Renewing the Sectional Struggle

Popular Sovereignty The Mexican War and the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo rekindled the issue of territorial expansion of slavery.

Democrats and Whigs were national political parties. If they split along sectional lines it would threaten the union.

Both parties were split over the slavery expansion issue - no true geographic sectionalism in the parties.

Most people wanted to ignore the issue of slavery. Northern abolitionists favored the Wilmot Proviso. Southern “fire eaters” condemned Abolitionism.

The Democrats Democrats choose General Lewis Cass in the father of popular sovereignty.

The goal of popular sovereignty was to allow the citizens of the territories to decide the issue of slave or free.

The Whigs Henry Clay, the leading Whig, had many too many enemies. Henry Clay, the leading Whig, had many too many enemies.

Taylor Fever Whigs chose General Zachary Taylor, the “Hero of Buena Vista.” Taylor was a slave owner but had not come out on either side of Slavery extension.

Zachar y Taylor Zachar y Taylor

Election of 1848 President Polk, in bad health, chose not to seek reelection.

Free Soilers Anti-slavers in the north organized the Free-Soil Party - nominated Martin Van Buren.

Free Soilers supported the Wilmot Proviso, internal improvements and homesteads.

“Free soil, free speech, free labor and free men.” Condemned slavery because it limited the ability of whites to gain upward mobility.

Slavery became a non- issue - mudslinging prevailed. Taylor won 163 to 127 electoral votes.

California - Gold and Statehood Gold discovered at Sutter’s Mill in California.

John Sutter

Yerba Buena - becomes San Francisco

Tens of thousands flooded into the territory - California applied for Statehood as a free state - bypassing territorial status.

California reopened the issue of sectional balance - Utah and New Mexico also sought to enter as free states. California reopened the issue of sectional balance - Utah and New Mexico also sought to enter as free states.

U.S. Territorial Expansion

Compromise of free and 15 slave states in South dominated the executive and judicial branches and had a balance in the Senate.

Texas claimed territory in the west, Abolitionists wanted slavery out of the District of Columbia,

South wanted tougher fugitive slave laws.

Senators and Compromise Clay, Calhoun and Webster have a last hurrah - speak in favor of compromise.

Henry Clay, aided by Stephen Douglas, proposes a series of compromises.

Calhoun sought to gain concessions for the south and protection of slavery - died during the debate.

Webster’s 7th of March speech stated that slavery could not exist in the west - as cotton could not.

Deadlock to Compromise William Seward of New York led the fight against slavery and compromise.

Seward believed in a “higher law” - influenced president Taylor.

Taylor threatened to use troops against Texas if they moved against New Mexico.

At the height of the debate President Taylor dies (of Cholera?) and Millard Fillmore takes over.

Millard Fillmore

The Compromise of 1850

For the North: For the North: California entered the union as a free state Territory claimed by Texas went to New Mexico.

Slave trading was abolished in the District of Columbia.

Remainder of the Mexican Cession would be divided into two territories (New Mexico and Utah) and be open to popular sovereignty. For the South:

Texas would receive $10 million in compensation A strong Fugitive Slave Law was passed.

The Fugitive Slave Law The Fugitive Slave Law led to protests by the Abolitionists who refused to abide by the law and tried to free recaptured slaves in the north.

The Underground Railroad and Harriet Tubman continued to help slaves escape to the north and into Canada.

Massachusetts sought to nullify the law and some states passed “personal liberty laws.”

Southern Reaction The South was upset about northern refusal to carry out the law. Why did delaying war aid the North?

Election of 1852 Democrats nominate dark horse candidate Franklin Pierce in Pierce was a weak former military officer in Mexican War, but was without enemies.

He was a pro-southern northerner and agreed with the Compromise of 1850, including the Fugitive Slave Law.

The Whigs Whigs nominate Winfield Scott over president Fillmore and Daniel Webster.

Whig party split over the issues of the Compromise of Pierce won

Election marked the death of the Whig Party - it was unable to survive choking down the fugitive slave law.

President Franklin Pierce Young America

Fillibusters and Expansionism West coast ports create interest in a Trans-Isthmus Canal. Nicaragua is considered to be the ideal site.

British also have interest in a Canal in conflict with the Monroe Doctrine. US and Britain sign the Clayton - Bulwar Treaty agreeing to no exclusive control.

Commodore Matthew Perry sails his black ships into Tokyo Bay - “opening” Japan.

Commodore Matthew Perry

Slave owning adventurers send “filibusters” to Cuba in failed attempt to gain the island for the US.

US ministers to France, England and Spain meet in Ostend, Belgium to send an ultimatum to Spain - sell Cuba or lose it by force.

Ostend Manifesto is leaked and northern outcry embarrasses the Pierce administration.

Railroad Dreams Mexican Cession acquisitions create a drive to build a transcontinental railroad. Debate begins between supporters of southern vs. northern route.

Sec. of War Jefferson Davis sends James Gadsden as Minister to Mexico to purchase land south of the Gila River. Santa Anna agrees to sell for $10 million.

The Gadsden Purchase upsets many northerners. The southern route was flatter and the territory already organized.

Northern railroaders now seek to organize Kansas to make a northern route feasible.

Douglas and Kansas- Nebraska Senator Stephen A. Douglas of Illinois, the “Little Giant,” wanted a northern train route terminating in Chicago.

He proposed legislation that would split the Nebraska Territory into two sections Kansas and Nebraska and open them to popular sovereignty.

This was in direct violation of the Missouri Compromise of 1820.

Douglas’s oratory and the support of Pierce rammed the bill past northern opposition. Many in the west and south supported popular sovereignty but anti-slavery reactions would lead to the first “civil war.”

The Fugitive Slave Law of 1850 was now truly dead in the North. The law weakened the Democrats and gave rise to the new Republican Party that would quickly sweep the North.