1. Attempts to maintain the Union 1845-1854

2. Today’s register is going to be a game.
Alphabet Game
Today’s register is going to be a game.
The first person in the register will get the letter A, second letter B and so on…
You job is to say a key word in relation to America so far, that begins with the letter you are landed with!
What didn’t you get – get someone to answer it

3. Mark off in your planner

4. Key Words: Great learning: Even better: Good learning:
Describe the chronology of the 1850 Compromise
Great learning:
Explain the key features of the 1850 Compromise
Even better:
Decide whether the 1850 Compromise was a compromise, or an armistice
Key Words:

5. 1850 Compromise Lead up to the Compromise Details of the
Chronology of the
Compromise
Debate surrounding the
Compromise

6. Chronology of the 1850 Compromise

7. What would you do? What was the problem? California
Fugitive Slave Law 1793
Slave trade in Washington D.C.
Utah and New Mexico
Border between Texas and New Mexico
What would you do?
Applied to be a free state earlier than expected. Taylor has been pushing this but it hasn’t been admitted yet.
Northern abolitionists were ignoring the Fugitive Slave law
Country’s capital, slave auction houses in D.C. Northern politicians are not happy!
Few areas in New Mexico with slaves. Land unsuitable for slavery. Haven’t been admitted as states yet.
Use Texas-Mexican border as an example?
There was a border dispute between Texas and New Mexico

8. HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THIS SITUATION?
You are President Taylor. Mississippi has issued a call for all slave states to send representatives to a convention in Nashville to adopt ‘some mode of resistance to northern aggression’. There are fistfights between Congressmen. Southerners are raising the issue that Northern states were disregarding the Fugitive Slave Law of More and more southerners are beginning to talk of secession.
HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THIS SITUATION?
Tension was growing between the North and the South leading up until 1850.
Mississippi issued a call for all slave states to send representatives to a convention in Nashville to adopt ‘some mode of resistance to northern aggression’.
There are fistfights between Congressmen.
Southerners are raising the issue that Northern states were disregarding the Fugitive Slave Law of 1793.
President Taylor was prepared to call the southern bluff and, if needs be, take an army into the South to prevent secession.
OPTION A
I am not too bothered if the South secede. Do not retaliate and if they secede, may that be the case!
OPTION B
I am prepared to call the southern bluff and, if needs be, take an army into the South to prevent secession.
OPTION C
I am really concerned that the South are going to secede. I will bring in measures to reassure them.
10 POINTS
30 POINTS
20 POINTS

9. In January 1850, Henry Clay offered the Senate a set of resolutions as the basis for a compromise.
California to be admitted as a free state
Utah and New Mexico to be organised territories without any mention/restriction on slavery
Slave trade should end in Washington DC
A more strict Fugitive Slave Act should be passed
To resolve the border issue between Texas-New Mexico, Texas should surrender the disputed land. In return, Congress will assume the $10 million public debt that Texas still owed.
You are 73 year old Henry Clay. You have a reputation as a conciliator from previous crises.
HOW DO YOU REACT TO THIS SITUATION?
OPTION A
Suggest my previous Compromises are following – namely the 36o30 line from my Missouri Compromise
OPTION B
Absolutely nothing, I am tired of being the Compromiser!
OPTION C
Offer the Senate a set of resolutions as the basis for a compromise.
20 POINTS
10 POINTS
30 POINTS

10. The next few months were marked by a series of epic speeches as Clays proposals (rolled into a single bill) were debated in Congress.
‘Old guard’ politicians, making their last appearances on the public stage contributed.
This was also the case for those beginning their political career.
Clay defended his proposal in a four hour speech in February 1850.
Calhoun would have spoken but was seriously ill, his speech was therefore read by Senator Mason.
With every call for compromise, some northern or southern speaker would rise and inflame passions.
You work in Congress. You, like many other congressmen have an opinion on this Compromise.
WHAT DO YOU DO?
OPTION A
Make an epic speech in Congress
OPTION B
Stay silent
OPTION C
Fistfight anybody who disagrees with you
30 POINTS
10 POINTS
20 POINTS

