Chapter 18

Personal Liberty Laws

Laws passed by Northern states forbidding the imprisonment of escaped slaves

Kansas-Nebraska Act (1854)

Proposed by Senator Douglas (Illinois) and advocated popular sovereignty in Kansas and Nebraska territories (vote by people of territory whether they would be slave or free state). Douglas wanted it to facilitate the building of the transcontinental railroad on a central route through Illinois, thus benefitting his state economically. K/A Act passed but backfired terribly as extremes of both sides of slavery debate flooded into Kansas. Votes on constitutions were plagued with fraud and "Bleeding Kansas" begins as violence erupts between pro/anti-slavery groups.

John C. Calhoun

South Carolina Senator - advocate for state's rights, limited government, and nullification

Fire-eaters, 1850-1861

Southern proslavery extremists who wanted secession from the Union. Fire-eaters organized secession conventions in several southern states in 1850 but backed down because of a lack of support and the promise of moderate southern backing for secession if Congress tried to outlaw slavery in the future.

Zachary Taylor (1849-1850)

Whig Domestic Affairs: Pushed for Compromise of 1850 Hard stance on secession Gold Rush Died of food poisoning after party Foreign Affairs: Clayton-Bulwer Treaty-Canal across Nicaragua (agreement with Britain)

Millard Fillmore (1850-1853)

Whig Domestic Affairs: Secured Compromise of 1850 Supporter of Fugitive Slave Law Faced secession threat Foreign Affairs: Opened trade with Japan (Commodore Perry) Kept Hawaii from Euro annexation Failed Cuban invasion

Ostend Manifesto (1854)

a statement by American envoys abroad to pressure Spain into selling Cuba to the United States; the declaration suggested that if Spain would not sell Cuba, the United States would be justified in seizing it. It was quickly repudiated by the U.S. government but it added to the belief that a "slave power" existed and was active in Washington.

Winfield Scott

"Old Fuss and Feathers," whose conquest of Mexico City brought U.S. victory in the Mexican War

Compromise of 1850

(1) California admitted as free state, (2) territorial status and popular sovereignty of Utah and New Mexico, (3) resolution of Texas-New Mexico boundaries, (4) federal assumption of Texas debt, (5) slave trade abolished in DC, and (6) new fugitive slave law; advocated by Henry Clay and Stephen A. Douglas

Franklin Pierce

14th President

Clayton-Bulwer Treaty

1850 - Treaty between U.S. and Great Britain agreeing that neither country would try to obtain exclusive rights to a canal across the Isthmus of Panama. Abrogated by the U.S. in 1881.

Popular Sovereignty

A belief that ultimate power resides in the people.

Daniel Webster (1782-1852)

A great American orator. He gave several important speeches, first as a lawyer, then as a Congressman. He was a major representative of the North in pre-Civil War Senate debates, just as Sen. John C. Calhoun was the representative of the South in that time.

Stephen Douglas

A moderate, who introduced the Kansas-Nebraska Act in 1854 and popularized the idea of popular sovereignty.

Henry Clay

A northern American politician. He developed the American System as well as negotiated numerous compromises.

higher law

A set of laws that establish and limit the power of government

James Gadsden

American diplomat, politician, and railroad promoter who negotiated the Gadsden Purchase.

Conscience Whigs

Anti-slavery whigs who opposed both the Texas annexation and the Mexican War on moral grounds.

Seventh of March Speech

Daniel Webster's impassioned address urging the North to support of the Compromise of 1850. Webster argued that topography and climate would keep slavery from becoming entrenched in Mexican Cession territory and urged Northerners to make all reasonable concessions to prevent disunion.

Martin Van Buren (1837-1841)

Democratic Domestic Affairs: Panic of 1837 Continued Jackson's policy of Indian Removal Specie Circular—hard currency Aroostook War Foreign Affairs: Opposed annexation of Texas Webster-Ashburton Treaty

William H. Seward

Congressman of the "Young Guard" who fiercely opposed slavery and argued that Americans should follow a "higher law" (God's law) over the Constitution when it came to the issue of slavery.

Free Soil Party (1848)

Formed in 1847-1848, this political party was dedicated to opposing slavery in newly acquired territories such as Oregon and ceded Mexican territory. Its candidate in the 1848 election was former President Martin Van Buren. - Most members eventually become Republicans. - Party's founding demonstrates growing strength of the movement to keep new territory free from slavery.

Lewis Cass and popular sovereignty

Democrats were forced to seek a new standard-bearer in 1848. President Polk, broken in health, had pledged himself to a single term. The Democratic National Convention at Baltimore turned to an aging leader, General _____, a veteran of the War of 1812. The Democratic platform, in line with the lid-sitting strategy, was silent on the burning issue of slavery in the territories from the Mexican Cession. He was the reputed father of "_____." This was the doctrine that stated that the sovereign people of a territory, under the general principles of the Constitution, should themselves determine status of slavery. Popular sovereignty had a popular appeal. The public liked it because it accorded with the democratic tradition of self-determination. Politicians liked it because it seemed a comfortable compromise between the free-soilers' bid for a ban on slavery and the southern demands that Congress protect slavery in the territories. ____ tossed the slavery problem into the laps of the people in various territories.

Fugitive Slave Law

Enacted by Congress in 1793 and 1850, these laws provided for the return of escaped slaves to their owners. The North was lax about enforcing the 1793 law, with irritated the South no end. The 1850 law was tougher and was aimed at eliminating the underground railroad.

Harriet Tubman

United States abolitionist born a slave on a plantation in Maryland and became a famous conductor on the Underground Railroad leading other slaves to freedom in the North (1820-1913)