1. Chapter 13

2. The Tyler Presidency I am John Tyler. I became president after the death of William Henry Harrison. Because I speak softly and am courteous, some believe I am weak

3. The Tyler Presidency I am stubborn and proud and not very imaginative. I disagree with the Whigs on several issues and I am a state’s rights Southerner

4. The Tyler Presidency I am willing to cooperate with Congress and its leader, Henry Clay, but I will not be his puppet! I wanted to be president! It was my turn!

5. The Tyler Presidency As leader of Congress, I have pushed through a bill to establish a new Bank of the United States I veto that Bill!

6. The Tyler Presidency After Tyler’s veto, his entire cabinet resigned in protest We Quit!!!!

7. The Tyler Presidency All except Tyler’s Secretary of state, Daniel Webster I’m staying because I have other plans

8. Webster-Ashburton Treaty The border between the US (especially Maine) and Canada was in dispute since the peace treaty of 1783 1842- Britain sent Lord Ashburton to the US to settle that and other disputes Ashburton and Webster quickly came to agreement- the British needed only territory for a road- but Massachusetts and Maine wanted every acre in dispute

10. Webster-Ashburton Treaty At the time of the revolution, Ben Franklin had marked the boundary in red on a map now lost Webster had someone mark the British version of the boundary in red on an old map and convinced the states that they better agree to the new treaty or they would lose land In fact, the British owned a copy of the original map that showed all of the territory belonged to America

11. Continental Expansion Large migration of settlers to Oregon and California Oregon jointly administered by Great Britain and US and California a Spanish territory National boundaries meant little to settlers Manifest Destiny – belief that God intended US to reach from Atlantic to Pacific

13. Texas 1821 Mexican Revolution – Mexico became independent from Spain Small number of non-Indian settlers (Tejanos) living in Spanish Texas Spanish accepted offer from Moses Austin to colonize it w/Americans Mexico required American settlers to become Mexican citizens, Catholic, and prohibited slavery

14. Texas Americans w/Tejano elite agitated for more autonomy Mexican ruler, General Santa Anna, moved into Texas w/army to exert control – sparked revolt Battle of San Jacinto – General Houston defeated Santa Anna and declared Texas independent Houston elected first president of Republic of Texas – called for union w/US Not wanting war, issue ducked by Presidents Jackson and Van Buren

15. Texas American settlers continued pouring into Texas President Tyler revived issue of Texas statehood to secure Southern support for re- nomination in 1844 election Calhoun (SecState) hoped Texas would strengthen slavery and if divided into several states would add to South’s power in Congress Both Clay (Whig) and Van Buren (Democrat) worked to keep Texas – and slavery – out Tyler Presidency President John Tyler

16. Texas Polk received Democratic nomination for president / won Election of 1844 Polk  Tennessee slaveholder  Backed Texas annexation  Backed American occupation of Oregon (54 40’ or Fight)  First “Dark Horse” candidate  Defeated Henry Clay in 1844 Election by 2% (Votes for Clay sucked out by 3 rd Abolition Party) First President with a mullet

17. The Mexican War 1845 - Texas annexed by US days before inauguration of Polk Polk’s Goals as President  Reduce the tariff  Reestablish an independent Treasury system  Settle disputed Oregon question – “54’ 40’” or Fight!”  Bring California into the Union

18. The Mexican War Congress enacted first two goals Agreement w/Britain divided Oregon at 49 th Parallel Offered to buy California from Mexico – Mexico refused 1846 – Polk instigated war w/Mexico by having US forces move into disputed lands in Texas (between Nueces and Rio Grande Rivers) Mexican forces attacked US patrol – Polk used incident to declare war

19. The Mexican War War inspired by expansionist fervor Many in North against war – saw it as a war to expand slavery and Southern power Critics included Henry David Thoreau, Ulysses Grant, and Abraham Lincoln War seen as illegitimate – preying on a weak neighbor War conducted on three fronts: California, New Mexico, and Mexico

