Chapter 18: Renewing the Sectional Struggle

Popular Sovereignty Nominees Lewis Cass Democrat The sovereign people of a territory should get to determine (under their own constitutions) to have or not have slavery Whigs: General Zachary Taylor Avoided all issues of slavery (LA Plantation had scores of slaves)

Free Soil Party Antislavery men in the North who distrusted both other candidates formed this For the Wilmot Proviso Against Slavery in Territories Federal Aid for Internal Improvements Free Govt. Homesteads to settlers Nominated Martin Van Buren

The 1848 Presidential Election Results √

1849 CA Gold Rush Thousands will flood CA Lawlessness Outburst of Crime Prostitution CA will draft a constitution in 1849 that excludes slavery & bypass the territorial stage & become a state.

California Gold Rush, 1849 49er’s

Territorial Growth to 1853

Underground Railroad Harriet Tubman freed 300 slaves during her 19 trips to the South Illiterate runaway slave from MA By 1850 the South was loosing 1,000 runaway slaves a yr (More slaves gained freedom by self purchase & voluntary emancipation)

The Great Compromise: Dealing with the sectional Crisis CA coming in causes a huge problem Henry Clay “The Great Compromiser” 73 now Urged North & South for stronger fugitive slave laws Rep the South was John C. Calhoun (68 currently dying) – States rights, slavery to be left alone, return of runaway slaves, & return of political balance Daniel Webster – 68 yrs, Stronger fugitive slave law, as for slavery this new land was not fit for “them” anyways, his 7th of March speech helped push the north toward a compromise (North called him a traitor)

William H Seward NY Senator hated slavery “Christian legislators must adhere to a higher law” (God’s Law)& not allow slavery to exists President Taylor vetoed every compromise sent his way Taylor dies in 1850 President Millard Fillmore will take over

Compromise of 1850 South North New Mexican Cession Land would be open to popular Sovereignty Texas got 10 mill from the Fed. Govt. for given up the disputed land over NM A stricter fugitive slave law North CA came in a free State Disputed land b/w TX & NM to be surrendered to NM Abolition of the slave trade (not slavery) in the District of Columbia

Compromise of 1850

North’s Response: Fugitive Slave law: Fleeing slaves could not testify on their own behalf & denied a jury trial Fed. Commissioner that handled the case got paid $5 if slave was free $10 if he was not Anyone could be made to join the hunt or be fined / arrested North’s Response: Many Northerns’ vowed NOT to follow this “man stealing Law” Underground Railroad step up its timetable

1852 Presidential Election √ Franklin Pierce Gen. Winfield Scott Parker Hale Democrat Whig Free Soil

Expansionist Stirrings July of 1856 William Walker – An Adventurer grabbed control of Nicaragua & proclaimed himself President (army of Southern helpers) Then legalized Slavery . . . Idiot The U.S. recognized the new country Made English the new Language Other Latin American Countries overthrew him and in 1860 a Honduran firing squad took his life

Cuba? HMMMMMM. . . Southerns & President Pierce wanted Cuba (Lots of Blacks already there hmmm) 1850-1851: Two pirate expeditions (Southern men) tried to seize Cuba but failed 1854 Spain being upset by this attacked the “Black Warrior” an American ship & demanded a showdown Result was the OSTEND MANAFESTO A secret document where the U.S. offered $120 mill to Spain for Cuba if they refused the U.S. would take it by FORCE (They met in Ostend Belgium) But: This leaked out & the North was furious & Pierce quickly dropped the issue of Cuba

Opening Up Trade in Asia Japan 1852-1853 Millard Fillmore sent a fleet ships to Japan led by Commodore Matthew C. Perry to open up trade Basically he asked /coerced/ forced them to open up their nation: They signed the Treaty of Kanagawa Japan broke their isolation tradition China Caleb Cushing a MA lawyer was sent to open trade & encourage relations The Chinese were welcoming & signed the Treaty of Wanghia July 3, 1844 (Trade Begin to Flourish

Caleb Cushing Matthew C. Perry

Gadsden Purchase . . . Why? Sec. of War Jefferson Davis sent Rail Road man James Gadsden (from SC) to Mexico to Purchase this Mexican land for 10 million Why: A way to connect the west to the East & South This was the best route due to: Land was organized Indian attacks could be repelled Better Geography (Not Mts. To deal with) So, the North thought that if the organization of territories was the problem then Newbraska needed to be organized?

Kansas-Nebraska Scheme 1854 Senator Stephen Douglas proposed the Kansas Nebraska Act Let both states be decided by Popular Sovereignty Problem? MO Compromise banned this right? The act would have to be repealed This bill was passed by Congress very recklessly & furthered sectional tensions b/tw the N & S