Growing Tensions Between North and South

Wilmot Proviso – an 1846 proposal that outlawed slavery in any territory gained from the War with Mexico Free-Soil Party – a political party dedicated to stopping the expansion of slavery Henry Clay – Senator from KY; he created a plan to settle the CA problem Daniel Webster – Senator from MA; supported the compromise by giving a passionate speech Stephen A. Douglas – Senator from IL; one of the most powerful members of Congress in the mid-1800s; helped to have the plan created by Clay passed Compromise of 1850 – a series of Congressional laws intended to settle the major disagreements between free states and slave states

popular sovereignty – policy having people in the territory or state vote directly on issues rather than having elected officials decide secede – to withdraw John C. Calhoun – South Carolina senator who opposed the Missouri Compromise

1. Look at the chart below (also on page 458). Which region had a more diversified, or varied, economy? 2. Why do you think the South only produced cotton?

Explain why conflict arose over the issue of slavery in the territories after the Mexican- American War. Identify the goal of the Free-Soil Party. Describe the compromise Henry Clay proposed to settle the issues that divided the North and the South.

How did the question of admission of new states to the Union fuel the debate over slavery and states’ rights? The Missouri Compromise of 1820 temporarily quieted the differences between the North and South. However, new territory added as a result of America’s victory in the Mexican-American War renewed the conflict.

The South remained largely rural as its plantations grew wealthy from the cotton trade. In the North, the Industrial Revolution caused industry, immigration, and cities to grow.

But more than half of all southern farmers did not have slaves. In the southern “Cotton Kingdom,” society was dominated by a small group of wealthy plantation owners. Instead of growing cotton, these people often grew corn and raised hogs and chickens.

Differences Between Southern States Alabama, Mississippi, and Like States States that depended heavily on cotton had large populations of enslaved people. Kentucky and Like States States that grew less cotton had smaller populations of enslaved people.

1. How did the economies of the North and the South differ? North – industry and commerce South – plantation farming 2. What factors caused the rapid growth of Northern cities? The growth of industry Canals and railroads ran east and west, connecting the Eastern and newly formed Midwestern states develop strong ties 3. Why was there so little investment in industry in the South? Planters invested in slaves instead of industry

4. Why did free workers in the North oppose slavery? It was an economic threat to them Since slaves didn’t work for pay, free workers feared that managers would employ slaves rather than them Some were afraid they might be forced into slavery to find a job 5. What reasons did Southern slaveholders offer in defense of slavery? Believed whites were superior Slavery helped introduce slaves to Christianity Slavery gave them food, clothing, and shelter

Westward expansion strengthened the United States, but it also caused disagreements over the extension of slavery. In 1819, the United States consisted of 11 “free states,” which prohibited slavery, and 11 “slave states,” which permitted slavery. Free StatesSlave States

However, Missouri had been seeking admission to the United States as a slave state since Northerners did not want to add a slave state to the United States. It was important to maintain a balance between representation of slave states and free states in the Senate.

A solution to the problem presented itself when Maine, a state that prohibited slavery, applied for admission to the Union. In 1820, Senator Henry Clay persuaded Congress to adopt the Missouri Compromise.

Maine was admitted as a free state. The Louisiana Territory north of the southern Missouri border would be free. Missouri was admitted as a slave state. Southern slave owners could pursue escaped slaves into free states. For the NorthFor the South

The compromise preserved the balance of power between slave and free states.

The Missouri Compromise revealed how much sectional rivalries divided the Union. Northerners were angry that Congress had allowed slavery to expand into another state. In time, the issue of slavery would split the United States. Southerners were unhappy that Congress was making laws about slavery.

“If you persist, the Union will be dissolved. You have kindled a fire which all the waters of the ocean cannot put out, which seas of blood can only extinguish.” Representative Thomas Cobb (GA), quoted in Henry Clay: Statesman for the Union “In the gloomiest moment of the Revolutionary War I never had any apprehension equal to what I feel from this source.” Thomas Jefferson

From 1820 to 1848, the balance of power between North and South held: 15 free states and 15 slave states. The tie could be broken by new territory gained in the Mexican- American War.