20. The Mexican War California initially taken over by small group led by Captain John Fremont – established “Bear Flag Republic” US warships arrived in San Francisco and Monterrey soon after and claimed California for US General Stephen Kearny occupied Santa Fe NM and helped put down Mexican uprising in California

21. The Mexican War Bulk of fighting took place in Mexico General Zachary Taylor defeated Mexicans under Santa Anna at Battle of Buena Vista Mexico refused to capitulate US forces under General Winfield Scott invaded Mexico at Vera Cruz and in a series of battles made their way to Mexico City which was captured and occupied Attack by US volunteer infantry regiment the “Mississippi Rifles”

22. The Mexican War The 1848 Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo ended the war The treaty confirmed the annexation of Texas with border on the Rio Grande, and ceded California, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, and Utah (the Mexican Cession) to the US for $15 million War not a notable part of US history but remains a central event in Mexico today where it is referred to as “the dismemberment” Polk Presidency US troops in Mexico City

24. The Gold Rush 1849 Discovery of gold sparked huge migration to California from the eastern US, the Americas, Europe, and Asia Young males dominated the population Boom Towns – very little law Tensions rose between different ethnic and racial groups “Foreign” miners were heavily taxed or expelled by extralegal white groups Justice was often meted out by vigilance committees California’s Indian population nearly disappeared going from ~150,000 to ~30,000 by 1860

25. The Gold Rush 1849 Surface gold removed via Placer Mining Quartz Mining - Deep underground mining owned by corporations Most fortunes made by those who supplied / fed & housed / entertained miners Rights of Indians, Asians, and free blacks severely restricted Spanish Californios viewed as white

26. Opening Japan New California ports of San Diego and San Francisco served as jumping off points for Asian trade 1853-1854 Commodore Matthew Perry sailed into Tokyo Bay, sent by US to demand trade treaty Japan, impressed by US power, agreed – opened two ports to US Caused Japan to modernize and Westernize and become Asian military power Japanese depiction of American warship

27. The Slavery Question Wilmot Proviso  1846 PA Congressman David Wilmot proposed resolution prohibiting slavery in new territories  Sectional, not party, lines divided US – passed in House but defeated in Senate  Brought issue of slavery to a head

28. The Slavery Question Election of 1848  Free Soil Party (anti-slavery) nominated Martin Van Buren  Democrats nominated Lewis Cass who backed popular sovereignty  Whigs nominated Mexican War hero Zachary Taylor  Taylor won election but Free Soil Party showed anti-slavery sentiment now beyond abolitionist fringe  Northern migrants to West did not want to be blocked by slave plantations / economic competition with slave labor President Zachary Taylor

29. The Slavery Question “Free Soil” – not only abolitionist but also referred to free homesteads to settlers To white Southerners – barring slavery violation of equal rights; Southerners fought and died for new lands New lands also attractive to Southern planters whose lands suffered from soil exhaustion “Slavery must expand or die” New non-slave states would upset balance of power in Congress – make South permanent minority

30. The Slavery Question 1850 - Slavery issue central issue due to California’s request for statehood as a free state South opposed Henry Clay’s proposal (Compromise of 1850)  California would enter Union as free state  Slave trade would be abolished in capital  Stringent new law regarding runaway slaves would be passed  Status of slavery in new territories to be decided by local populations

31. The Slavery Question The Great Debate  Daniel Webster announced willingness to accept Fugitive Slave Law to maintain Union  Calhoun (through colleague) rejected compromise – slavery must be protected  Some, like Wm Seward, called for abolition of slavery  President Taylor – strong nationalist – called for admission of California  Taylor died – replaced by Fillmore who backed Clay’s compromise  Stephen Douglas – Clay disciple Daniel Webster Henry Clay Stephen Douglas Taylor Presidency

32. The Slavery Question The Fugitive Slave Issue  Allowed federal commissioners to decide fate of alleged fugitives w/out trial or even testimony  Prohibited local authorities from interfering w/capture of fugitives  Irony Alert – South wanted new federal law to override state laws  Slave chasers operated in all states  Many in North actively aided fugitives in escapes / migration to Canada Fillmore Presidency

