act?

Effects of the Missouri Compromise The Missouri compromise had accomplished two things: -Balancing the number of free and slave states. -Planning for the addition of future states in the west. However, after the Mexican War, northerners and southerners disagreed about how the Missouri Compromise should apply. Northerners didn’t want slavery to be allowed in new territories. Southerners said the federal government didn’t have the power to stop slavery in territories.

Effects of the Missouri Compromise In both parties (but mostly Whigs), some members who were opposed to slavery left to form a new party: the Free-Soil Party. The Free-Soil Party was opposed to slavery, not because it was bad for slaves, but because it was bad for free white workers. Also, they did not want to end slavery; they just didn’t want it to spread to the new territories.

Election of 1848 Whig Zachary Taylor ran based on his success in the war, but did not really believe in Whig ideals. Democrat Lewis Cass ran on his party’s history of peace, victory, and expansion, and prosperity. Martin Van Buren hated Lewis Cass and despised what the Democratic Party had become. He knew he would lose, but would take enough votes from Cass for him to lose as well.

Compromise of 1850 California, now home to 200,000 gold seekers, asked to become a free state in 1850. This renewed the fight over the issue of slavery in the territories. With southerners (and northerners!) calling for their region to secede, Henry Clay, now 73, proposed a set of laws that he thought would solve the problem.

Compromise of 1850 California will be a free state. Territories of New Mexico and Utah will get to decide for themselves if they want slavery (Popular Sovereignty). The sale of slaves (but not slavery) will be banned in Washington, DC. Texas will reduce its borders for $10 million. The Fugitive Slave Act will be strictly enforced by the federal government.

Compromise of 1850 After much debate, the pieces of the compromise were eventually passed. John C. Calhoun had insisted that the north, not the south, was wrong, and slavery was protected by the Constitution. Daniel Webster had, to the shock and horror of the north, supported Clay’s bills, including the Fugitive Slave Act.

New Political Parties The Whig Party was unable to present a serious opposition to the Democrats on the issue of slavery. Also, many of the issues they stood for were no longer a big deal. As a result, they disappeared by 1860. Also, the Native American Party rose to power, based on the idea that foreigners and minorities were dangerous, and that Americans born in America should be treated as favorites.

The Kansas-Nebraska Act Sen. Stephen Douglas of Illinois had two ideas: -He wanted Chicago to be the point that connected the east with the west. -He wanted to run for president in 1860. He proposed allowing Popular Sovereignty in the Kansas territory. That way, people would move there, opening the land for the railroad. Also, southerners would support him in the election.

The Republican Party In 1854, northerners angrily protested the Kansas-Nebraska bill. In Michigan, a group of northerners formed the Republican Party. This party was formed specifically to fight the growth of slavery. They were made up of northern Whigs, northern Democrats, and Free Soilers.