1. Renewing the Sectional Struggle 1848-1854
Chapter 18
Renewing the Sectional Struggle

2. Notes
The debate over slavery in the Mexican Cession threatened to disrupt or split national politics along North – South lines.

3. Popular Sovereignty
Slavery in the territories would be determined by the vote of the people in the territory in question.
The public was in favor of it because it fit in with the democratic tradition of self-determination.

4. 1848 Election Zachary Taylor – Whig Party Lewis Cass – Democrat Party
Martin Van Buren – Free Soil Party
Zachary Taylor won the election
The discovery of Gold in California caused turmoil in his administration.

5. Harriet Tubman She helped slaves escape to Canada.
The most frequent way to gain freedom was to buy it.

6. The Seventh of March Speech
It was written by Daniel Webster.
He called for more strenuous or tougher fugitive slave laws.
It was condemned by abolitionists.

7. Compromise of 1850
Slavery in Utah and New Mexico would be decided by popular sovereignty.
It contained a new fugitive slave law.
Denial of a jury trial to runaway slaves.
Denial of fleeing slaves right to testify on their own behalf.
The penalty of imprisonment for Northerners who helped slaves escape.

8. Continued The fugitive slave law was alarming to Northerners.
Northern states passed “personal liberty laws” in response to the Compromise of 1850’s decision on runaway slaves.

9. Kansas – Nebraska Bill
Required the repeal of the Missouri Compromise (36 degrees 30 minutes).
Bill was introduced by Stephen Douglas.
He thought popular sovereignty should decide.
President Pierce signed the bill into law.