Election of 1848 Polk would not run for reelection -- ailing Democrats nominate General Lewis Cass – “Father of popular sovereignty” Slavery: Turn nat’l issue into local issue – shove it under the rug –Flaw: Might spread slavery Whigs nominate Zachary Taylor – “Hero of Buena Vista” – Whigs Didn’t choose Clay – too many enemies – Dodged most significant issues, no formal stance on extension of slavery – shove it under the rug Free Soil Party (ardent anti-slaveryites) nominated Martin Van Buren – Supported Wilmot Proviso – Only with “Free Soil” in the west could a family hope to move up. Taylor Wins

California Gold Rush Ignited issue of slavery from underneath Taylor – had hoped to sit on the issue – Tens of thousands flooded California – no stable government established – rampant crime and mayhem ensued – 1849 – Drafted a Constitution (excluding slavery) and applied for admission – Slave states protested South had majority in cabinet and SC and equality in the Senate – 15 slave states could easily veto any proposed Const. Amend. Feared tipping of balance Angered by call for abolition in D.C. (location), Loss of runaways through Underground Railroad – wanted more stringent fugitive slave law

Compromise of 1850 How do we keep the nation together and deal with California/slavery Key Players: Clay, Calhoun, and Webster – Clay defended compromising – Calhoun Rejected concessions – leave slavery alone, return runaway slaves, restore balance – Webster defended Clay’s calls for compromise – famous “Seventh of March Speech” Deadlock in Congress Taylor would likely veto any compromises – Taylor dies unexpectedly ->Millard Fillmore – Compromise NorthSouth Cal admitted as Free StateFormed NM & UT Terr. Open to pop. Sov. Disputed Texas Territory given to NMTexas given $10 mil Abolish slave trade (but not slavery) in DCStringent Fugitive slave law

Better Deal? North!! – Cal as free state tipped the balance – Disputed “Texas” territory had been ripped from slaveholding Texas Almost certain to be free – pop sov. – Abolition of Slave Trade in D.C. – Most Controversial – Fugitive Slave Law Enraged Northerners – some refused to enforce (like SC in 1832)

Election of 1852 Democrats – couldn’t decide who to run – Franklin Pierce (who’s he?) Dark-horse, enemyless – (prosouthern northerner – accepted by the proslaveryites of the Dem party) Platform – territorial expansion, support of Compromise of 1850 (including Fugitive Slave Law) Whigs – probably should have run someone associated with Compromise of 1850 (Fillmore or Webster) – Went with tradition (military leader) – Winfield Scott – Whigs were Split Antislavery (North) did not agree with Scott’s endorsement of the Fugitive Slave Law Southern Whigs agreed with platform, but weren’t convinced of Scott’s commitment to the Compromise of 1850 Pierce Wins -- landslide

Expansion South? South needed more slave territory (UT and NM territories left to popular sovereignty)– Caribbean – William Walker tried to take control of Nicaragua Pierce withdrew diplomatic recognition Coalition of Central American nations formed against him – firing squad Cuba – Polk had considered offering Spain $100 million (Spanish refused) – Southerners try to invade – repelled – Angry mob attacks Spain’s consulate in New Orleans – Spain seizes Black Warrior Spain won’t have support of England, France, or Russia – Crimean War – Ostend Manifesto U.S. offer $120 mil – if refused, US justified in taking Northerners embittered – Pierce Administration drops

The Gadsden Purchase Transportation Problems – land transportation was necessary to the keep the Pacific Coast from breaking away – Solution: Transcontinental Railroad – Could only afford one line – North or South? Rewards: Wealth, Population, and Influence Economically, South was losing the race with the North – South is eager for railroad – Best route in the South ran slightly south of Mexican border (needed another chunk of Mexico) James Gadsden negotiates treaty w/ Santa Anna in $10 million Allowed South to insist on Railroad –Had land, mountains were less high, route would not pass through any unorganized territory (NM officially a territory w/ federal troops)

Douglas’s Kansas-Nebraska Stephen Douglas’ counter attack to South’s Gadsden Purchase – Cut Nebraska Territory in two (Kan. & Neb.) – Slavery would be determined by popular sovereignty – Assumed Nebraska would be free, Kansas would be slave – maintain balance Problem – Contradiction of MC – KS is due west of Missouri – north of 36°30’ Southerners saw a chance to gain one more slave state Northerners react with opposition to the Fugitive Slave Law Most importantly, rise of the Republican Party! – Moral argument against spread of slavery