Chapter 18-Renewing the Sectional Struggle 1848-1854

Election of 1848/ popular sovereignty

Democrats nominated Lewis Cass who favored popular sovereignty on the issue of slavery in the territories. This was a compromise between a ban on slavery and southern demands that Congress protect it in the territories by displacing it from a national issue to a local one, even though it might serve to spread slavery./Compromise. Popular sovereignty=people of the state decide. POPULAR SOVEREIGNTY. PEOPLE IN TERRITORIES VOTE ON ISSUE OF SLAVERY. NATIONAL TO LOCAL ISSUE.

Missouri Compromise

Douglass plan for Kansas and Nebraska violated the sacred compromise which had forbidden slavery in all territory north of the 36o 30' line which engulfed this region. As a result, this compact would have to be REPEALED in order to open this area up to popular sovereignty. In an effort to obtain another slave state, President Pierce and the southern advisers who dominated his cabinet fully supported the Kansas-Nebraska Bill.

Fugitive Slave Law

The Souths LARGEST gain was the establishment of a new Fugitive Slave Law which resulted in much opposition in the North as fleeing slave could not testify in the own behalf and were denied a jury trial. Instead federal commissioners handled the cases of fugitive slaves and would receive $5 if the runaway was freed and $10 if it was returned. The very sight of former slaves being captured throughout the North turned many moderate and even conservative moderates toward the antislavery movement. SLAVE TRADE ENDED IN DC.

William Seward/ higher law

a freshman senator from New York became the spokesman for younger northern radicals speaking against the concessions to the South. In his reference to exclude slavery in the territories, Seward APPEALED TO A HIGHER LAW THAN THE CONSTITUTION which alarmed many from throughout the nation and may have cost him the presidential nomination and the presidency itself in 1860./Strongly against some of elements of Compromise. Radical=wants complete abolition. Seward was a free soiler. Made him unelectable. HIGHER LAW THAN CONSTITUTION CAUSING HIM REPUBLICAN NOMINATION.

President Taylor/Millard Fillmore

allegedly fell under the influence of Seward and appeared determined to veto any compromise passed by Congress. He unknowingly helped the cause of compromise by suddenly dying resulting in elevation of Vice-President Millard Fillmore who had been impressed with the arguments for conciliation as he enthusiastically signed the series of measure that had been passed by Congress which became the Compromise of 1850./Determined to veto any compromise passed by the congress. Taylor was a slaveowner. Following his death VP Millard Fillmore fully endorsed series of measures(Compromise of 1850). TAYLOR OPPOSED TO COMPROMISE BUT DIED DURING COMPROMISE AND FOLLOWER WAS SUPPORTER OF IT

Free Soil Party

although not victorious in the Election of 1848, it organized antislavery men in the Whig party in the North who came out for the Wilmot Proviso (ATTEMPTED TO PREVENT SLAVERY IN STATES ACQUIRED FROM MEXICO). This party also comprised of those from both parties who wished to keep African-Americans out of the territories. The Free Soil Party made former President Van Buren its nominee under the platform of Free soil, free speech, free labor, and free men. Its greatest contribution was that it laid the ground work for what would become the Republican Party six years later./Wanted to keep slavery out of the territories.

Other Disputes

between the North and South leading to the Compromise of 1850 was the demand by the North for abolition of slavery in the District of Columbia. The South was also infuriated by the loss of runaway slaves, many of which were aided by the Underground Railroad of the North who assisted their journey into Canada. In reaction southerners were demanding a more stringent fugitive-slave law as uncooperative state authorities in the North failed to assist in the capture of runaway slaves. Despite protests from the South, it was estimated that it was only losing some 1,000 slaves per year by 1850 out of some 4 million slaves./ Zachary Taylor in white house and all of his cabinet. SLAVOCRACY. Supreme court also controlled by Southern States. Equality in senate where it could defeat any antislavery states. Demand by North to abolish slavery in the Nation's Capital. Foreign dignitaries coming to capital and seeing slavery. South infuriated by loss of runaway slaves often aided by Northerners as part of underground railroad. Assisted slaves into Canada. NORTH DEMANDED GETTING RID OF SLAVERY IN DC. SOUTH PISSED ABOUT RUNAWAY SLAVES. 1,000 A YEAR OUT OF 4 MILLION.

Reaction

by the North was fierce as even CONSERVATIVES and MODERATES became enraged. Many accused Douglas of positioning himself for the presidency while others felt that he simply failed to realize how deeply many throughout the North felt about slavery.

Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo/ Wilmot Proviso

ended the Mexican War, but began a new period of internal political conflict within the United States. Part of this agreement forced Mexico to relinquish Texas, California, and all area between. This renewed the hot issue of extending slavery into the territories as antislavery northerners rallied behind the Wilmot Proviso which prohibited slavery in any territory acquired in the Mexican War. Although southern senators blocked its passage, the debate treated both national political parties (Whigs & Democrats) over sectional lines. NEW PERIOD OF INTERNAL CONFLICT.

Kansas-Nebraska

faced with the challenge of the Gadsden Purchase and the demand to organize the Nebraska territory to meet it, Senator Stephen A. Douglas of Illinois proposed to divide the Nebraska region into two territories, Kansas and Nebraska. Their status regarding slavery would be decided by POPULAR SOVEREIGNTY. Douglas assumed that Kansas with its proximity to slave holding Missouri would become a slave state while Nebraska, lying west of free-soil Iowa would become free./Required Repeal of Missouri Compromise. DECIDED BY POPULAR SOVEREIGNTY AND HAD TO REPEAL THE MISSOURI COMPROMISE

John Calhoun

from the explosive state of South Carolina, he was near death and had to have his younger colleague deliver his last formal speech. While approving the purpose of Clays compromise, it felt that it was not adequate in providing safeguards as he pleaded to leave the volatile issue of slavery alone. In addition, he called for the return of runaway slaves and to give the South its rights as a minority to restore the political balance between the regions. Unfortunately, he died before the proceedings were complete, but his efforts to preserve the Constitution and the nation almost ruined both.

Sectional Balance

in 1850 was favorable to the South as it had more than the nations leadership which consisted of Virginia-born slave owning Zachary Taylor as well as a majority in the cabinet and the Supreme Court bench. Although it was outnumbered in the House, it enjoyed equality in the Senate where it could veto anti-slavery measures./15 Free vs 15 Slave states. Proportional representation. Clear that slavery would be lost with another non-slave state. 15 FREE 15 SLAVE BUT CALIFORNIA THREATENS BALANCE. CLIMATE WASNT FAVORABLE FOR SLAVERY.

Cuba

in an effort to increase slave territory, the South looked towards the sugar-rich island of Cuba which was already supporting a large population of enslaved blacks. Although the expansionist president, James Polk had taken steps to offer Spain $100 million, it flatly refused as adventurers from the South attempted to take it by force. Members from some of the best families in the South were killed in this attempt./Want to expand institution of slavery to Cuba.

Gadsden Purchase

in order to secure what appeared to be the best route south of the Mexican border, Secretary of War, Jefferson Davis of Mississippi arranged to have James Gadsden negotiate a treaty with Mexico in 1853 which ceded the area to the United States for $10 million. Although the purchase aroused much opposition among northerners, the Senate approved the deal which would enable the South to claim the railroad since the southern track would be easier to build. Another factor favoring the South was the fact that its route would not have to pass through unorganized territory. Any northern or central route would need to go through the unorganized territory of Nebraska which was filled with buffalo and Indians. As a result, northern railroad supporters called for the timely organization of the Nebraska territory./ Geography was flatter in south for building. SOUTHERN ROUTE.

Pacific Railroad

in order to tie the newly won possessions in the Far West to the Union, feasible land transportation became imperative. Railroad promoters from both the North and South proposed routes to the Pacific Coast. Debates arose to whether the terminus for the railroad would be in the North or South as the selected area would reap rewards in wealth, population, and influence. With the South already losing its economic race with the North, it was determined to extend the railroad through its adjacent southwestern territory. NORTHERN VS SOUTHERN ROUTE. GADSDEN PURCHASE

Whig Victory/Zachary Taylor

in the Election of 1848 was the result of their war hero candidate in the person of Zachary Taylor who as a slave owner himself, remained silent on the issue of slavery in the territories./For conscience whigs this was too much to stomach and turned to the free soil party. WAR HERO OF ZACH TAYLOR. SLAVE OWNER. REMAINED SILENT ABOUT SLAVES IN NEW TERRITORY

Henry Clay

known as the Great Pacificator from Kentucky, he was aided by the capable Stephen A. Douglas in the Senate, he called for both the North and South to make concessions that included a more effective fugitive-slave law./ Not fair trade.

