1. Chapter 18
The American Pageant

2. Election of 1848 Democrats (Lewis Cass) Popular Sovereignty
“the sovereign people of a territory, under the general principles of the Constitution, should themselves determine the status of slavery”
Free Soil (Van Buren)
Anti slavery (no slavery = more jobs for others)
Pro Wilmot Proviso-are against slavery in the territories
Pro fed aid for internal improvements
Whig (Zachary Taylor)
He owned slaves, but had no official stance
Avoided any real platform

3. Election of 1848

4. California Gold Rush Sutter’s Mill – 1st discovery in 1848
Rush of 49ers
Apply for statehood as a NON-slave state
Will alter the sectional balance in the Senate
Results in radical Southerners warning of
secession

5. Underground Railroad Harriet Tubman, a famous “conductor”
1,000 runaways a year
Infuriated the South
South wants better
Fugitive Laws

6. 1850 Debate Over admission of CA and fugitive slave law
South threatened secession
Henry Clay (“Great Pacificator”), John Calhoun (“Great Nullifier”), Stephen Douglas and Daniel Webster led debates
All while….Taylor (unionist) dragged his feet

7. Taylor Dies Millard Fillmore becomes president
Supports compromise,Taylor did not

8. Compromise of 1850 KNOW IT-LOVE IT-YOU WILL SEE IT AGAIN!
Admission of California as Free State
Abolition of slave trade in DC
Continued protection of slavery in DC
Passage of a more stringent Fugitive-slave Act
Establishment of territorial governments in New Mexico and Utah, slavery issue left to popular sovereignty

10. Uncle Tom’s Cabin
Compromise of inspired Harriet Beecher Stowe to write it, 1852
About the cruelty of slavery
Her book, plus the Compromise, galvanize North and South

11. Fire-eaters Extreme pro-slavery politicians from the South
Settled down after Compromise of 1850 as talk of secession was quieted
Reemerged in late 1850’s
Propaganda
Bleeding Kansas
Sumner-Brooks affair

12. Election of 1852 Franklin Pierce – Democrat won
Alleviated Southern fears
End of Whig Party (Winnifeld Scott)
They ignored the slavery issue altogether

13. Gadsden Purchase- Jimmy Fallon’s Favorite
Must be able to reach Pacific by rail
$10 million purchase from Mexico, 1853
Necessary to connect South to Pacific by railroad
Sparks desire to
“organize”
Nebraska Territory

14. Kansas-Nebraska Act
Stephen Douglas’ attempt to offset the Southern expansion West w Gadsden Purch.
Territory of Nebraska split into two:
Status of Free/Slave determined by popular sovereignty
Rekindled angst quieted
by Compromise of 1850

15. Consequences of Kansas-Nebraska Act
Repealed Missouri Compromise of 1820, heightened sectional tensions
Permitted expansion of slavery beyond Southern states
Led to divisive debate over the expansion of slavery into the territories
Ignited contest for control over Kansas
Split the Democratic Party
Sparked formation of Republican Party