AMERICAN HISTORY
1850—Slavery had existed for over 200 years By 1790—more than 90% of enslaved Americans lived in the South The developing debate over slavery was largely one of property rights vs. human rights “Shall the Government be a commonwealth where all are citizens, or an aristocracy where man owns his brother man”
After the Mexican-American War more than 500,000 square miles of territory were add Would new states created be free or slave? Missouri Compromise of 1820 had banned slavery in most of the northern part of the Louisiana Purchase March 1850—California applies to be a state Currently 15 free states and 15 slave states
California’s population in 1850 was 93,000 Residents adopted a state constitution banning slavery and applied for statehood January 29, 1850—Henry Clay introduces a plan in which he proposes compromises on several slavery issues The Senate debate was one of the greatest in history—Daniel Webster (MA) vs. John C. Calhoun (SC)
Calhoun indicated that states might secede from the Union if the slavery question was not resolved Webster was dismayed by Calhoun’s threat of secession. He believed that preserving the union was more important then the disagreement over slavery Not all northern senators agreed with Webster
NY Senator William Seward opposed any compromise on slavery Seward was labeled a RADICAL (person with extreme views) Debate on Clay’s proposal dragged on through the summer Calhoun’s death March 31 removed one obstacle President Zachary Taylor opposed Clay’s plan
President Taylor died a few months later President Millard Fillmore supported the plan September 1850—The Senate passed 5 laws that became the COMPROMISE OF 1850 FUGATIVE SLAVE ACT—a federal crime to aid runaway slaves; allowed the arrest of escaped slaves in states where slavery was illegal
UNCLE TOM’S CABIN Written by Harriet Beecher Stowe 300,000 copies were sold Described the cruelty and horror of slavery The book outraged southerners
Clay and Webster both die within 2 years Stephen Douglas (Sen-IL) gained power and influence Popular Sovereignty—people decide Kansas and Nebraska would be allowed to determine whether slavery was legal or not
Northerners protested the Kansas-Nebraska Act SHIFTS IN POLITICS Whig Party was suffering from serious divisions Conscience Whigs—northern Whigs—opposed slavery on moral grounds Cotton Whigs—(north and south) strongly supported slavery
Cotton Whigs joined southern Democrats Conscience Whigs joined northern Democrats and Free Soil Party members to form a new political party to further resist the spread of slavery THE RISE OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY Rally held at a church in Ripon, WI February 1854 Republican Party born
The party’s new name Jackson, MI meeting End of 1854—Republican groups were operating in states across the North Members of the Know-Nothings also joined Republicans Relationship between Republicans and Know- Nothings kept one prominent Whig out—William Seward
SSeward joined Republicans in 1855 after being re- elected to the Senate AAnother, much less famous, northern Whig politician joined the Republicans also. HHis name was Abraham Lincoln. TTHE END