Renewing the Sectional Struggle

1848 – 1854

“The South! The South! God knows what will become of her!” --John C. Calhoun

Impact of the Mexican CessionWhy are politicians avoiding the question of slavery?The Wilmot Proviso

Supported in the NorthOpposed in the South

Southern senators blocked the proviso Threatened to:

disrupt the Whigs & the Democrats split national politics along North & South sectional lines

Political parties represented national unityEach enjoyed support in both the North & the South

The Democratic PartyPolk doesn’t seek reelection in 1848What was his reasons?Select General Lewis Cass

Senator & diplomatParty was silent on the issue of slaveryCass favored popular sovereignty – what is PS?

Popular sovereigntyFavored by politicians & public. Why?However, could cause spread of slavery. How?

The Whig Party

Selected Zachary Taylor“Hero of Buena Vista”Never held a political office nor voted Owned slaves

Dodged all troublesome political issues – does this help or hurt him?

Emphasized virtues of candidate

Free Soil PartyCandidate – Martin Van BurenStarted by antislavery men in the NorthPlatform – Supported:

Wilmot Proviso Internal improvementsFree gov’t homesteads for settlers

Makeup Industrialists unhappy with Polk’s tariff reductionDemocrats who resented Polk’s decision to settle for Oregon while insisting on all of TexasThose who favored keeping blacks out of the territories

Why does the majority of the FSP oppose slavery in the new Western territories?

Election of 1848Attacked personalities of candidatesFree Soil Party caused a split in the voteTaylor (W) wins

Gold in California 1848 – gold was found // few got rich“Gold fever” - many moved to CA (49ers)

Who made the most profits?CA gov’t was not prepared for the number of people

Many newcomers were lawless men & virtueless womenCrime was a problem

Pres. Taylor secretly helped CA draft a constitution in 1849

Excluded slaveryCA bypassed the territorial stage CALIFORNY SONG! 392

Sectional BalanceBalance in Congress

15 free states & 15 slave statesCA would upset this balance. Why is this a problem?

CA would set a precedent for the other states out of the Mexican CessionTexas – claimed territory east of Rio Grande and up to the 42° parallel (map page 405)

Threatened to fight if territory removed to make New MexicoCould this have started the Civil War 10 years earlier?

DC – Southerners did not like the idea of banning slavery in the nation’s capitol

Slavery Fugitive Slave Act 1793

North was to return runaway slavesWhat was wrong with this Act?

Underground RailroadInformal chain of “stations” through which “passengers” were led by “conductors” into CanadaHarriet Tubman – most famous conductor / ex-slave

By 1850, push for a new fugitive slave law1850 – about 1000 runaway slaves out of 4 millionHow do most slaves become free?

Underground Railroad

“Immortal Trio” of the South Problems arise when CA applies for statehoodHenry Clay – “Great Pacificator”

North & South should compromiseMore feasible fugitive-slave act

John C. Calhoun – “Great Nullifier”Leave slavery aloneReturn runaway slavesGive South minority rightsRestore political balance

Elect 2 presidents- one from the North & one from the South; both with veto power

Could this work?

Daniel WebsterUrged all reasonable concessions to the SouthFugitive-slave lawSeventh of March speech (1850) – helped turn the tide of the North toward compromise

Deadlock on Capitol HillNortherners in Congress

More interested in purging & purifying the Union than patching & preserving it

William H. SewardStrong antislaveryite Against any concessions by the North Believed that slavery was morally wrong- “higher law” than the Constitution

Pres. Taylor Bent on vetoing any compromise by congressAroused by the threats of Texas to seize Santa Fe

Compromise in the Air1850 – Pres. Taylor dies in office – bad cherriesVice Pres. Millard Fillmore takes office

Gladly signed compromises proposed by Congress“Fire-eaters” of the South wanted no compromisethe term Fire-Eaters refers to a group of extremist pro-slavery politicians from the South who urged the separation of southern states into a new nation, which became known as the Confederate States of America.

Southern extremists met & took strong positions on slavery & opposed compromise

Proved to be a dud

South does compromise with the NorthSecond Era of Good Feelings

Short lived

Compromise of 1850Concessions to North

CA admitted as a free stateTerritory disputed by Texas & New Mexico to be given to New MexicoAbolition of slave trade in DC- NOT SLAVERY

Concessions to South Remainder of Mexican cession formed into the territories of New Mexico & Utah; slavery decided by popular sovereigntyTexas - $10 million from gov’t as compensationMore stringent Fugitive Slave LawWhich side gets the best deal? Make an argument!

