Renewing the Sectional Struggle 1848 – 1854 “The South! The South! God knows what will become of her!” --John C. Calhoun

Impact of the Mexican Cession Why are politicians avoiding the question of slavery? The Wilmot Proviso Supported in the North Opposed in the South Southern senators blocked the proviso Threatened to: disrupt the Whigs & the Democrats split national politics along North & South sectional lines Political parties represented national unity Each enjoyed support in both the North & the South

The Democratic Party Polk doesn’t seek reelection in 1848 What was his reasons? Select General Lewis Cass Senator & diplomat Party was silent on the issue of slavery Cass favored popular sovereignty – what is PS? Popular sovereignty Favored by politicians & public. Why? However, could cause spread of slavery. How?

The Whig Party Selected Zachary Taylor “Hero of Buena Vista” Never held a political office nor voted Owned slaves Dodged all troublesome political issues – does this help or hurt him? Emphasized virtues of candidate

Free Soil Party Candidate – Martin Van Buren Started by antislavery men in the North Platform – Supported: Wilmot Proviso Internal improvements Free gov’t homesteads for settlers Makeup Industrialists unhappy with Polk’s tariff reduction Democrats who resented Polk’s decision to settle for Oregon while insisting on all of Texas Those who favored keeping blacks out of the territories Why does the majority of the FSP oppose slavery in the new Western territories?

Election of 1848 Attacked personalities of candidates Free Soil Party caused a split in the vote Taylor (W) wins

Gold in California 1848 – gold was found // few got rich “Gold fever” - many moved to CA (49ers) Who made the most profits? CA gov’t was not prepared for the number of people Many newcomers were lawless men & virtueless women Crime was a problem Pres. Taylor secretly helped CA draft a constitution in 1849 Excluded slavery CA bypassed the territorial stage  CALIFORNY SONG!  392

Sectional Balance Balance in Congress 15 free states & 15 slave states CA would upset this balance. Why is this a problem? CA would set a precedent for the other states out of the Mexican Cession Texas – claimed territory east of Rio Grande and up to the 42° parallel (map page 405) Threatened to fight if territory removed to make New Mexico Could this have started the Civil War 10 years earlier? DC – Southerners did not like the idea of banning slavery in the nation’s capitol

Slavery Fugitive Slave Act 1793 North was to return runaway slaves What was wrong with this Act? Underground Railroad Informal chain of “stations” through which “passengers” were led by “conductors” into Canada Harriet Tubman – most famous conductor / ex-slave By 1850, push for a new fugitive slave law 1850 – about 1000 runaway slaves out of 4 million How do most slaves become free?

Underground Railroad

“Immortal Trio” of the South Problems arise when CA applies for statehood Henry Clay – “Great Pacificator” North & South should compromise More feasible fugitive-slave act John C. Calhoun – “Great Nullifier” Leave slavery alone Return runaway slaves Give South minority rights Restore political balance Elect 2 presidents- one from the North & one from the South; both with veto power Could this work?

Daniel Webster Urged all reasonable concessions to the South Fugitive-slave law Seventh of March speech (1850) – helped turn the tide of the North toward compromise

Deadlock on Capitol Hill Northerners in Congress More interested in purging & purifying the Union than patching & preserving it William H. Seward Strong antislaveryite Against any concessions by the North Believed that slavery was morally wrong- “higher law” than the Constitution Pres. Taylor Bent on vetoing any compromise by congress Aroused by the threats of Texas to seize Santa Fe

Compromise in the Air 1850 – Pres. Taylor dies in office – bad cherries Vice Pres. Millard Fillmore takes office Gladly signed compromises proposed by Congress “Fire-eaters” of the South wanted no compromise the term Fire-Eaters refers to a group of extremist pro-slavery politicians from the South who urged the separation of southern states into a new nation, which became known as the Confederate States of America. Southern extremists met & took strong positions on slavery & opposed compromise Proved to be a dud South does compromise with the North Second Era of Good Feelings Short lived

Compromise of 1850 Concessions to North CA admitted as a free state Territory disputed by Texas & New Mexico to be given to New Mexico Abolition of slave trade in DC- NOT SLAVERY Concessions to South Remainder of Mexican cession formed into the territories of New Mexico & Utah; slavery decided by popular sovereignty Texas - $10 million from gov’t as compensation More stringent Fugitive Slave Law Which side gets the best deal? Make an argument!

