1. Chapter 18 Renewing the Sectional Struggle 1848-1854

3. Issues in Chapter 18 The Election of 1848 Popular Sovereignty California Gold Rush Compromise of 1850 Election of 1852 Kansas-Nebraska Act Slavery becomes a powder keg – while the average politician attempts to ignore the issue

4. Election of 1848 Democrats will nominate Lewis Cass – Veteran of the War of 1812 – Territorial Governor of Michigan – US Senator from Michigan – US Ambassador – Develops concept of “popular sovereignty” (belief that the people of a state or territory should determine the issue of slavery).

5. Whigs will follow their former success from 1840 and nominate a former military leader – the “Hero of Buena Vista” – Zachary Taylor. Zachary Taylor will name Millard Fillmore as his running mate. A third party will develop because they believed neither party is dealing with the issue of slavery in the newly acquired territory. Free Soil Party will come into existence and name Martin Van Buren as their candidate.

6. The Election Zachary Taylor will win a fairly close election. – It is believed that Van Buren drew enough votes from Cass to probably give the election to Taylor

7. Gold in California In 1848, gold was found at Sutter’s Mill in California (a sawmill owned by John Sutter and James Marshall). Within just a few years over 300,000 people would push their way to California to get rich Very few of the prospectors will get rich – the ones who do get wealthy are the proprietors that establish businesses that cater to the prospectors

8. Lawlessness reigns in California – robbery, claim jumping, murder. Californians will take the law in their own hands (wild west). US government will get involved and make it a territory. Because of the wealth and the exploding population – it will attempt to become a state as soon as it can get organized. “will it (California) be the golden straw that broke the back of the nation.”

9. Sectional Discord Because of the Missouri Compromise and the fact that most of the territory that would have become slave is not suitable for farming – very little land left for the “balance to be kept” Most southerners were upset by the North’s attempt to abolish slavery in the District of Columbia

10. Growth of the Underground Railroad (and its seeming growing acceptance of it – southerners saw they as being “holier than thou” and the south was disturbed by the open disobedience to the law of the land – fugitive slave law). – Stations (antislavery homes) – Passengers (Runaway slaves) – Conductors (individuals who lead them on the railroad – Harriet Tubman)

12. Compromise of 1850 1850 of will begin the changing of the guard – the “older” leadership that had been in place from years will now be moving off the scenes. Henry Clay, John C. Calhoun, and Daniel Webster.

13. The “immortal trio” attack the issue Henry Clay (the Great Compromiser) will encourage both sides to make concessions. He will argue that the “Higher Law” advocates (people like William H. Seward) and the “fire- eaters” will each have to compromise. Clay will offer a series of bills (all of which make up the Compromise of 1850). His Compromises will be seconded by a member of the young guard – Stephen A. Douglas of Illinois.

14. John C. Calhoun (South Carolina) will believe that Clay is correct about proposing concessions, but he will reject them because they did not provide adequate safeguards for southern rights. Daniel Webster will speak for 3 hours and will argue that Clay’s compromises had to be accepted. He will also argue that the North will have to give concessions on the Fugitive Slave Law.

15. Passage of the Compromise of 1850 The younger guard (led by the “Higher Law” advocates) will reject the idea of compromise and will argue that legislators must obey God’s moral law above all. They even seemed to have swayed President Taylor toward their belief. The Compromise becomes deadlocked in the Senate. During the debate – President Taylor will die, and Millard Fillmore will assume the Presidency. While as V-P, he will have listened to both sides and he tends to lean toward the side of concessions.

16. Compromise of 1850 Concessions to the North California admitted as a free state Territory disputed by Texas and New Mexico to be surrendered to New Mexico Abolition of the slave trade (but not slavery) in the District of Columbia

17. Compromise of 1850 Concessions to the South The remainder of the Mexican Cession are to be formed into the territories of New Mexico and Utah without restrictions on slavery, hence open to popular sovereignty Texas to receive $10 million from the federal government as compensation A more stringent Fugitive Slave Law

18. Results of the Compromise of 1850 Nobody is happy – “Higher Law” followers are disappointed as are the “fire-eaters” Brings a short period of a “calm after the storm” It rallies people on the fence to begin to side with the abolitionists (especially the more strict Fugitive Slave Law – called the “Man Stealing Law”)

19. The Election of 1852 The Democratic Convention of 1852 resembles the Convention of 1844 – deadlocked. They will eventually settle on a “dark-horse” – Franklin Pierce. – “Who is Franklin Pierce?” – “Hero of many well-fought bottle” – “We Polked ‘em in ’44, and we’ll Pierce ‘em in ’52.”

20. The Whigs will follow the only formula they know will work for them….nominate a military hero (even though they probably could have nominated Fillmore) – Winfield Scott. – Whig Party will split over the issue of the Fugitive Slave Law – Pierce wins a relatively lopsided election (in the electoral college)

21. The South Looks to add Slave States Realizing that the potential to keep the balance in the Senate is quickly fading – the south will attempt to revive the spirit of “Manifest Destiny” and will look at other areas: Central America and the Caribbean. – Central America: specifically Nicaragua. William Walker (Nashville, TN) will seize the country and declare a slave territory. A group of Central American countries will band together and capture Walker – he will be found guilty and executed.

22. The Caribbean: specifically Cuba. – America will attempt to purchase from Spain for $100 – Spain rejects. – The US will send over two small expeditions to attempt to take the island by force – both fail. – European powers will become involved in the Crimean War (Russia, France, and England). So a group of American envoys will draw up the Ostend Manifesto – to purchase Cuba for $120 million. If this is rejected then they will take the country by force. Word leaks out in the North and the uproar against the government causes the Pierce administration to back off.

23. Linking the East and the West The California and Oregon Territories are growing but seem so far away – so the United States government believes it is time to link them through a continental railroad. Both the north and south argue for access to the route. A study shows that the best route is through the south (into Mexican territory). Secretary of War (Jefferson Davis) will suggest that James Gadsden (a railroad owner) be named Minister to Mexico. He will work out a deal and purchase a strip of land from Mexico for $10 million. Called the Gadsden Purchase (basically America is complete)

24. Kansas-Nebraska Act Many westerners and mid-westerners were interested in making the land between the east coast and the west coast part of the United States. It’s biggest supporter was Stephen A. Douglas (“Little Giant”). He believed that this could be done by gaining support in both the north and the south – so he turned to the concept of “popular sovereignty” (some argue that he had a selfish reason for this)

25. Douglas planned to divide the Nebraska Territory into two separate areas: Kansas (which would border slave state Missouri – and probably become another slave state), and Nebraska (which would border free state Iowa – and probably become another free state). He would allow the people of the territory to decide whether they would be free or slave. Northerners saw this as a problem Southerners were overjoyed that they might have an opportunity to keep some balance in the Senate

26. The Problem with Kansas-Nebraska Act The bill itself would break the Missouri Compromise – which meant Congress would have to do away with the bill. – Northern abolitionist had come to see the Missouri Compromise as being the most important legislation that existed and held it in high regard. – After a lengthy fight – Douglas is able to push through the bill and popular sovereignty will be used to determine whether a state entered as a slave or free state.

27. Results of the Kansas-Nebraska Act Northern abolitionists and southern fire-eaters see that there is no way that this is going to end peacefully. (From 1854 to 1860, every act is viewed by the other side with contempt and scorn). It ruins the potential Presidential career of the Democrats rising star – Stephen A. Douglas (viewed as a “Judas” – a “traitor”) Sectionalism is back in full force – the Union really is at risk