1. The 1850s: The Road to Secession Daily Objectives
Analyze the sectional tensions of the 1850’s that led to Southern Secession
Discuss key personalities that fueled sectionalism in the 1850s.

2. Slavery and Western Expansion

3. Impact of War with Mexico
Mexican Cession gave the US new lands to be organized and settled
Would slavery be allowed in these new territories?
Northerners said NO
Southerners said YES

4. Wilmot Proviso
David Wilmot from Penn. Proposed a law about the slavery issue in the Mexican Cession
Proviso said that in any territory gained from Mexico, slavery would NEVER exist
Proposal outraged Southerners; felt that banning slavery in the West might lead to banning slavery in the South

5. Popular Sovereignty Lewis Cass from Michigan Proposed the idea of
- the citizens of each new territory decide for themselves if they wanted to permit slavery or not

6. TAYLOR STILL WINS ELECTION!!
Election of 1848
Whig Party Splits:
Conscience Whigs, opposed slavery
Cotton Whigs, linked to Northern
manufacturing so needed
Southern cotton= not opposed to slavery
Whigs nominate Zachary Taylor, hero of the War with Mexico (he is pro-slavery)
This angers Conscience Whigs who leave the party to form the Free-Soil Party “Free Soil, Free Speech, Free Labor, Free Men!!”
- opposed slavery in the New Territories
TAYLOR STILL WINS ELECTION!!

7. Discovery of Gold 1848 GOLD discovered in CA
Over 80,000 “49ers” rushed
to move to the state
Cali applied to become a Free state
in 1849
If Cali. Is free then balance in Senate goes toward free states and against slave states
Southerners began to talk openly about SECESSION again (leaving the Union)

8. Compromise of 1850 Henry Clay of Kentucky; known as the
“Great Compromiser” for his role in the Missouri Compromise as well
Proposed 8 Resolutions to solve the crisis and keep the Union together

9. 1. California entered as a free state
The Compromise of 1850 solved the sectional dispute between North and South
1. California entered as a free state
3. The slave trade ended in Washington DC
2. The people of Utah and New Mexico could vote to allow or ban slavery (popular sovereignty)

10. 4. A stronger Fugitive Slave Law was created that allowed Southerners to recapture slaves in the North

11. Compromise of 1850 1. California gets statehood as Free State
2. Popular Sovereignty status for Utah and New Mexico—get to choose for themselves
3.No more slave trading in D.C.—whites can still own slaves
4. New Fugitive Slave Law, rigorously enforced
5. Resolve TX-NM border disagreement

12. Sectionalism:
From 1820 to 1850, sectionalism in America increased due to
Differences in regional economies and the use of slavery
Westward expansion and the entry of new states to the Union
Growing abolitionism in the North
But, each time a dispute threatened the nation, a compromise was reached

13. Class Activities
Read the Fugitive Slave Act and Personal Liberty Law Primary Source Documents
Answer the Accompanying questions
Label and Color the Map that goes with the Compromise of Shade the KEY!

14. Compromise of 1850