Fugitive Slave Law 1850 “The Bloodhound Bill” Strong opposition in the North Fleeing slaves could not testify in their own behalf & were denied a jury trial Commissioners who handled cases were paid double if slave was returned Several states passed “personal liberty laws” that hampered enforcement Angered the South that the North would not enforce the law Will this new law make Northerners more or less appreciative of the South and slavery altogether? Why?

Election of 1852 Democrat – Franklin Pierce (dark-horse candidate) Prosouthern northerner – accepted by the slave wing Platform – finality of the Compromise of 1850 including Fugitive Slave Act Whigs – Winfield Scott (war hero) Endorsed the Fugitive Slave Act Whigs were split Antislavery Whigs of the North – liked Scott but deplored his platform Southern Whigs – liked the platform but not the candidate Georgia Whigs – voted in vain for Webster who died 2 weeks earlier Pierce won the election in a landslide

Defeat & Doom for the Whigs Scott was stabbed in the back by this party particularly the South Election of 1852 Marked the end of the Whig Party within a few years Won only 2 presidential elections (1840 & 1848) End of national parties Marked the rise of purely sectional political alignments Choked to death trying to swallow the distasteful Fugitive Slave Law Clay & Webster both died during election

President Pierce Cabinet contained aggressive Southerners Jefferson Davis – Sec of War Why is he known as the “fainting general”? Ready to acquire more slave territory Manifest Destiny - stimulated by Mexican War Interest in Central America Especially Panama & Nicaragua Possible canal route Compromise of 1850 seemed to have closed off the Mexican Cession to slavery Forced to look for slave land elsewhere

Nicaragua William Walker – “gray-eyed man of destiny” Supported by the South Took control of Nicaragua with his buddies & installed himself as president in 1856 Promptly legalized slavery Overthrown by a coalition of Central American countries Pres. Pierce withdrew diplomatic recognition Walker was killed in by a Honduran firing squad1860

Clayton – Bulwer Treaty British were also interested in Nicaragua Possible canal Challenge to the Monroe Doctrine Raised the possibility of armed conflict Clayton – Bulwer Treaty – 1850 Neither American nor Britain would fortify or secure exclusive control over any future isthmian waterway Necessary to halt the British – will hinder the US in the future

Asian Trade America had become a Pacific Power Wanted trade with Far East Already had contacts with China Japan Had been isolated for over 200 years ready to open -mainly because of the Russian menace Commander Matthew C. Perry Persuaded the Japanese to sign treaty in 1854 Commercial foot in the door

Cuba: The Pearl of the Antilles Sugar-rich island prime objective of Manifest Destiny 1850s – coveted by the South - most desirable slave territory available Would restore political balance Polk had offered $100 million Offer refused by Spain 1850 –1851- Two filibustering expeditions Both efforts were repelled

Problems with Cuba 1854 – Spanish seized American streamer Black Warrior European powers were entering the Crimean War US plots to take Cuba American ministers from Spain, England, & France met in Ostend, Belgium to make secret plans Ostend Manifesto Offer $120 million If refused, US would be justified in taking the island Word got out – Pres Pierce was forced to drop plans North wanted Canada/ South wanted Cuba Neither was accomplished

Pacific Railroad Promoters Transportation problems Oregon & CA were separated from the remainder of the states Solution: transcontinental railroad North & South wanted railroad for economic reasons

Gadsden Purchase map p – Sec of War – J. Davis had James Gadsden (SC) appointed minister to Mexico Gadsden offered Mexico $10 million for land Size of SC Purchase allowed South the claim the railroad Smaller mountains & track completely through organized territory North – Nebraska should be organized

Kansas-Nebraska Act 1854 – Stephen A. Douglas Supportive of the West Proposed the K-N Act Nebraska Territory would be split Nebraska territory & Kansas territory Slavery decided based on popular sovereignty Kansas – probably slave/ Nebraska – probably free Violation of the Compromise of 1820 No slavery above 36°30’ line excluding Missouri

Results of the Kansas-Nebraska Act One of the most momentous measures ever passed by Congress Repeal of the compromises of 1820 & 1850 Made future compromises impossible North refused to enforce Fugitive Slave Act Shattered the Democratic Party Birth of the Republican Party as a purely sectional party Middle West/ antislavery Disgruntled Whigs, Democrats, Free-Soilers, Know-Nothings, & other foes of the Kansas-Nebraska Act