The Crisis of Disunion J.A.SACCO

Preview- The Causes of the Civil War Starter- What were the causes of the American Civil War? Manifest Destiny-expansion-determine slavery Cultural differences between the North and South Poor leadership in gov’t- don’t want to deal with the problem Inability/Unwilling to compromise Breakup of national parties into sectional parties Reform movement- steady growth of abolitionist movement

Missouri Compromise of 1820 First crisis of many- Missouri applies for statehood in 1819. Talmadge Amendment NY Congressman James Talmadge proposes two amendments to the Missouri statehood bill Bar additional slaves from being brought into Missouri- already have 16% of population Emancipate Missouri slaves born after admission when slave reaches 25th birthday * So if Missouri to become a state, it must agree to eventually become a free state

Missouri Compromise of 1820 Why did the statehood bill of Missouri become a sectional crisis between the North and South? 1819 North Control the House of Reps. because of a larger population in North If more Southern states are added, may loose control of House as they did in the early years of the republic. South Control Senate with Illinois often voting as a Southern state Must keep it at least even in Senate The Talmadge Amendment passes the House but gets shot down in the Senate!

Missouri Compromise of 1820 Problem left for next Congress. What was the solution to the Missouri question? Was the Missouri Compromise a wise solution to the problem of expansion?

The Mexican-American War Opens Up Old Wounds (1846) Next territorial crisis comes with the Mexican Cession after the war. President Polk believed that expansion would not be an issue- slavery not suitable in that climate of the SW. Southerners saw differently- SW/California have fertile areas for farming. Also mining, railroad work could use slavery Northerners feared that slavery would spread.

Effects? The Wilmot Proviso (1846) Expansion came to a head before war even ended. Wilmot Proviso proposed that slavery should not be allowed in any territory gained in the war. David Wilmot Effects?

The Wilmot Proviso (1846) Proved to be an omen that territorial expansion would be the issue for the next 15 years Signaled the beginning of the breakdown of the 2nd Political Party system. Slave representation vs. free representation. It no longer mattered your party, but your allegiance was to your section. Democratic Party was becoming more Southern.

Democratic Party Shows Signs of Weakness Breakup of the Democratic Party began as early as 1844 . WHY? Southern Dems. block Van Buren nomination for President. Give it to Polk, a southerner. Polk sellout Oregon at 49th parallel instead of 54° 40’. North feels betrayed Reduced Walker Tariff in 1846- hurt industrial North Polk vetoed bill of internal improvements Northerners feel that Democratic Party is becoming more Southern.

The Wilmot Proviso (1846) Vote on Wilmot Proviso! House of Reps N. Dems/ N. Whigs get it through the House Senate Southerners block it in the Senate Eventually 4 proposals would emerge to address the question of territorial expansion!

Wilmot Proviso Wilmot Proviso Extreme Northern position. David Wilmot

Calhoun Doctrine Calhoun Doctrine Extreme Southern position. Constitution protects property, and slaves have been deemed property. Can be taken into any territory. John C. Calhoun

Polk Plan Polk Plan Moderate Southern plan. Extend the Missouri Compromise line west. James K. Polk

Popular Sovereignty Popular Sovereignty Moderate Northern plan. Allow the people of the territory to decide on slavery. Felt northerners could settle territory easier. Plan was vague because it didn’t specify at which point the vote would be taken, at territorial stage or state phase. Lewis Cass

The Election of 1848 Cass would stand on popular sovereignty, although never officially stated in the campaign. Democrats would lose some Northern votes to Free Soil Party. Lewis Cass- (Dem)

The Election of 1848 Had no political stance on expansion. Why was Taylor a strange choice for the Whig Party? How did his selection cause a split in the Whig Party? Zachary Taylor-(Whig) Conscience Whigs Cotton Whig

The Election of 1848 Free Soil Party based on the Wilmot Proviso “Free-soil, free-speech, free-labor, free-men” Felt that allowing slavery to expand would make it difficult to find work around the nation. This would disrupt republican principles. Party composed of Liberty Party, Conscience Whigs, and Northern Anti-Slavery" Barnburner” Democrats. Martin Van Buren-Free Soil

The Election of 1848

The Election of 1848 Close Election. Cass lost the election because of Northern Democrats that joined the Free-Soil Party. Whigs increase strength in the South. Free-Soil Party won no electoral votes but polled 14% of vote in the North. Also elected 9 Congressmen and 2 senators. Both parties survived but losing northern support. Salmon P. Chase (Ohio) Creator of Free-Soil party Charles Sumner (MA) Leader of Conscience Whigs

Taylor and Fillmore (1849-1853) Taylor, even though a Southerner would support the admission of California as a free state. Would die soon after. Nation would flounder under Fillmore.