The nation Divided Chapter 14

Focus Question: How did the question of admission of new states to the Union fuel the debate over slavery and states’ rights? Objectives: Explain why conflict arose over the issue of slavery in the territories after the Mexican-American War. Identify the goal of the Free-Soil Party. Describe the compromise Henry Clay proposed to settle the issues that divided the North and the South.

Section 1: Growing Tensions Over Slavery Previous issues causing tension: Missouri Compromise (1820) Land acquired from the Mexican-American War Congressional debate over slavery

The Wilmot Proviso Proviso: a clause in a document or contract that embodies a condition or stipulation Land gained from the war would upset the balance of Congress David Wilmot (Rep. Penn.) proposed that slavery be banned in the new territories Passed the House but failed in the Senate South viewed this as an attack David Wilmot

Popular Sovereignty Democratic Senator Lewis Cass proposed the idea of popular sovereignty. People in the new territories or states would vote directly on issues, rather than having their elected representatives decide.

Free-Soil Party and the Election of 1848 In 1848, antislavery Whigs and Democrats joined forces to form a new political party. (Free-Soil Party) The party wanted all new territories to ban slavery. In the Election of 1848, because of this new party, Zachary Taylor (Whig) won the election over Lewis Cass (Dem) and Martin Van Buren (Free-Soil Party) .

California Question Thousands of people rushed to California because of the Gold Rush in 1849-50. When California applied for statehood, it wanted to apply as a free state. However, this would upset the balance of Congress, so there was bitter debate about the issue. Southern states started to threaten secession. Other issues at hand: (1) slave trade in Wash DC, (2) North ignoring the Fugitive Slave Laws.

Section 2: Compromises Fail Compromise of 1850 North South California admitted to the Union as a free state Slave trade banned in Washington DC Popular Sovereignty used in new territories New Fugitive Slave Law

Fugitive Slave Act 1850 Any black could be accused of being a runaway slave There was no right to a trial/Slave-owner only had to say that the person was his property Northern citizens were required by law to assist slave-catchers and there would be severe punishments for harboring runaway slaves

Harriet Beecher Stowe author of Uncle Tom’s Cabin Uncle Tom's Cabin – Story about the cruelty of slavery was published in 1852. This book encouraged many people in the North to become abolitionists.

Kansas-Nebraska Act 1854 The act was pushed through by Senator Stephen Douglas. Douglas was eager to develop the lands west of his home state of Illinois. He wanted to see a railroad built from Illinois through the Nebraska Territory to the Pacific Coast. In 1853, Douglas suggested forming two new territories—the Kansas Territory and the Nebraska Territory. Southerners at once objected. Both territories lay in an area closed to slavery by the Missouri Compromise. This meant that the states eventually created from these territories would enter the Union as free states. To win southern support, Douglas proposed that slavery in the new territories be decided by popular sovereignty. Thus, in effect, the Kansas-Nebraska Act undid the Missouri Compromise.

Bleeding Kansas The Kansas-Nebraska Act left it to the white citizens of the territory to decide whether Kansas would be free or slave territory. Both proslavery and antislavery settlers flooded into Kansas within weeks after Douglas’s bill became law. Both groups voted and neither accepted the other’s results. Kansas now had two governments, each claiming the right to impose their government on the territory.

In April, a proslavery sheriff was shot when he tried to arrest some antislavery settlers in the town of Lawrence. The next month, he returned with 800 men and attacked the town. Three days later, John Brown, an antislavery settler from Connecticut, led seven men to a proslavery settlement near Pottawatomie Creek. There, they murdered five proslavery men and boys.

Bloodshed in the Senate Charles Sumner (Mass) v. Preston Brooks (SC) Brooks beat Sumner unconscious with a cane for insulting his uncle.

Section 3: The Crisis Deepens The Republican Party (1854) Northern Whigs, Northern Democrats, and Free-Soil party member join together and create a new political party. Republicans want to stop the spread of slavery into all of the western territories. Republican party became very popular, of the 245 candidates elected to the House, 105 were Republican.

1856- first Republican presidential candidate John C. Fremont Democrat James Buchanan won the election (Fremont won 11 of 16 Free States) American or “Know-Nothing” party nominated Millard Fillmore.

Dred Scott Decision Dred Scott - a slave in Missouri. Owner took him to the North where slavery was illegal. Scott sued for his freedom because he was in a free state. The case reached the Supreme Court. Chief Justice Roger B. Taney. The Supreme Court ruled that Scott could not sue in the U.S. because he was not a citizen. He was the property of his owner.

The Court also said the Congress could not ban the slave trade in the territories. This case angered people in the North. This meant slavery was now legal in the territories!

Lincoln-Douglas Debates In 1858, Abraham Lincoln challenged Stephan Douglas for senator from Illinois. Douglas and Lincoln debated over the issues of slavery. Lincoln had called slavery “a moral, a social, and political wrong.” Douglas said that slavery was up to the people. Douglas won the election, but Lincoln became a well-known figure after the debates.

John Brown/ Harper’s Ferry 1859, John Brown, who had murdered proslavery Kansans three year earlier wanted to inspire slaves to fight for their freedom. He planned to capture the weapons in the U.S arsenal at Harpers Ferry, Virginia. He wanted to give the weapons to slaves so they could start a slave revolt. They killed four people. No slaves joined the fight and Brown and six others were captured and hanged. On the day that Brown was put to death, abolitionist rang bells in his honor. Southerners were horrified by the reaction of the North. The issue of slavery was becoming very tense.

Election of 1860 Lincoln (Rep) Winner! Douglas (N. Dem) Breckinridge (S. Dem) Bell (Const. Union---Former Whigs) • Secession South Carolina (Dec. 1860) • Confederate States of America Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Texas (Feb. 1861) Jefferson Davis--President

WAR!!!!!!!