Baltimore Polytechnic Institute November 29, 2011 A.P. U.S. History Mr. Green

Objectives: Explain how the issue of slavery in the territories acquired from Mexico disrupted American politics from 1848 to1850. Point out the major terms of the Compromise of 1850 and indicate how this agreement attempted to defuse the sectional crisis over slavery. Explain why the Fugitive Slave Law included in the Compromise of 1850 stirred moral outrage and fueled antislavery agitation in the North. AP Focus The California Gold Rush tempts miners from around the world to try their luck panning in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Few hit it rich, but overnight, the population of the area swells. In less than two years, California is ready for statehood. Plans for a transcontinental railroad follow shortly, spurred by the imperative to connect the East with territories newly taken from Mexico.

CHAPTER THEMES The sectional conflict over the expansion of slavery that erupted after the Mexican War was temporarily quieted by the Compromise of 1850, but Douglas’s Kansas- Nebraska Act of 1854 exploded it again.

Mexican War Chart-Due Thursday Election Charts 1844 & 1848-Due Today Decades Chart 1840’s-Due Today

1848-Revolutions in Europe and unrest in America Popular Sovereignty Panacea Election of 1848 Democrats: General Lewis Cass-supporter of popular sovereignty Whigs: Zachary Taylor-no notable platform Free-Soilers: Martin Van Buren-free soil, free speech, free labor, and free men Taylor: 163 electoral votes Cass: 127 electoral votes Van Buren: 0 electoral votes but swung election for Taylor in NY by pulling votes from Cass

Anti-Slavery Men in North No response from major parties around slavery Supported Wilmot Proviso Federal aid for internal improvements Free government homesteads for settlers Attracted industrialists upset at Polk’s tariff reduction Democrats against Polk’s insisting on all of Texas and part of Oregon Conscience Whigs

1848 discovery on the American River near Sutter’s Mill Thousands of gold seekers, most got nothing, a few struck it rich Most money made off of the miners-services High percentage of lawless men, virtueless women California rushed the statehood process by drafting a constitution and applying for statehood, by-passing the territory phase

Read the quote on the bottom left of page 419. How does this portray women during the California Gold Rush? Read the quote on the bottom right of page 419. How does the author characterize men moving to California during the gold rush?

South concerned about the balance of power In 1850 there were 15 slave and 15 free states California threatened this balance as well as Utah and New Mexico-all wanted admission as free states Texas initiated disagreements-claimed area east and North of Rio Grade River. Abolition of slavery in the District of Columbia Loss of runways slaves-Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad 1,000 runaways/year out of a population of some 4 million-So, why the complaints from the South?

October 1849-Southerners decided to meet the next year to discuss secession in Nashville, TN Clay wanted the North and South the make concessions-a more feasible fugitive-slave law John C. Calhoun-championed the South. The agitation of slavery would end in disunion. Rejected Clay’s concessions. Leave the South alone Daniel Webster-God passed the Wilmot Proviso. 7 th of March Speech How?; Through climate, topography and geography Bankers and commercial centers were happy-Why?

Radical freshman senator William Seward wanted no compromise End slavery in the territories Invoked the “higher law” than the Constitution President Taylor seemed bent on not signing any compromise He died suddenly and Millard Fillmore signed the compromise

 Continue reading Chapter 18  Work on Charts.