Even before the Mexican-American War had ended, politicians argued over what to do. Still, it angered Southerners, who viewed the bill as an attack on slavery by the North. The Wilmot Proviso Representative David Wilmot from Pennsylvania proposed a ban on slavery in all Mexican Cession territories. The bill passed in the House but not in the Senate.

In the 1848 election, many Democrats and Whigs were disappointed with their party’s stand on slavery. Antislavery Democrats and Whigs formed a new political party. The Free-Soil Party chose Martin Van Buren as its candidate. Free-Soil Party The party called for the territory from the Mexican- American War to be “free soil.”

Critics called Free-Soil Party members “barnburners.” They accused them of burning the barn (the Democratic Party) to get rid of proslavery “rats.”

He wanted to let the people in each state or territory decide whether to allow slavery. Democratic candidate Lewis Cass of Michigan suggested a solution that he hoped everyone would like. popular sovereignty The Free-Soil Party took votes away from Senator Cass.

6. Why did slaveholders claim that the Wilmot Proviso was unconstitutional? They viewed slaves as property Believed Constitution gave equal protection to the property rights of all citizens Proviso said slaveholders could not take their slaves (property) anywhere in the U.S. 7. Why was the formation of the Free- Soil Party important to national politics? Made slavery a key issue; politicians could no longer ignore it

PartyCandidatePolicy Democratic Party Senator Lewis Casspopular sovereignty Free-Soil Party Martin Van Burenslavery banned Whig PartyGeneral Zachary Taylorno stated policy Presidential Election of 1848 Zachary Taylor won the election.

North and South also clashed over California, which was ready to become a state. Southerners feared losing power. They threatened to secede from the nation if California was made a free state. Northerners argued that California should be a free state because most of its territory lay north of the Missouri Compromise.

8. What made California’s admission as a state controversial? Gold in California sent settlers racing to that territory That meant they were nearing the numbers required to apply for statehood Most people who lived there wanted CA to be free South wanted California split – north would be a free state, south would be a slave state Otherwise, the balance of power would be off In 1849, President Taylor pushed them to submit their plan for statehood, so Southern slaveholders wouldn’t have time to move.

9. Why were Southerners opposed to the admission of California to the Union as a free state? Slave states would become a minority in the Senate Jefferson Davis – “For the first time, we are about permanently to destroy the balance of power between the sections.”

North and South also disagreed over other issues related to slavery. Southerners called for a law that would force the return of fugitives. Northerners wanted the slave trade abolished in Washington, D.C. Months passed, and no solution was reached.

In 1850, Senator Henry Clay of Kentucky made a series of proposals to resolve this conflict. The Senate’s discussion of Clay’s proposals produced one of the greatest debates in American history.

John C. CalhounDaniel Webster The U.S. needed to amend the constitution. Otherwise, the South should secede. The U.S. should end sectionalism and adopt the compromise. John C. Calhoun spoke against the compromise, and Daniel Webster spoke for it.

10. What compromise allowed California to join the Union? What were its provisions? Compromise of 1850 CA would be admitted as a free state Slave trade abolished in D.C. Congress would not pass laws regarding slavery for the other territories won from the war with Mexico Congress would pass a stronger law regarding runaway slaves

11. What roles did Henry Clay, Daniel Webster, and Stephen Douglas play in passing the Compromise of 1850? Clay – crafted the plan to settle the problems that arose from CA’s application for admission to the Union Webster – gave a passionate speech in favor of the Compromise and preserving the Union Douglas – won passage of Clay’s plan

With the territories acquired by the Mexican- American War, the nation could no longer overlook the slavery issue.slavery However, the compromise soon fell apart.