1. Growing Divide CHAPTER 6, SECTION 1

2. Slavery Divides the Nation  Growing tension over the issue of slavery developed over the years.  With the inclusion of many new territories after the Mexican-American War, the issue had to be addressed.  First attempt= Wilmot Proviso.  Differing viewpoints emerged, separating the North from the South.  Northern viewpoint: Blacks are inferior, but most agreed that slavery should be ended. Those that did not included merchants, bankers, mill owners and unskilled workers.  Southern viewpoint: Slavery is a necessity; more civilized than the northern system of labor.

3. New Political Parties  In the election of 1848, Democrats and Whigs split over the issue of slavery.  The Free-Soil Party also started as a response to the issue.  Their foundation was keeping slavery out of the territories, but ending slavery as a whole.  Whigs and Democrats were forced to address the issue, possibly limiting their votes.  Both parties chose to adopt the idea of popular sovereignty  allowing voters in a territory to decide whether to allow slavery.  Though only receiving 10% of the total vote, the Free-Soil Party was a viable third-party.

4. Compromise of 1850  California’s desire to join the Union as a free state threatened to disrupt the balance between the North and the South.  What Henry Clay would put forth became known as the Compromise of 1850 and had 5 parts.  California admitted as a free state;  Those in the territories of NM and Utah would decide via popular sovereignty;  Slave trade would end in D.C.;  Congress would pass a stricter fugitive slave law– private citizens must help with apprehending slaves.  Texas would give up claims to NM for $10 million

5. Protest and Violence CHAPTER 6, SECTION 2

6. Resistance to the Fugitive Slave Act  The biggest form of resistance was known as the Underground Railroad.  It was a series of homes that would provide refuge to the runaway slaves.  Leaders along the route were known as “conductors” and the most famous was Harriet Tubman.  Her nickname was “Black Moses”  In 1852, Harriet Beecher Stowe published the novel Uncle Tom’s Cabin, providing many northerners with an image to equate with slavery.  It infuriated Southerners, who felt it portrayed all Southerners as evil.

7. The Kansas-Nebraska Act  The patchwork legislation throughout the 1800s that attempted to address slavery confused more than making a clear decision.  In 1854, Stephen Douglas proposed a bill to organize he Nebraska Territory into a state. Popular sovereignty would determine whether as a free or slave state.  To appease Southerners, Douglas amended his bill to split the Nebraska Territory into two– Nebraska and Kansas.  It was thought that Nebraska would enter as a free state, Kansas as a slave state.

8. “Bleeding Kansas”  Both pro and anti-slavery settlers moved to Kansas in an effort to sway popular sovereignty in their favor.  Two governments were established.  One by Border Ruffians who had crossed over from Missouri and one by northern abolitionists.  Both governments petitioned for statehood in 1856.  Violent battles took place between the two sides, earning it the nickname “Bleeding Kansas”.  Border Ruffians attacked anti-slavery Lawrence, and John Brown (an abolitionist), retaliated by executing 5 pro-slavery settlers.

9. Violence in the Senate  In 1856, Charles Sumner (Massachusetts senator) delivered a speech entitled “The Crime Against Kansas”.  Southerners were angered by Sumner’s speech, and further agitated by his personal attacks against Southern representatives.  Preston Brooks, the nephew of SC representative Andrew Butler attacked Sumner by beating him with a cane.  Both sides (North and South) stood by their representatives, electing them as a symbol for their causes.