1. Renewing the Sectional Struggle
Chapter 18 HNRS

2. The Election of 1848 President Polk Precursors to 1848
Besides expansion President Polk had other goals for the future of the country
He wanted to lower tariffs and government spending
During his four year term Polk added more then a million square miles of land, lowered tariffs and government spending
Despite all of his success he refused to run for a second term
Precursors to 1848
Americans were excited about the victory over Mexico and about the land that was added
The biggest problem was the possible spread of slavery into the western region
Slavery was the most important issue during the election of 1848
Whigs and Democrats took a limited stand on the issue because both sides were not sure how a stand would affect the success of their candidates

3. The Election of 1848
The Free-Soil Party is created by disgruntled anti-slavery politicians
The Free Soilers chose Martin Van Buren as their candidate
This new party favored free speech, free labor and free men
Free Soilers backed the Wilmot Proviso
Zachary Taylor, Whig, won the election receiving 163 electoral votes; Cass had 127
Hero of the Mexican American War
The Democrats lost the popular vote too because the Free Soil Party took some of their votes away
The issue of slavery decided the election by splitting the Democratic party

5. Social Movements 1830-1850 Abolition Transcendentalism
William Lloyd Garrison (The Liberator), Sojourner Truth, Frederick Douglass
Transcendentalism
Emerson, Thoreau
The Second Great Awakening
Development of the Methodist, Baptist, Unitarian, Mormon (Church of Jesus Christ and the Latter Day Saints), Millenialist (Seventh Day Adventists), and AME churches
Large gains in population, the economy, and infrastrucure

6. The Debate Over Territorial Expansion and Slavery
Amistad – “Gag” order in House
John C. Calhoun and SCs threat of secession
Southern platform = popular sovereignty or self determination
Northern views – don’t concede to South’s wishes
Clay and Webster – compromise
Taylor dies in office, a more conciliatory Millard Fillmore signs the Compromise of 1850

7. The Compromise of 1850 Concessions of the North
California admitted as a free state
Territory disputed by Texas and New Mexico to be surrendered to New Mexico
Abolition of slave trade in DC
Concessions of the South
The remainder of the Mexican Cession area to be formed into the territories of New Mexico and Utah, without restriction on slavery
Texas to receive $10 million from the federal government in compensation
Fugitive Slave Law

8. The Election of 1852 Whig Candidate – Winfield Scott
Decorated war general – 1812, Mex-Am Wars
Clay and Webster die during the campaign
Antislavery Whigs split over Fugitive Slave Law
Democratic Candidate – Franklin Pierce
From NH, “Young Hickory” vs. “the Fainting General”
Enemyless, pro-southern northerner
Endorsed all terms of the Compromise of 1850
Pierce wins the election
252 electoral votes to 42
1,601,117 to 1,385,453 in popular vote
Whig Party dies

9. Manifest Destiny continued
Nicaragua
South looks to Central America to expand slavery
Renegade William Walker seizes control
Walker ousted by coalition of Central American nations
1850 Clayton-Bulwer Treaty - created over proposed canal
Cuba
Pierce had plans to seize Cuba
Offers Spain $100 million, rejected
Spain’s seizure of the Black Warrior gave US an excuse
Plan leaks out, Northerners are furious and Pierce loses support
Gadsden Purchase
US buys a narrow strip of land from Texas to California for $10 million
Future site of the Southern Pacific Railroad

10. Kansas-Nebraska
At Issue – How to handle the issue of slavery in the Kansas and Nebraska territories (1854)
Stephen Douglas (IL) proposes that BOTH territories utilize popular sovereignty
Repeal of Missouri Compromise is required because Nebraska lies above 36, 30 line