E ARLY S TATEHOOD P OLITICS AND THE C OMPROMISE OF 1850

E ARLY T EXAS P OLITICS George T. Wood vs. Native Americans Peter H. Bell (2 terms) Elisha M. Pease …probably the most successful of governors…set up the permanent school fund; built a new capitol; pushed for RR construction; DEBT FREE Texas Hardin R. Runnels vs. Native Americans Sam Houston…TX president; US senator; TX governor Democratic Party…farmers and ranchers; strong in South Whig Party…fell apart over slavery…replaced with Republican Party Texas GovernorsPolitical Parties Issues Facing the State Population growth Border issues Railroads School Debt Native Americans

P ROBLEMS IN THE USA California – free state? Texas vs. New Mexico – border? Washington D.C. – slavery? Slave trade? Territories – slave or free states?

P ROPOSED S OLUTION James K. Polk proposed extending the line of the Missouri Compromise to the Pacific Ocean.

P ROPOSED S OLUTION David Wilmot’s Proviso a proposal to prohibit slavery in any newly acquired land.

T HE SOLUTION Henry ClayHenry Clay, U.S. senator from Kentucky, was determined to find a solution. The Compromise Of 1850

C OMPROMISE OF 1850 According to the compromise, Texas would relinquish the land in dispute but, in compensation, be given 10 million dollars -- money it would use to pay off its debt to Mexico.

C OMPROMISE OF 1850 The territories of New Mexico, Nevada, Arizona, and Utah would be organized without mention of slavery. (The decision would be made by the territories' inhabitants later, when they applied for statehood.)

C OMPROMISE OF 1850 Washington DC, the slave trade would be abolished in the District of Columbia, although slavery would still be permitted.

C OMPROMISE OF 1850 California would be admitted as a free state.

C OMPROMISE OF 1850 The Fugitive Slave Act was the most controversial. It required citizens to assist in the recovery of fugitive slaves. It denied a fugitive's right to a jury trial.

C OMPROMISE OF 1850 California…free state Texas vs. New Mexico…TX gives up 1/3 of its overall land in exchange for $10 million (what was $$ used for?) New Mexico, Nevada, Utah, and Arizona would be able to decide for themselves under the popular sovereignty rule Washington D.C….give up slave trade but remain slave state Fugitive Slave Act…required citizens to assist in the recovery of fugitive slaves. It denied a fugitive's right to a jury trial.

C OMPROMISE OF 1850 The Compromise of 1850 accomplished what it set out to do -- it kept the nation united -- but the solution was only temporary.

Slavery A Poem O great design! Ye Sons of Mercy! O complete your work; Wrench from Oppresion’s hand the iron rod, And bid the cruel feel the pains they give. By Hannah More Universal Freedom is… Freedom from hunger and freedom from pain… freedom from loss and do freedom from gain. Freedom to give and freedom to share… Freedom from want and that of despair. By George Krokos

Strange Fruit "Southern trees bear strange fruit, Blood on the leaves and blood at the root, Black bodies swinging in the southern breeze, Strange fruit hanging from the poplar trees. Pastoral scene of the gallant south, The bulging eyes and the twisted mouth, Scent of magnolias, sweet and fresh, Then the sudden smell of burning flesh. Here is fruit for the crows to pluck, For the rain to gather, for the wind to suck, For the sun to rot, for the trees to drop, Here is a strange and bitter crop.“ by Billie Holiday

Your job is to write a two stanza (5 lines per stanza) poem about slavery. Use these steps below to help write your poem. Step 1: Write down the title of your poem. Step 2: Write down a metaphor describing how you feel about slavery. Step 3: Write down two facts about slavery. a) b) Step 4: Write down a quote one might say about slavery during the 1850’s. Step 5: Write down a simile describing how you feel about slavery. Step 6: Write down two vivid, active verbs describing slavery. Step 7: Write down two descriptive adjectives describing slavery. Part II: On a spate sheet of paper, construct your poem using the information from the sheet to create your two stanza s of poetry. ***Remember, each stanza needs five lines.