II.Road to Fort Sumter part I Power & Compromise

A.Fighting Wars Reasons for War: Political Protect Interests Defend Territory Moral (Good vs. Evil) Civil War: A war between two sections of the same group with differing views

B.Slavery & Balance of Power There was a struggle to gain power in the House –Seats were apportioned by population Population boom: –Immigration begins to affect house seating –3 million immigrants came to America 90% of immigrants settled in non-slave states –As a result, the South loses the House The Senate becomes the focal point for the South –Each state has 2 reps –Race to establish new states –Each side struggled to dictate the agenda North: Progress & Prosperity South: Economic Stability

C.Missouri Compromise (1820) Missouri petitions for admission in 1818 Current makeup of the US is 22 states (11 each) –Congress alternated admission of states to maintain balance The petition produced a stalemate in congress for a year 1819: Maine breaks away from Massachusetts & petitions for admission as a free state Terms of the Compromise –Missouri enters as a slave state –Maine enters as a free state –36°30’ line is established to restrict the Louisiana purchase

Reactions North: –Overall satisfied –Maintained balance –Restricted slavery South: –Initial excitement –Soon realized the effect of the 36°30’line

D.Mexican War ( ) Pres. James K. Polk gains more territory for the US than any other president except Jefferson War would serve as a training ground for officers & soldiers of the Civil War Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo –Acquired 5 new territories –CA, NM, NV, UT, AZ Wilmot Proviso –Slavery would not be permitted in the new territories –Proviso did not pass the Senate

E.Compromise of 1850 Settlers begin pouring into California (1849) –Gold Rush –Disunion in the South Saving the Union was a product of genius –Daniel Webster (MA) –Henry Clay (KY) –John C. Calhoun (SC)

F.Terms of the Compromise California enters as free state Allow Utah and Nevada to determine for themselves how they would enter Fugitive Slave Act 1850 –Placed responsibility on the Federal Government Slaves could not be brought into Washington DC to be bought or sold Compromise turned out to be a quick fix & added fuel to the fire

G.Reactions Northern: –Mixed emotions –Gained control of the Senate –Not happy about the Fugitive Slave Act Southern: –Not happy –FSA appeases them for now This is the last of the great compromises to help prevent war The “Great Compromisers” die

H.Uncle Tom’s Cabin Harriet Beecher Stowe –Grew up in Cincinnati on banks of the Ohio R. Published in 1852 Sold over 300,000 copies in first year Spoke against evils of slavery & presented it as immoral Also titled “Life Among the Lowly”

Reactions North: –Outraged at evils of slavery –Abolitionist movement grew vastly South: –Outraged at the book –Thought book was inaccurate and hypocritical –Banned the book