Kansas-Nebraska Act (1854)

once passed any future compromise between the North and South would be close to impossible. With the repeal of the sacred Missouri Compromise, any enforcement of the Fugitive Slave Law in the North became nonexistent. Politically, the Democrats became split while a purely sectional Republican party made up of disgruntled Whigs, Democrats, Free-Soilers, Know-Nothings began to emerge in the Midwest. ONCE PASSED ANY FUTURE COMPROMISE BECAME IMPOSSIBLE

Outcome of Compromise

the North clearly came out on top as California was admitted as a free state which tipped the balance in the Senate against the South forever. Although the territories of New Mexico and Utah were open to slavery to be decided upon by POPULAR SOVEREIGNTY, it had already been determined by nature that they would become free soil regions. As for the South, Texas received $10 million to help with its debts while the drive toward abolition in the District of Columbia was halted by agreeing to outlaw slave traffic./California establishes precedent. NORTH CAME OUT ON TOP. CALIFORNIA FREE STATE

Ostend Manifesto

the administration of Pierce instructed its foreign ministers to prepare a confidential recommendation for the acquisition of Cuba for a price of $120 million. Known as the Ostend Manifesto, its content was leaked out publicly as free-soil northerners already upset by the Fugitive Slave Law rose in protest as the humiliated Pierce administration was forced to drop the Cuban scheme./

Delay of Conflict

the delay of the Civil War from 1850 to 1861 was immensely advantageous to the North as the passing decade allowed the North to further surpass the South in population, wealth, crops, factories, ships, and railroads while its devotion to the Union became even stronger. Some may argue that the time allowed the North to gain the strength that provided the margin of victory - i.e. the Compromise of 1850 won the Civil War for the North and Union./ Commitment to union becomes stronger. North becoming more industrialized. ADVANTAGEOUS. MORE COMMITTED TO UNION

Decline of Whigs

was hastened by the Fugitive Slave Law as the Democrats and Franklin Pierce were able to emerge victorious in the Election of 1852 as antislavery Whigs had problems swallowing General Winfield Scott and his platform which praised the Compromise of 1850 as the final solution on the question of slavery./ After Compromise there was the decline of the Whigs. Leads eventually to the emergence of the Republican Party. Republican party will be a combination of conscience whigs, free soilers, and some democrats.

Compromise of 1850

with California applying for admittance to the Union as a free state and southern fire-eaters threatening secession the Great Triumphant of Clay, Calhoun, and Webster along with the finest minds the country met to solve the greatest challenge the country faced since the Constitutional Convention of 1787./Southern fire eaters (radicals) from South Carolina. LAST MEETING OF CLAY CALHOUN AND WEBSTER. COMPROMISE RESULT OF CLAY AND DOUGLAS. STRONGER FUGITIVE SLAVE LAW. 7TH OF MARCH SPEECH TURNS NORTH TOWARDS COMPROMISE STRENGTHENED UNION CAUSE.

California

with fifteen slave states and fifteen slave states, the delicate balance in the Senate was threatened by the proposed admittance of California. Because its climate was not favorable to slavery, its admission might establish a precedent for the rest of the territory including Mexico and Utah which had been won from Mexico with mostly southern blood./ set president for rest of territories from Mexico.

Daniel Webster/Seventh of March Speech

the senator from Massachusetts came out strongly for Clays proposals urging all reasonable concessions to the South including a more stringent federal fugitive-slave law. As for slavery in the territories, he failed to see the need to legislate on the subject since God had passed the Wilmot Proviso through climate, topography, and geography which was not favorable to a plantation/slave economy in the former Mexican regions. In spite of abolitionists claims that he had become a Benedict Arnold to the North, Websters efforts helped turn the tide in the North toward Compromise strengthening Union sentiment especially in the banking and commercial centers of the North who stood lose millions if secession occurred./God had already passed the Wilmot Proviso. Foolish to even debate it. Not suitable for slave agriculture. it was WEBSTERS EFFORTS that helped turn the North towards compromise and hence strengthening the union.

California Gold Rush

with the discovery of Gold in California in 1848 resulted in a drastic increase in population in the golden state which would inflame the slavery issue. Included within the thousands who populated the region were a high proportion of lawless men and virtue less women. The majority of law-abiding citizen needing protection, applied DIRECTLY for statehood bypassing the usual territorial stage with a constitution that excluded slavery. Southern politicians arose in violent opposition in their effort to block the spread of free soil. For the gold rush itself, few made in rich in the gold mines, the most profitable ventures was those who mined the miners by charging outrageous for personal services including laundry and food as well as mining equipment./Had constitution that EXCLUDED slavery.Excluded slavery to save land for whites. CALIFORNIA APPLIED DIRECTLY FOR STATEHOOD BYPASSING TERRITORIAL STAGE