33. The Slavery Question Election of 1852 – Democrat Franklin Pierce won Clay, Calhoun, and Webster all dead – Stephen Douglas now leader of Senate Douglas wanted transcontinental railroad built in either Kansas or Nebraska Territories – needed to be states South against admission of free states Douglas proposed popular sovereignty – let new states decide President Franklin Pierce

34. Kansas-Nebraska Act Slavery prohibited under terms of Missouri Compromise – Compromise repealed Repeal caused immense anti-South reaction in North and caused split in Democratic Party Kansas-Nebraska Act passed – US torn between slavery and anti- slavery Whig Party collapsed and South became solidly Democratic Disgruntled Democrats and Northern Whigs joined to form Republican Party

35. The Northern Economy Explosive economic growth in North Railroad construction went from 5,000 miles in 1848 to 30,000 by 1860 Railroads linked coastal cities w/Western farming & commercial centers Mississippi lost importance as goods shipped to east via rail instead of down river Socioeconomic ties strengthened between the East and West

36. The Know-Nothings Know-Nothing Party  Joined with nativists  Party anti-Catholic but also anti-slavery in some regions  Swept elections in several cities  Against Kansas-Nebraska Act  Demands for limitations in immigration failed due to white male suffrage – immigrants could vote

37. The Republicans Republican Party  Coalition between anti-slavery Democrats, Northern Whigs, Free Soilers, and Know-Nothings opposed to expansion of slavery  Party advocated “Free Labor”  Goal of upward mobility was endangered by slavery  Republicans against expansion of slavery but not abolitionist – but two systems in US not compatible w/each other The Republican mascot – the elephant

38. Bleeding Kansas Kansas became a battleground Both sides refused to let the Kansans to work out the issue- they began a movement of settlers into the territory In 1854 an election was held to pick a territorial delegate to Congress. A large band of pro- slavery Missourians crossed the border and helped elect a pro- slavery man

39. Bleeding Kansas In March 1855, 5,000 “border ruffians” again crossed into Kansas and elected a territorial legislature. There were only 2905 eligible voters but over 6,000 votes were cast The legislature promptly enacted a slave code and made laws against abolitionism Anti-slavery forces refused to recognize the new laws and established their own legislature By January 1857 there were two governments in Kansas

40. Bleeding Kansas President Pierce denounced the free- state government which encouraged the pro-slavery settlers May 1856- 800 pro-slavery settlers sacked the town of Lawrence- a center of abolition An abolition extremist, John Brown, murdered an equal number of pro- slavery men in another small community in retaliation Abolitionist radical John Brown

41. Bleeding Kansas The violence perpetrated by both sides caused an explosion of violence as marauding bands attacked homesteads after first determining their positions on slavery Brown escaped capture but was forced to flee Kansas Republicans, eager to propagandize the situation, filled newspapers with exaggerated stories of “bleeding Kansas” The sack of Lawrence, Kansas by pro-slavery raiders

42. Bleeding Kansas The Democrats were also at fault by making a mockery of the Kansas elections The main responsibility lay with President Pierce. He should have remained neutral but openly sided with the South When the first territorial governor complained to the president about the manner in which the first territorial legislature was elected, he replaced him with a pro-Southern man Pierce Presidency President Franklin Pierce

43. President Buchanan The Republican Party now dominated the North For the 1856 Election, it nominated John Fremont a hero of the War with Mexico. He was popular, a war hero, with little political experience The campaign slogan was: “Free soil, free speech, and Fremont”

44. President Buchanan The Democrats cast aside Pierce, but did not dare nominate Douglas who now had many enemies in the North They settled on James Buchanan who had served as minister to Great Britain during the Kansas crisis and was therefore not “tainted” A third party, the American Party, nominated Millard Fillmore Fremont won 11 of 16 Northern states Buchanan won entire South and key Northern states President James Buchanan

46. President Buchanan Buchanan - First Gay President?  Never married - lived for several years w/ Sen. Rufus King (inseparable)  King referred to as “Mrs. Buchanan” and “Aunt Nancy”  Surviving letters show romantic bond  "I am now solitary and alone, having no companion in the house with me. I have gone a wooing to several gentlemen, but have not succeeded with any one of them."