Fugitive Slave Law 1850

“The Bloodhound Bill”Strong opposition in the North

Fleeing slaves could not testify in their own behalf & were denied a jury trialCommissioners who handled cases were paid double if slave was returned Several states passed “personal liberty laws” that hampered enforcement Angered the South that the North would not enforce the lawWill this new law make Northerners more or less appreciative of the South and slavery altogether? Why?

Election of 1852Democrat – Franklin Pierce (dark-horse candidate)

Prosouthern northerner – accepted by the slave wingPlatform – finality of the Compromise of 1850 including Fugitive Slave Act

Whigs – Winfield Scott (war hero)Endorsed the Fugitive Slave ActWhigs were split

Antislavery Whigs of the North – liked Scott but deplored his platform

Southern Whigs – liked the platform but not the candidate Georgia Whigs – voted in vain for Webster who died 2 weeks earlier

Pierce won the election in a landslide

Defeat & Doom for the WhigsScott was stabbed in the back by this party

particularly the South

Election of 1852 Marked the end of the Whig Party within a few yearsWon only 2 presidential elections (1840 & 1848)End of national parties Marked the rise of purely sectional political alignments Choked to death trying to swallow the distasteful Fugitive Slave LawClay & Webster both died during election

President Pierce Cabinet contained aggressive Southerners

Jefferson Davis – Sec of WarWhy is he known as the “fainting general”?

Ready to acquire more slave territoryManifest Destiny - stimulated by Mexican WarInterest in Central America

Especially Panama & Nicaragua Possible canal route

Compromise of 1850 seemed to have closed off the Mexican Cession to slavery

Forced to look for slave land elsewhere

Nicaragua William Walker – “gray-eyed man of destiny”

Supported by the South Took control of Nicaragua with his buddies & installed himself as president in 1856Promptly legalized slavery

Overthrown by a coalition of Central American countriesPres. Pierce withdrew diplomatic recognitionWalker was killed in by a Honduran firing squad1860

Clayton – Bulwer TreatyBritish were also interested in Nicaragua

Possible canalChallenge to the Monroe Doctrine

Raised the possibility of armed conflict

Clayton – Bulwer Treaty – 1850Neither American nor Britain would fortify or secure exclusive control over any future isthmian waterway Necessary to halt the British – will hinder the US in the future

Asian Trade America had become a Pacific Power Wanted trade with Far East

Already had contacts with China

JapanHad been isolated for over 200 years1853 - ready to open -mainly because of the Russian menace

Commander Matthew C. PerryPersuaded the Japanese to sign treaty in 1854Commercial foot in the door

Cuba: The Pearl of the Antilles Sugar-rich island

prime objective of Manifest Destiny1850s – coveted by the South - most desirable slave territory available Would restore political balance

Polk had offered $100 millionOffer refused by Spain

1850 –1851- Two filibustering expeditionsBoth efforts were repelled

Problems with Cuba1854 – Spanish seized American streamer Black Warrior

European powers were entering the Crimean WarUS plots to take Cuba

American ministers from Spain, England, & France met in Ostend, Belgium to make secret plans Ostend Manifesto - 1854

Offer $120 million If refused, US would be justified in taking the island

Word got out – Pres Pierce was forced to drop plans

North wanted Canada/ South wanted Cuba Neither was accomplished

Pacific Railroad PromotersTransportation problems

Oregon & CA were separated from the remainder of the states

Solution: transcontinental railroadNorth & South wanted railroad for economic reasons

Gadsden Purchase map p. 415

1853 – Sec of War – J. Davis had James Gadsden (SC) appointed minister to Mexico

Gadsden offered Mexico $10 million for land Size of SC

Purchase allowed South the claim the railroadSmaller mountains & track completely through organized territory

North – Nebraska should be organized

Kansas-Nebraska Act1854 – Stephen A. Douglas

Supportive of the WestProposed the K-N Act

Nebraska Territory would be splitNebraska territory & Kansas territorySlavery decided based on popular sovereignty

Kansas – probably slave/ Nebraska – probably free

Violation of the Compromise of 1820No slavery above 36°30’ line excluding Missouri

Results of the Kansas-Nebraska ActOne of the most momentous measures ever passed by CongressRepeal of the compromises of 1820 & 1850

Made future compromises impossible North refused to enforce Fugitive Slave Act

Shattered the Democratic PartyBirth of the Republican Party as a purely sectional party

Middle West/ antislaveryDisgruntled Whigs, Democrats, Free-Soilers, Know-Nothings, & other foes of the Kansas-Nebraska Act