1. Renewing the Sectional Struggle (1848-1854)
Learning Target: I will be able to describe the events that led to the Civil War and evaluate the degree to which each contributed to the conflict.

2. Election of 1848 Polk did not run for reelection – ailing
Democrats nominated General Lewis Cass
“Father of popular sovereignty”
Slavery: Turn the national issue into a local one
Flaw: Might spread slavery

3. Election of 1848
Whigs nominated Zachary Taylor – “Hero of Buena Vista”
Whigs didn’t choose Clay – too many enemies
Dodged most significant issues, no formal stance on extension of slavery – shove it under the rug

4. Election of 1848 Free Soil Party nominated Martin Van Buren
Supported the Wilmot Proviso
Advocated for internal improvements & free homesteads for settlers
Taylor wins

5. California Gold Rush
The discovery of gold ignited issue of slavery in spite of Taylor who had hoped to ignore it
Tens of thousands flooded California – no stable government established – rampant crime and mayhem ensued
1849 – Drafted a Constitution (excluding slavery) and applied for admission

6. California Gold Rush
A free California worried many slave-holding Southerners
In 1850, Southern states could veto any amendment aimed at abolishing slavery
The admission of a free would change that
They were also upset over the call for abolition in D.C. & the loss of runaways through Underground Railroad
They wanted a more stringent fugitive slave law

7. Compromise of 1850 Key Players: Clay, Calhoun, and Webster
Clay defended compromising
Calhoun rejected concessions – leave slavery alone, return runaway slaves, restore balance
Webster defended Clay’s calls for compromise – famous “Seventh of March Speech”
Congress deadlocked on the issue
Taylor (influenced by William H. Seward) was likely to veto any compromise
Then Taylor died unexpectedly  Millard Fillmore
Compromise

8. Who Got the Better Deal? The North…
California’s admission as a free state tipped the balance of power in Congress
The disputed “Texas” territory was surrendered to New Mexico
Almost certain to be a free state
The slave trade was abolished in DC
The most controversial provision was the Fugitive Slave Law
Enraged Northerners, some of whom refused to enforce it (like SC in 1832)

9. Kansas-Nebraska Act Pairs
Marissa, Sabryn
Mycah, Justine
Kyle, Meagan
Hayley L., Hunter
Jasmine, Maddie
Zane, Colton
Caleb, Nathan
Katelyn, Hayden
Sarah, Hannah
Cat, Cassidy
Brendan, Destiny, Hayley S.
Kelsey, Kilee
Grab a sheet of notes and the Kansas-Nebraska Act documents from the podium, and find a seat next to your partner, but keep desks facing forward because we will cover a few notes before we begin.

10. Kansas-Nebraska Act Pairs
Savanna, Brittany
Jillian, Erika
Bri, Robbie
Sierra, Triston
Marshall, Cassidy
Chris, Ricky
Allie, Austin
Mitchel, Lilly
Grab a sheet of notes and the Kansas-Nebraska Act documents from the podium, and find a seat next to your partner, but keep desks facing forward because we will cover a few notes before we begin.

11. Election of 1852 Democrats – couldn’t decide who to run
Franklin Pierce (who’s he?)
Dark-horse, enemyless – (pro-Southern Northerner – accepted by the pro-slaveryites of the Democratic party)
Platform – territorial expansion, support of Compromise of 1850 (including Fugitive Slave Law)

12. Election of 1852
Whigs – should have run someone associated with the Compromise of 1850 (Fillmore or Webster)
Instead, they went with tradition (military leader) – Winfield Scott
As a result, the party was split
Antislavery (North) did not agree with Scott’s endorsement of the Fugitive Slave Law
Southern Whigs agreed with platform, but weren’t convinced of Scott’s commitment to the Compromise of 1850
Pierce wins in a landslide

13. Manifest Destiny Revisited
Central America
William Walker tried to take control of Nicaragua
Backed by an armed force recruited in the South
Pierce withdrew diplomatic recognition
Coalition of Central American nations formed against him
Killed by a firing squad in Honduras

14. Manifest Destiny Revisited
Cuba
Polk had considered offering Spain $100 million
In , Southerners staged two unsuccessful invasions
Then in 1854, Spain seized the Black Warrior
In response, American ministers drew up the secret Ostend Manifesto
Urged the government to offer $120 million or the US would be “justified in wrestling” Cuba from Spain
Northerners were outraged

15. Jimmy Fallon Gadsden Purchase

16. The Gadsden Purchase
Transportation problems – land transportation was necessary to the keep the Pacific Coast from breaking away
Solution: Transcontinental railroad
Could only afford one line – North or South?
Rewards: Wealth, population, and influence

17. The Gadsden Purchase
The South was losing the economic race with the North
The South was eager to control the railroad
Best route in the South ran slightly south of Mexican border (needed another chunk of Mexico)
James Gadsden negotiated a treaty with Santa Anna in 1853 for $10 million
Allowed the South to insist on the railroad
Had land, mountains were lower, route would not pass through any unorganized territory (NM officially a territory w/ federal troops)

18. Kansas-Nebraska Act
In 1854, Stephen Douglas proposed a way to restore the balance of power in Congress
He suggested that Nebraska be divided into two territories with the slavery question determined by popular sovereignty
Most assumed that Nebraska would be free, while Kansas would be slave

19. Kansas-Nebraska Act
Douglas’s proposal contradicted the Missouri Compromise
Required that the 1820 be formally repealed, the very idea of which enflamed Northerners
Southerners saw a chance to gain one more slave state
Northerners reacted with opposition to the Fugitive Slave Law

20. The Republican Party
One of the most enduring effects of the Kansas-Nebraska Act was the birth of the Republican Party.
Developed in the Midwest as a protest against slavery
Drew support from Whigs, Freesoilers, Democrats, Know-Nothings, etc.
Quickly achieved success:
1856 – Speaker of the House
1860 – President