Slavery, States Rights, and Westward Expansion 10.1

Objectives Contrast the economies, societies, and political views of the North and the South. Describe the role of the Free-Soil Party in the election of 1848. Analyze why slavery in the territories was a divisive issue between North and South and how Congress tried to settle the issue in 1850.

Key Parts Slavery Divides the Nation The Election of 1848 A Compromise Avoids a Crisis Senate Adopts the Compromise of 1850

Introduction Read Section 10.1 Answer questions 5-7 on page 329.

Slavery Divides the Nation After the Mexican American War, the North and South continue on with their lives; the North with their industry and the south with their agriculture. Slavery during this time became more and more of an issue. Mostly due to the land that was won out west. Contrary to belief there was a large number of Northerners who were against abolition, such as bankers, mill owners and merchants. They made their money off of the goods the cotton produced or off of the trading and transportation of slaves.

Election of 1848 The Wilmot Proviso had given the nation’s political parties a new focus. In the campaign the Whigs and Democrats split over the question of whether or not to limit expansion of slavery. A new political party arose- The Free-Soil Party. Who Pledged to a “national platform of freedom” that would resist the aggressions of the slave power. They nominated Martin Van Buren as their candidate for President.

Cont. Both the Whigs and the Democrats tried to avoid the idea of slavery and not take a side either way. They both embraced the idea of popular sovereignty. (states that voters in a territory decide whether or not to allow slavery there.) The Whigs nominated Zachary Taylor who ended up winning the election by slim majority in the North and the South.

A Compromise Avoids a Crisis During this time there was so much controversy of whether or not slavery should be allowed in the lands out west. The South begins to see that they were fighting a losing battle, however Henry Clay the “Great Pacificator” steps in and issues a compromise. After several speeches and debates and threat of secession both sides agree to Clay’s terms temporarily.

Senate Adopts the Compromise of 1850 Clay’s proposal became known as the Compromise of 1850. However during this ratification many extremist from each side began lashing out in boycotts and talks of secession. Finally by September 1850 the obstacles to agreement had melted away and the Compromise was passed.

Cont. California was admitted as a free state and the policy of popular sovereignty was applied to the territory acquired from Mexico. Slavery would remain undisturbed but the slave trade was prohibited. A new Fugitive Slave Act added stringent amendments to the earlier law. The Compromise of 1850 restored calm for the moment, but it planted the seed for crisis to come.