1. Politics of Slavery

2. California Causes Problems
South Carolina Senator John Calhoun upset that he missed debate on annexation of California (slave state or not)
Quote pg. 304
Demanded that territories won in War with Mexico should allow slavery
If not South Carolina would secede

3. North vs. South
Senator Calhoun says South is no longer equal under the Constitution
North -> industrialized
Textiles, farm equipment, weapons, etc.
Railroads continue to grow = leads to growth of cities
Many immigrants now become anti-slave voters
Might bring slave labor into competition with free labor
Reduce status of white workers (could not compete with slaves)

4. South -> still agricultural
Still using rivers for transportation of goods
Most immigrants do not settle in South
Why?
Those who do strongly oppose slavery
White owners fearful that any leniency in slave laws would result in inevitable revolution

5. Slavery in the Territories
Pennsylvania Democrat David Wilmot proposes amendment to the military appropriations bill
Called the Wilmot Proviso -> slavery or involuntary servitude should not exist in any new territory gained
Neither North or South wanted to give up Congressional power to the other
California proposes statehood as a free state
South begins to feel this is act to block slavery and begins to question secession

6. Senate Debates Agenda included: California statehood question
Claim over half the New Mexico territory (Texas claims it)
Northerners demand elimination of slavery in Washington D.C.
South claims North did not recognize the Fugitive Slave Act of 1793
Threatened succession

7. The Compromise
Clay’s Compromise aka Compromise of 1850 was proposed by Henry Clay
Terms of Compromise on pg. 308
One of most important was giving the right to New Mexico and Utah popular sovereignty
States vote for or against slavery

8. Response to Compromise
Both Webster in the North and Calhoun in the South give their arguments to Congress
Senate rejects Compromise -> causes Henry Clay to leave
Stephen A. Douglas takes his place
Split the compromise up into individual parts to be voted on
Millard Fillmore becomes president
Calhoun dies
Compromise adopted into law