CHAPTER 19 RENEWING THE SECTIONAL STRUGGLE

Wilmot Proviso Polk’s Two Million Dollar Bill 1846 Wanted Congress to appropriate 2 million dollars he could use to buy Mexican land Wilmot Proviso (Proposed by Congressmen David Wilmot) Amendment to the Two Million Dollar Bill Stated slavery would be outlawed in any acquired Mexican territory Passed by House not Senate Vote is along sectional lines

Election of 1848 Whigs nominate Zachary Taylor Slave owner No platform Democrats nominate Lewis Cass Father of Popular sovereignty Platform does not mention slavery

Election of 1848 Free Soil Party- against slavery in new territories Took members away from both parties Antislavery men and racists Free Homesteads and Internal Improvements Nominated Martin Van Buren Taylor wins- popular war hero

California Gold Rush Gold is discovered in 1848, 90,000 people migrate to California 50,000 were Americans Large proportion were “lawless” men Most did not make money Business owners/shopkeepers did though

What impact did the Gold Rush have on California?

COMPROMISE OF 1850

California California skipped the territorial stage because their rapid population growth They applied for statehood, with a constitution that outlawed slavery Will Congress allow California to enter the union as a free state?

Texas Texas entered the Union as a slave state in 1845 Texas claims the eastern part of the New Mexico territory This would prevent this territory from becoming a free state Texas is in debt from its war for independence What should be done about Texas land claim?

Slavery in the Territories Territories are governed by the federal government What should be done about slavery in the new territories?

Slavery in Washington DC Washington DC is governed by the Federal Government Northerners want to abolish slavery in DC

Fugitive Slave Act of 1793 Gave local governments the authority to capture and return escaped slaves Northerners resisted the law Southerners wanted a stronger law with stiffer penalties for people who helped escaped slaves

Secession Some radical southerners threatened to secede from the Union if the federal government damaged the institution of slavery

Three Options On the Slavery Question in Territories Wilmot Proviso Slavery should be outlawed in the new territories Popular Sovereignty The people in the territories should decide whether or not they want slavery Constitutional Argument It would be unconstitutional for the federal government to outlaw slavery in the territories

Henry Clay’s Plan CA is admitted New Fugitive Slave Law Texas gives up land claim in exchange for $10 million dollars Slavery in the new territories will be decided by popular sovereignty

President Zachary Taylor Elected in 1848 Opposes compromise, supports Wilmot Proviso Dies 1850

Millard Fillmore Vice President, becomes President 1850 Supports compromise

Stephen Douglas Stephen Douglas passed each component of Henry Clay’s compromise individually

1850’S

Results of Compromise of 1850 “Finality” Balance of power tips in favor of the North Northerners upset about Fugitive Slave Law Federal commissioners paid $10 for slave captured $5 if captured person was freed Tougher penalties for those who aided escaped slaves

Election of 1852 Franklin Pierce Democrats Pro-south northerner Platform-finality Winner, southern Whigs stayed home Winfield Scott Whigs Anti-slavery general Platform-finality, praises Fugitive Slave Act “Conscience Whigs” support candidate not platform Southern Whigs support platform not candidate

Southern Expansionism Nicaragua William Walker- took over country made himself president Central American nations overthrow him Clayton-Bulwer Treaty (1850) Neither U.S. or Britain would secure exclusive control of a canal in Central America

Southern Expansionism Ostend Manifesto 1854 Coveted by southerners, Polk offered $100 million 1854 Ministers from Spain, England, France met in Ostend Belgium Wrote recommendations for getting Cuba Suggested $120 million, if Spain refused then go to war Ostend Manifesto got leaked, Pierce dropped schemes

Commodore Matthew perry Japan refused to trade/interact with west Commodore Matthew Perry persuaded Japan to sign treaty opening trade relations

Gadsden Purchase 1853 South wants to build a railroad Brings wealth, population Easiest route to west coast is through Mexican territory James Gadsden minister to Mexico, buys a strip of land for $15 million dollars

Stephen Douglas 1854 Wanted to build a railroad from Chicago to San Francisco Owned real estate in Chicago Railroad would cut through unorganized territory that was given to Indians

Stephen Douglas 1854 To build the railroad, this territory would need to be organized by congress South would not vote to create more free territories To gain the support of the south Douglas proposed slavery would be decided by popular sovereignty – This would repeal the Missouri Compromise

Stephen Douglas Two territories would be formed: Nebraska and Kansas It was assumed one would be free the other slave Douglas hoped neither would be slave states The climate in these territories was not suitable to plantation agriculture

HOW DID DOUGLAS DEFEND THE KANSAS NEBRASKA ACT? WHAT ARGUMENTS WERE MADE BY ITS CRITICS?