Attempts to maintain the Union 1845-1854

Find it and Fix It Task 1: Find the boxes that have errors Task 2: Fix the errors Federalism is where power is divided between a federal government and individual state government The % of northern people working in agriculture rose from 40% in 1800 to 68% in 1860 Benign means that slavery is morally wrong The Missouri Compromise allowed slavery below the 36o30 line in the Louisiana Territory John Calhoun resigned as Vice President during the Nullification Crisis The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo saw Mexico pay America $15 million Popular sovereignty is the belief that settlers should be able to decide whether their state has slavery Wilmot created the Wilmot Proviso because he was an abolitionist Taylor’s victory in the 1848 election was sectional

1850 Compromise What we need to cover Lead up to the Compromise Details of the Compromise Chronology of the Compromise Debate surrounding the Compromise DESCRIBE the chronology of the 1850 Compromise EXPLAIN the key features of the 1850 Compromise DECIDE whether the 1850 Compromise was a compromise, or an armistice

The 1850 Compromise Key Words: Compromise Sectional tension Good learning: Describe the chronology of the 1850 Compromise Great learning: Explain the key features of the 1850 Compromise Even better: Decide whether the 1850 Compromise was a compromise, or an armistice Key Words: Compromise Sectional tension

Chronology of the Compromise What would you do? We are going to now look at how the Compromise came about. This will include facts such as Who created the Compromise? How did politicians react to the Compromises terms? How was the Compromise passed through Congress? You will be given scenarios that different people in this period faced. Your job is to decide whether you can guess how they acted in the given situation. You will get points for each round (you need to keep count!!) At the end of each round you need to make notes on the purple box that appears Put process of become a state on the board and talk through where Taylor cuts corners DESCRIBE the chronology of the 1850 Compromise EXPLAIN the key features of the 1850 Compromise DECIDE whether the 1850 Compromise was a compromise, or an armistice

HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THIS SITUATION? Tension was growing between the North and the South leading up until 1850. Mississippi issued a call for all slave states to send representatives to a convention in Nashville to adopt ‘some mode of resistance to northern aggression’. There are fistfights between Congressmen. Southerners are raising the issue that Northern states were disregarding the Fugitive Slave Law of 1793. President Taylor was prepared to call the southern bluff and, if needs be, take an army into the South to prevent secession. You are President Taylor. Mississippi has issued a call for all slave states to send representatives to a convention in Nashville to adopt ‘some mode of resistance to northern aggression’. There are fistfights between Congressmen. Southerners are raising the issue that Northern states were disregarding the Fugitive Slave Law of 1793. More and more southerners are beginning to talk of secession. HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THIS SITUATION? OPTION A I am not too bothered if the South secede. Do not retaliate and if they secede, may that be the case! OPTION B I am prepared to call the southern bluff and, if needs be, take an army into the South to prevent secession. OPTION C I am really concerned that the South are going to secede. I will bring in measures to reassure them. 10 30 20

In January 1850, Henry Clay offered the Senate a set of resolutions as the basis for a compromise. California to be admitted as a free state Utah and New Mexico to be organised territories without any mention/restriction on slavery Slave trade should end in Washington DC A more strict Fugitive Slave Act should be passed To resolve the border issue between Texas-New Mexico, Texas should surrender the disputed land. In return, Congress will assume the $10 million public debt that Texas still owed. You are 73 year old Henry Clay. You have a reputation as a conciliator from previous crises. HOW DO YOU REACT TO THIS SITUATION? OPTION A Suggest my previous Compromises are following – namely the 36o30 line from my Missouri Compromise OPTION B Absolutely nothing, I am tired of being the Compromiser! OPTION C Offer the Senate a set of resolutions as the basis for a compromise. 20 10 30

The next few months were marked by a series of epic speeches as Clays proposals (rolled into a single bill) were debated in Congress. ‘Old guard’ politicians, making their last appearances on the public stage contributed. This was also the case for those beginning their political career. Clay defended his proposal in a four hour speech in February 1850. Calhoun would have spoken but was seriously ill, his speech was therefore read by Senator Mason. With every call for compromise, some northern or southern speaker would rise and inflame passions. You work in Congress. You, like many other congressmen have an opinion on this Compromise. WHAT DO YOU DO? OPTION A Make an epic speech in Congress OPTION B Stay silent OPTION C Fistfight anybody who disagrees with you 30 10 20

