1. War on the Horizon
Study the political cartoon and use your knowledge of U.S. History to answer the following questions.
What are the two ways the cartoonist shows who the two groups of students are?
What point is the cartoonist making by having Columbia just awaken from a nap?
What lesson has the teacher assigned? How do you know? Why would she assign this lesson?
What were the scrambling students doing before the teacher woke up? What historical event might this reference?
Why is there a map of the United States behind Miss Columbia?

2. Chapter 18: Renewing the Sectional Struggle
The sectional conflict over the expansion of slavery that erupted after the Mexican War was temporarily quieted by the Compromise of 1850, but Douglas’s Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854 exploded it again.

3. The Beginnings of Sectionalism
As Americans expanded West in the 1840s, conflicts intensified between the North & the South regarding the issue of slavery
Northerners rallied around the Wilmot Proviso (prohibited slavery in any territory acquired in the Mexican War)
Southern senators blocked its passage
Its debate revealed sectional (not party) divisions
A major shift in politics is looming involving sectional political parties

4. The Popular Sovereignty Panacea
Existence of two strong political parties (Democrats & Whigs) that were both popular in the North, South, & West helped keep America from splitting apart
Politicians ignored problems generated by slavery
Northern abolitionists and southern “fire-eaters” (strongly pro-slavery) continued to agitate
1848: Polk, due to exhaustion from overworking, did not seek a second term

5. The Popular Sovereignty Panacea
Northern Democrats liked it (let settlers decide)
The Popular Sovereignty Panacea
Slavery in the West was a key issue in the Election of 1848:
Democratic platform did not address the issue of slavery
Democratic nominee Lewis Cass proposed popular sovereignty to allow territorial settlers (not Congress) to decide slavery in the West
Compromise between the extremes of the North and the South
Places the issue in the hands of the people

6. Political Triumphs for General Taylor
Free Soilers were against the expansion of slavery (not slavery in the South), wanted to expand West & allow free white workers a chance at upward mobility
Political Triumphs for General Taylor
Whig candidate Zachary Taylor evaded the slavery issue
No political experience, but a popular war hero
The Free Soil Party was created by Northern abolitionists who nominated Martin Van Buren
Party was committed against the extension of slavery, advocated federal aid for internal improvements and urged free government homesteads for settlers

7. Neither major party talked about the slavery issue, but Taylor won narrowly

8. “Californy Gold”
1848: gold was discovered in California, thousands of men flooded into the state
Most people didn’t “strike it rich”
An increase in crime led California to draft a constitution and apply for statehood
Constitution written that outlawed slavery
Bypassed the usual territorial stage and avoided becoming a slave state

9. Sectional Balance and the Underground Railroad
1850: South was very well off
Southerner as president (Taylor)
Majority in the cabinet and on the Supreme Court
Equality in the Senate
Extremely unlikely that slavery was threatened in 15 original southern states
Admission of free California would destroy the equilibrium forever
Might set a precedent for the rest of the Mexican Cession territory and other states could follow

10. Sectional Balance and the Underground Railroad
Underground Railroad - a secret organization that took runaway slaves north to Canada
Harriet Tubman (illiterate runaway slave) freed more than 300 slaves
Southerners were upset at the loss of more and more slaves from the South through this organization
South also demanded a stricter fugitive slave law
First one (passed in 1793) was inadequate and ignored by some antislavery public officials

11. Twilight of the Senatorial Giants
Reasons for Compromise of 1850
Taylor proposed the immediate admission of New Mexico & California as states
The South reacted angrily:
Popular sovereignty would make California a free state
New Mexico had no slaves or a climate adequate for slavery
“Immortal Trio” met together for the last time to engineer a compromise

12. Twilight of the Senatorial Giants
Henry Clay urged concession from both the North and the South (esp. a stronger fugitive slave law)
John C. Calhoun, dying of tuberculosis, pleaded for slavery to be left alone, for the return of runaway slaves, the restoration of the rights of the South as a minority, and the return for political balance
Also wanted to elect 2 presidents, one from the North and one from the South
Daniel Webster wanted to uphold Clay’s compromise (three hour speech)
Proclaimed that the new land could not hold slaves anyway, since it couldn’t cultivate cotton, etc…
Seventh of March speech helped the North into compromise

13. Webster: The North will never accept secession
Calhoun: The South must protect slavery & will “peacefully” secede
Clay: We must compromise

14. Deadlock and Danger on Capitol Hill
William H. Seward - against concession and hated slavery
Said that Christian legislators must adhere to a “higher law” and not allow slavery to exist
This might have cost him the presidential election
President Taylor (influenced by the idea of the “higher law”) vetoed every compromise sent to him by Congress

15. Breaking the Congressional Logjam
1850: Zachary Taylor suddenly died of an acute intestinal disorder
VP Millard Fillmore took over the reigns
He signed a series of agreements that came to be known as the Compromise of 1850

16. Ended the slave trade in Washington DC (but not slavery)
California was admitted as a free state
Taylor threatened to veto the compromise but his death in 1850 allowed VP Millard Fillmore to sign the Compromise of 1850
A stronger Fugitive Slave Law was created to appease the South
Popular sovereignty would decide slavery in Utah & New Mexico

17. Balancing the Compromise Scales
The North got the better deal in the Compromise of 1850
California was admitted as a free state, permanently tipping the balance.
The Utah and New Mexico Territories could decide, with popular sovereignty, over slavery.
New Fugitive Slave Law of 1850 was drastic
(1) fleeing slaves couldn’t testify on their own behalf
(2) the federal commissioner who handled the case got $5 if the slave was freed and $10 if not
(3) people who were ordered to help catch slaves had to do so, even if they didn’t want to.