47. The Dred Scott Decision Scott was slave to Dr. John Emerson – accompanied him to Illinois (free state) before returning to Missouri Scott sued for freedom – residence on free soil had made him free SCOTUS ruled that  As a slave, he could not sue  A state could not deprive a man of his property – therefore slavery was legal in all states  Effectively threw out all prior restrictions  Popular sovereignty not an issue – all slavery legal Dred Scott

48. Lincoln versus Douglas Stephen Douglas running for reelection to Senate Challenger was Abraham Lincoln Lincoln against expansion of slavery – believed blacks had rights to the “fruits of their labor” Lincoln – Douglas debates Lincoln lost election but split in Democratic Party resulted in many Republican victories elsewhere Lincoln-Douglas Debate

49. John Brown Long career in anti-slavery activities Killed pro-slavery settlers to avenge sack of Lawrence KS October 1859 – seized US arsenal at Harper’s Ferry VA hoping to start slave revolt Most of his men killed – Brown wounded & arrested Brown put on trial for treason – became hero and martyr for abolitionists and North in general John Brown at his trial for treason

50. Southern Nationalism High price of slaves made it impossible for sons of planters and upwardly mobile small farmers to become planters South increasingly saw itself as better off by themselves Planters charged that Northerners made money off the backs of the Southern planters Planters wanted to expand into the Caribbean and Central and South America Some called for reopening the international slave trade Slave prices around 1860

51. Southern Nationalism “Fire-eaters” hoped to establish an independent Southern Confederacy Democratic convention nominated Douglas for president after walk-out by “Fire-eaters” Southern Democrats nominated their own man – John Breckinridge Edmund Ruffin – Fire Eater – Fired first shot at Fort Sumter

52. The Election of 1860 Lincoln nominated by Republican Party Party Platform  Denied validity of Dred Scott Decision  Opposed expansion of slavery into Territories  Free homesteads in West  Protective Tariff  Government financial assistance in building Transcontinental Railroad Abraham Lincoln

53. The Election of 1860 Campaign split between North and South North  Douglas (D)  Lincoln (R) – Republicans NOT a national party South  Douglas (D) – Northern party  Breckinridge (D) – Southern party  John Bell (I) – Constitutional Union Party; Unionist former Whigs

54. The Election of 1860 Lincoln  40% of national vote  180 electoral votes (clear majority)  Not a single Southern vote Douglas  Carried Missouri  Second in popular votes Breckinridge – carried most Southern states Bell – carried 3 Upper South states

55. Secession Irony Alert – secession rather than accept (possibly permanent) minority status First to secede was South Carolina – most radical Other Deep South states followed President Buchanan paralyzed – did nothing Compromises offered – extension of Missouri Compromise line to Pacific Lincoln refused any expansion of slavery Buchanan Presidency

56. Secession Southern states formed a confederacy where states had more power than their central government Jefferson Davis – President of the Confederacy Lincoln thought war not inevitable – eight slave states did not secede Many Unionists in Southern states (even those that had seceded) Lincoln avoided any action that would cause further secession – would not take back US forts, arsenals, customs houses already seized by South but would retain any still in Union hands Jefferson Davis – President of the Confederacy

57. Fort Sumter, Charleston Harbor, South Carolina

58. Secession Lincoln strove to ensure the South, not the Federal government, would fire the first shot in a civil war Lincoln informed SC that Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbor was to be resupplied SC fired on the fort and it surrendered 14 April 1861 Lincoln proclaimed Southern states in revolt – called for 75,000 volunteers Fort Sumter – Charleston Harbor

59. Secession Within weeks of the surrender of Fort Sumter, VA, NC, TN, and AR seceded from the Union The Civil War had begun