President Taylor made it clear that he opposed Clay’s proposals President Taylor made it clear that he opposed Clay’s proposals. In his view, California should be admitted as a free state immediately, whilst New Mexico should also come with possible speed. Southerners would have to accept their medicine. You are President Taylor. How do you react to the proposed bill? OPTION A Support the 1850 Compromise OPTION B Oppose the Compromise OPTION C Have no opinion on the matter 20 30 10

DO YOU SEND A DELEGATE TO THE NASHVILLE CONFEDERENCE? Only nine slave states sent delegates. The fact slave states did not send delegates was disconcerting for those who supported secession. The convention itself also displayed little enthusiasm for secession! This conference had little impact. You are in charge of a slave state. The Nashville Convention is coming up (June 1850) DO YOU SEND A DELEGATE TO THE NASHVILLE CONFEDERENCE? OPTION A Yes OPTION B No 20 POINTS 30 POINTS

When Millard Fillmore took over as President following the death of Taylor, he broke the policies of his predecessor. There was a wholesale cabinet change (Webster = Secretary of State). Fillmore threw his weight behind the compromise proposals. Nevertheless, on 31st July 1850, Clay’s bill was defeated because Northern Congressmen voted against it  You are Vice-President Millard Fillmore. President Taylor has just died of gastroenteritis, and you now take over as President. You are a northerner, but sympathetic to the South. WHAT DO YOU DO? OPTION A Break with the views of your predecessor. OPTION B Keep the views of your predecessor 30 20

Stephen Douglas demonstrated his political skill Stephen Douglas demonstrated his political skill. He broke down the compromise bill into its component parts and submitted them as separate bills. This strategy was successful! Southerners voted for the bills they liked, and the Northeners for the bills they liked. Those in the middle (e.g. Douglas) swung the balance. By September 1850, all of the bits of the Compromise were passed! You are Stephen Douglas. You are known as the ‘Little Giant’ and replace Clay as leader of the Compromise cause. WHAT DO YOU DO AS LEADER OF THE COMPROMISE BILL? OPTION A Try and get the same bill passed OPTION B Try and get each component of the Compromise passed as individual bills OPTION C Create an entirely new Compromise bill 10S 30 20

1850 Compromise What we need to cover Lead up to the Compromise Details of the Compromise Chronology of the Compromise Debate surrounding the Compromise DESCRIBE the chronology of the 1850 Compromise EXPLAIN the key features of the 1850 Compromise DECIDE whether the 1850 Compromise was a compromise, or an armistice

How did the 1850 Compromise pass? Compromise term North South Moderates California admitted as a free state Stricter Fugitive Slave Law 1793 Slavery abolished in Washington D.C. Utah and New Mexico territories with no mention of slavery Texas surrender land to New Mexico but Congress will assume $10 million debt TASK 1: Copy down the table TASK 2: Fill in the boxes with a ‘Y’ or ‘N’ depending on whether the specific group would vote in favour of the term. Challenge: In a sentence, summarise how the 1850 Compromise was able to pass Explain that it doesn’t go through as one bill. DESCRIBE the chronology of the 1850 Compromise EXPLAIN the key features of the 1850 Compromise DECIDE whether the 1850 Compromise was a compromise, or an armistice

1850 Compromise: Compromise or an armistice? One side of the room are going to argue that the 1850 Compromise was a compromise. The other half of the room will argue that is was an armistice. Use the article to help you! Compromise – an agreement by which each side consents to certain terms desired by the other Armistice - temporary stopping of tension by agreement between the opponents. Use the article in the folder to help

1850 Compromise What we need to cover Lead up to the Compromise Details of the Compromise Chronology of the Compromise Debate surrounding the Compromise DESCRIBE the chronology of the 1850 Compromise EXPLAIN the key features of the 1850 Compromise DECIDE whether the 1850 Compromise was a compromise, or an armistice

Flipped Learning Create key profiles for the following people: Include Henry Clay Daniel Webster Stephen Douglas Millard Fillmore William Seward Zachary Taylor John Calhoun Jefferson Davis Include Party and State (N/S) Their career at the time of the compromise (beginning/end?) View on the Compromise Specific actions/speeches Key quotes Wider political career DESCRIBE Who made speeches in 1850 EXPLAIN Different interpretations on the 1850 Compromise DECIDE Understanding of the Compromise debates to primary sources