11. President Taylor made it clear that he opposed Clay’s proposals
President Taylor made it clear that he opposed Clay’s proposals. In his view, California should be admitted as a free state immediately, whilst New Mexico should also come with possible speed. Southerners would have to accept their medicine.
You are President Taylor. How do you react to the proposed bill?
OPTION A
Support the 1850 Compromise
OPTION B
Oppose the Compromise
OPTION C
Have no opinion on the matter
20 POINTS
30 POINTS
10 POINTS

12. DO YOU SEND A DELEGATE TO THE NASHVILLE CONFEDERENCE?
Only nine slave states sent delegates. The fact slave states did not send delegates was disconcerting for those who supported secession. The convention itself also displayed little enthusiasm for secession! This conference had little impact.
You are in charge of a slave state. The Nashville Convention is coming up (June 1850)
DO YOU SEND A DELEGATE TO THE NASHVILLE CONFEDERENCE?
OPTION A
Yes
OPTION B No
20 POINTS
30 POINTS

13. When Millard Fillmore took over as President following the death of Taylor, he broke the policies of his predecessor. There was a wholesale cabinet change (Webster = Secretary of State). Fillmore threw his weight behind the compromise proposals.
Nevertheless, on 31st July 1850, Clay’s bill was defeated because Northern Congressmen voted against it 
You are Vice-President Millard Fillmore. President Taylor has just died of gastroenteritis, and you now take over as President. You are a northerner, but sympathetic to the South.
WHAT DO YOU DO?
OPTION A
Break with the views of your predecessor.
OPTION B
Keep the views of your predecessor
30 POINTS
20 POINTS

14. Stephen Douglas demonstrated his political skill
Stephen Douglas demonstrated his political skill. He broke down the compromise bill into its component parts and submitted them as separate bills. This strategy was successful! Southerners voted for the bills they liked, and the Northeners for the bills they liked. Those in the middle (e.g. Douglas) swung the balance.
By September 1850, all of the bits of the Compromise were passed!
You are Stephen Douglas. You are known as the ‘Little Giant’ and replace Clay as leader of the Compromise cause.
WHAT DO YOU DO AS LEADER OF THE COMPROMISE BILL?
OPTION A
Try and get the same bill passed
OPTION B
Try and get each component of the Compromise passed as individual bills
OPTION C
Create an entirely new Compromise bill
10 POINTS
30 POINTS
20 POINTS

15. Details of the 1850 Compromise

16. California admitted as a free state
North
South
Moderates
California admitted as a free state
Stricter Fugitive Slave Law 1793
Slavery abolished in Washington D.C.
Utah and Mexico territories with no mention of slavery
Texas surrender land to New Mexico but Congress will assume $10 million debt
Explain that it doesn’t go through as one bill.

17. California admitted as a free state
North
South
Moderates
California admitted as a free state
Stricter Fugitive Slave Law 1793
Slavery abolished in Washington D.C.
Utah and Mexico territories with no mention of slavery
Texas surrender land to New Mexico but Congress will assume $10 million debt
Explain that it doesn’t go through as one bill.

18. 1850 Compromise: Compromise or an armistice? String Debate
You now have 10 minutes to bullet point evidence in support of each side of the debate. You need to be ready to give your view on this debate, and respond to other ideas.
Compromise – an agreement or settlement of a dispute that is reached by each side making concessions
Armistice - temporary stopping of tension by agreement between the opponents.

19. 1850 Compromise Lead up to the Compromise Details of the
Chronology of the
Compromise
Debate surrounding the
Compromise

20. Flipped Learning Create key profiles for the following people: Include
Henry Clay
Daniel Webster
Stephen Douglas
Millard Fillmore
William Seward
Zachary Taylor
John Calhoun
Jefferson Davis
Include
Party and State (N/S)
Their career at the time of the compromise (beginning/end?)
View on the Compromise
Specific actions/speeches
Key quotes
Wider political career