Review What did the Wilmot Proviso propose? Did it pass into law? What were the 5 main points of the Compromise of 1850? What was the reaction in the North to the Fugitive Slave Act?

Review What did the Wilmot Proviso propose? Did it pass into law? Banning slavery in all new territories – it was rejected and did not become law. What were the 5 main points of the Compromise of 1850? CA = free state Fugitive Slave Act No sale of slaves in DC, but slavery in DC can still exist Texas gets $10 million to leave NM alone Slavery in UT and NM decided by popular sovereignty (vote) What was the reaction in the North to the Fugitive Slave Act? Increased abolitionist activities and the growth of the Underground Railroad, and personal liberty laws in northern states

VIOLENCE ERUPTS IN KANSAS & NEBRASKA

Election of 1852 Franklin Pierce Winfield Scott Democrat, states’ rights Split on slavery - morally opposed to slavery but against federal involvement with slavery… states should decide on slavery Winfield Scott Whig, anti-slavery, Mex. Am. War hero Weak Whig party – Clay and Daniel Webster died in 1852 and the party was deeply split on slavery

Election of 1852 Pierce = 14th POTUS! Whig party fell apart, eventually replaced by the Republican party

Douglas’s Proposal Senator Stephen Douglas (Democrat - Illinois) helped pass the Compromise of 1850 but had other things in mind… Pushed for the division of the large territory west of Iowa and Missouri → create Kansas and Nebraska territories

Douglas’s Proposal Why did Douglas want to create the Kansas and Nebraska territories? Douglas wanted the construction of a railroad from Chicago, IL to San Francisco, CA → would make Chicago wealthy BUT Southern states wanted a similar railroad to start in a Southern city and would oppose his plan for a northern railroad through free territories Douglas = Democrat, wants to be POTUS one day → needs to please Southern Democrats

Douglas’s Proposal Douglas proposed that the territory be broken into Nebraska and Kansas. Both territories were technically supposed to be free due to being above the Missouri Compromise line Douglas would lose support from Southern states and Democrats if these territories were automatically free. Nebraska Kansas

Douglas’s Proposal Douglas proposed that slavery be decided in Kansas and Nebraska by popular sovereignty. Kansas – most likely slave territory, due to neighboring states Nebraska – most likely free territory, bad soil for farming and plantations Nebraska Kansas

Kansas-Nebraska Act 1854 –Kansas-Nebraska Act Divided the area in the mid-west into Kansas and Nebraska territories Repealed the Missouri Compromise of 1820 by opening northern territories up to slavery

Aftermath of the Kansas-Nebraska Act North = unhappy about the possibility of slavery in new territories Criticized Douglas as a traitor and betrayer (he was from the North) South = happy about the possibility of slavery in new territories Praised Douglas as a true Democrat (promoted states’ rights) The fate of the new territories and slavery was up to voters!

Aftermath of Kansas-Nebraska Act Kansas up for grabs! → pro and anti-slavery settlers poured into Kansas hoping to influence the vote on slavery 1855 – Kansas had enough settlers to hold an election on slavery. “Border ruffians” from slave state Missouri came into Kansas and voted illegally → tipped the vote in favor of slavery

Bleeding Kansas Pro-slavery groups set up Kansas’ capital in Lecompton. Anti-slavery groups responded by established their capital in Topeka. Established an anti-slavery town in Lawrence High tensions and violence in Kansas in 1854-56 gave Kansas the nickname “Bleeding Kansas.”

Bleeding Kansas 1856 – Sack of Lawrence 800 pro-slavery men attacked anti-slavery Lawrence Burned down headquarters, printing presses Looted stores and businesses

Bleeding Kansas 1856 – The Pottawatomie Massacre John Brown – believed God had called upon him to fight slavery Brown mistakenly believed 5 abolitionists were killed in Lawrence Brown and several supporters killed 5 men from the proslavery settlement Pottawatomie Creek Hacked off hands and stabbed to death Triggered revenge attacks in which over 200 people died.

Senate Caning Violence spread to Congress in DC. MA Senator Charles Sumner verbally attacked aged SC Senator Andrew Butler for supporting slavery and made rude comments about his impaired speech. Butler’s nephew, SC Rep. Preston Brooks walked into the Senate chamber and said to Sumner… “I have read your speech twice over, carefully. It is a libel (false report) on South Carolina and Mr. Butler, who is a relative on mine.”

Senate Caning Brooks pulled out a cane and beat Sumner over the head repeatedly → Sumner suffered from shock and brain damage, did not return to Senate for 3 years. Reflected the growing tensions between the North and South…

The Kansas-Nebraska Act (1854)