18. Balancing the Compromise Scales
New Fugitive Slave Law was a mistake on behalf of the South, since it inflamed both sides
Northerners turned from compromise to abolition in large numbers
Civil war didn’t occur, and this was better for the North
With each moment, the North was growing ahead of the South in population and wealth (crops, factories, ships, and railroads)

19. Chapter 18: Renewing the Sectional Struggle (2)
The sectional conflict over the expansion of slavery that erupted after the Mexican War was temporarily quieted by the Compromise of 1850, but Douglas’s Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854 exploded it again.

20. Defeat and Doom for the Whigs
With slavery (temporarily) under wraps, the parties needed new issues for the election of 1852:
Whigs nominated Mexican War general Winfield Scott (“Old Fuss and Feathers”); Whigs had difficulty finding an issue
Democrats nominated Franklin Pierce, claimed credit for national prosperity, & promised to defend the Compromise of 1850

21. By 1852, the Whig Party was in trouble
The end of the Whig party leads to a rise in sectional political alignments
By 1852, the Whig Party was in trouble
Had no significant platform issues
Had difficulty appealing to voters in the North & South
Southern Whigs were angry over the dominance of the anti-slave Whig faction

22. Coveted Cuba: Pearl of the Antilles
Cuba’s appeal
Had large population of black slaves
Could be divided up into several states to restore balance of power in US
Polk offered $100 million for Cuba to Spain, but was turned down
Ostend Manifesto - stated that the U.S. was to offer $120 million to Spain for Cuba, and if it refused then America would be justified in seizing the island
Northerners were outraged once this “secret” document was leaked
Sectional interests cancelled each other out
North wanted Canada, South wanted Cuba

23. Pacific Railroad Promoters and the Gadsden Purchase
Difficult travel to California and Oregon
Only real feasible land transportation lay in a transcontinental railroad
Southerners wanted a route through the South, but the best one would go through Mexico (would not pass through unorganized territory)
Gadsden Purchase for $10 million (rip off?)
North said that if organization of territories was the problem, then Nebraska should be organized
Why would the South agree to this?

24. Douglas’s Kansas-Nebraska Scheme
Northern abolitionists were outraged because it allowed slavery in an area where slavery was already prohibited
Senator Stephen A. Douglas (Illinois) wants railroad through Chicago, where he had invested heavily
Needs to get Southerners’ support
Douglas proposed the Kansas-Nebraska Act – would let slavery in Kansas and Nebraska be decided upon by popular sovereignty
Missouri Compromise had banned this so it would have to be repealed
Douglass rammed the bill through Congress, and it was passed
He hoped expansion of West would bring railroads, Democratic Party cohesion, & a presidential nomination for himself in 1856

26. Congress Legislates a Civil War
Kansas-Nebraska Act led directly to Civil War
Northerners no longer enforced the Fugitive Slave Law at all, and Southerners were still angry
Democratic Party was hopelessly split into two, and after 1856, it would not have a president elected for 28 years
The Rise of the Republicans
Vowed to protect free white workers & boost the economy
Made up of seasoned politicians who effectively built up the power of the party by 1856

27. Watch American party politics become sectional, rather than national, from 1848 to 1860

28. Look, both parties have national appeal

29. Look at the Republicans in the North & the Democrats in the South!

30. By 1860, the Republicans will elect Abraham Lincoln without even campaigning in the South!

31. Chapter 18 Assessment
The proposed admission of California directly into the Union was dangerously controversial because
The territory was in a condition of complete lawlessness and anarchy
The Mexicans were threatening warfare if California joined the Union
California’s admission as a free state would destroy the equal balance of slave and free states in the U.S. Senate
There was a growing movement to declare California an independent nation
Northerners especially resented Douglas’s Kansas-Nebraska Act because
It aimed to build a transcontinental railroad along the southern route
It would make him the leading Democratic candidate for the presidency
It repealed the Missouri Compromise prohibiting slavery in northern territories
It would bring Kansas into the Union as a slave state

32. Chapter 18 Assessment
The proposed admission of California directly into the Union was dangerously controversial because
The territory was in a condition of complete lawlessness and anarchy
The Mexicans were threatening warfare if California joined the Union
California’s admission as a free state would destroy the equal balance of slave and free states in the U.S. Senate
There was a growing movement to declare California an independent nation
Northerners especially resented Douglas’s Kansas-Nebraska Act because
It aimed to build a transcontinental railroad along the southern route
It would make him the leading Democratic candidate for the presidency
It repealed the Missouri Compromise prohibiting slavery in northern territories
It would bring Kansas into the Union as a slave state

33. Chapter 18 Assessment
The proposed admission of California directly into the Union was dangerously controversial because
The territory was in a condition of complete lawlessness and anarchy
The Mexicans were threatening warfare if California joined the Union
California’s admission as a free state would destroy the equal balance of slave and free states in the U.S. Senate
There was a growing movement to declare California an independent nation
Northerners especially resented Douglas’s Kansas-Nebraska Act because
It aimed to build a transcontinental railroad along the southern route
It would make him the leading Democratic candidate for the presidency
It repealed the Missouri Compromise prohibiting slavery in northern territories
It would bring Kansas into the Union as a slave state