MESSY POLITICS OF SLAVERY

Regional Differences By the mid-1800s, the North and South had developed into very different regions. NORTH SOUTH Industry, textiles, manufacturing Economy basis Agriculture, cotton, tobacco Unskilled labor Railroads, telegraph Economy relied on… Slave labor Rivers Urban areas, cities, immigrants 2/3 of USA population Population trends Rural areas plantations, small farms 1/3 of USA population Slaves up to ½ of the population in some southern states

Slavery in the West? Manifest Destiny, expansion, new territories → Future of slavery? 1846 – Wilmot Proviso Proposed bill to ban slavery in all new territories in the west North – YAY! South – NO! Both regions trying to gain power in Congress. The Wilmot Proviso did NOT pass into law. It proved that the North and South had different views for the future of the US.

POTUS Taylor’s Ideas on Slavery Taylor believed each territory should use popular sovereignty to decide to allow/ban slavery, rather than the federal government choosing. Popular sovereignty - rule by the people Residents of territories would vote to ban/allow slavery in their territory

The Senate is a MESS! 1849 – Feelings of distrust and bitterness in Congress California applying for statehood – slave or free? Texas trying to claim parts of New Mexico territory Northerners want slavery banned in Washington DC Southerners accused Northerners of not returning runaway slaves Southern states discuss secession – formally leaving the Union

Compromise of 1850 Henry Clay to the rescue → proposed the Compromise of 1850 Pleases North Pleases South Pleases Both North and South California = free state Fugitive Slave Act – runaway slaves must be returned to South Texas paid $10 million to release claim to New Mexico lands Slavery in Utah and New Mexico territories to be decided by popular sovereignty Rule by the people, residents vote to ban/allow slavery in their territory Buying/selling slaves banned in DC, but practicing slavery in DC could continue

Compromise of 1850 At first, the Compromise of 1850 was rejected. Discouraged, Clay left DC for good. Senator Stephen A. Douglas continued to push the compromise. Broke the compromise into different laws and passed each part through Congress individually. Allowed Congressmen to vote for parts they liked and not vote on parts they didn’t like.

Unexpected Deaths Change Things Zachary Taylor died unexpectedly in 1850 (1ish year as POTUS) → VP Millard Fillmore = 13th POTUS! Pro-Compromise of 1850 – encouraged Congress to pass the Compromise John C. Calhoun (Senator from SC) died in 1850 Pushed for SC secession Anti-Compromise of 1850 After death, southern Congressmen voted to pass parts of the Compromise of 1850 September 1850 – Compromise of 1850 adopted!

California the Free State 1850 – California = 31st state Gold rush caused the population to rise so quickly that California skipped the territory phase. CA Constitution banned slavery → angered many Southerners because half of CA was below the Missouri Compromise Line → should be open to slavery

Fugitive Slave Act Part of the Compromise of 1850, criminalized the aiding of runaway slaves Fugitive slave = an escaped slave If captured and placed on trial… fugitive slaves could not testify on their own behalf and were denied trial by jury Returning a fugitive slave - $10 Helping a fugitive slave - $1000 fine and 6 months in jail

Resisting the Fugitive Slave Act 9 northern states passed personal liberty laws Laws that forbid imprisonment of runaway slaves and guaranteed trial by jury Northern lawyers would draw out trials for years to drive up the cost for slave-owners. Underground Railroad – system of routes to help slaves escape to northern states or Canada “Conductors” helped slaves along the way – shelter, food, directions Supported by free blacks and abolitionists Harriet Tubman – former slave, influential in helping slaves escape through the Underground Railroad

Underground Railroad & Harriet Tubman Harriet Tubman on $20 Women on Currency Underground Railroad & Harriet Tubman

Dangers of Escaping Survive initial escape from owner Travel by foot at night without much direction except the North Star Cross rivers and dense forests Avoid patrols of armed men on horseback Face starvation

Uncle Tom’s Cabin 1852 – Harriet Beecher Stowe published the book Uncle Tom’s Cabin Instant bestseller Anti-slavery, moral not political basis Outlined the lives of several slaves, some who become free and some who die at the hands of slaveowners Reactions to Uncle Tom’s Cabin North – increased abolitionist activity South – criticized the book as an attack on the South as a whole

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