Chapter 18

Western Territories Mexican Cession: CA NM AZ UT NV

What to do about slavery?

Popular Sovereignty People of the state decide whether or not to have slavery Flaw: potential to spread slavery

Election of 1848

Zachary Taylor wins

Free Soilers Wilmot Proviso: proposed a ban on slavery in any territory ceded from Mexico

Gold Rush 1848- gold discovered in CA

Gold Fever 49ers 300,000 people move to CA Crime rates accelerate

CA applies for statehood State constitution does not include slavery

Underground Railroad System of “stations”, “passengers”, and “conductors” Goal: get slaves to freedom in Canada

Harriet Tubman 19 trips 300 slaves “Moses”

Paranoia in the South 1,000 runaways/yr Want a new Fugitive Slave Act

Compromise needed Addition of CA as state Expansion of slavery into western territories Fugitive Slave Act

1850 Zachary Taylor dies Millard Fillmore takes over

Compromise of 1850 CA admitted as free state Disputed territory b/w TX and NM given to NM Abolition of slave trade in DC Remainder of Mexican Cession- popular sovereignty TX paid $10 million Fugitive Slave Act

Fugitive Slave Act “man-stealing” law Illegal to help runaway slaves Free blacks could be sold into slavery

Activity

“The Allure of Asia” CA and OR open up Pacific Ocean and Asia

Britain and China Opium Wars Ports Hong Kong

Tyler Caleb Cushing 1844- Treaty of Wanghia “Most favored nation” Extraterritoriality

1852- Japan Fillmore sends Matthew Perry to Japan with fleet of ships Treaty of Kanagawa

Pacific Railroad New land/gold rush/Asia: need transportation Location important and controversial Gadsden Purchase- south gets claim

Stephen A. Douglas

Kansas-Nebraska Act Slavery decided by popular sovereignty Wrecked MO Comp and Comp of 1850 Republican party