Key Sources Project By Makayla Epting & Grace Mesropian Period 5

The Clay Compromise Measures John c. Calhoun

Historical Context In 1850, John C. Calhoun, a South Carolina Democrat wrote his reaction to Henry Clay’s and Stephen Douglas’ “Clay Compromise Measures,” which tried to resolve the debates over the future of slavery in the lands acquired at the end of the Mexican American War.

Clay’s Compromise of 1850

Intended Audience John C. Calhoun directs his piece to congress because he is trying to persuade that his idea is better than Henry Clay’s and Stephen Douglas’.

Purpose John C. Calhoun’s purpose is to provide another solution to the “question of slavery” that differs from Clays compromise.

Point of View John C. Calhoun felt the best way to save the union was to “cease agitation of the slave question” and to find a solution “that will protect the south” and improve the state of the union. “The North has only to will it to accomplish it-to do justice by conceding to the South an equal right in the acquired territory, and to do her duty by causing stipulations relative to fugitives laves to be faithfully fulfilled…”

Evidence Calhoun wrote “Slavery is a positive good in which he justify the necessity of slavery and how it was good for both the southerns and slaves that were involved.

Synthesis Compromise of 1850 was a package of five separate bills passed by the United States Congress in September 1850, which defused a four-year political confrontation between slave and free states regarding the status of territories acquired during the Mexican-American War (1846–1848). The compromise, drafted by Whig Senator Henry Clay of Kentucky and brokered by Clay and Democratic Senator Stephen Douglas of Illinois, reduced sectional conflict. Controversy arose over the Fugitive Slave provision. The Compromise was greeted with relief, although each side disliked specific provisions. United States Congressslave and free statesMexican-American WarWhigHenry ClayStephen Douglas

The Crime of Kansas charles sumner

Historical Context Charles Sumner, a Northern antislavery activist, describes the proslavery Kansas Constitution, being recognized as the legitimate government, as a “crime against humanity” in his pie “The Crime of Kansas: (1856.)

Intended Audience Charles Sumner specifically states that his piece is “in response to… the Senator from South Carolina [Mr.Butler], and the Senator from Illinois [Mr.Douglas].”

Purpose To denounce the Kansas Nebraska Act and advocate for Kansas’ immediate admission into the Union as a free state

Point of View Sumner went on to denounce the "Slave Power"—the political arm of the slave owners. Their goal, he alleged, was to spread slavery through the free states that had made it illegalSlave Power “The senator dreams that he can subdue the North.He disclaims the open threat,but his conduct still implies it How little that senator knows himself, or the strength of the cause which he persecutes…”

Attack on Charles Sumner Representative Preston Brooks attacked Senator Charles Sumner with a walking cane in retaliation for a speech given by Sumner two days earlier. The beating nearly killed Sumner and it drew a sharply polarized response from the American public on the subject of the expansion of slavery in the United States.Preston BrooksCharles Sumnerslavery in the United States

Synthesis The attack on Charles Sumner led to public outcry on the subject of slavery which later led to the civil war.

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