Chapter 18: Renewing the Sectional Struggle 1848-1854

  • Debate over slavery in the area of the Mexican Cession split politics along North-South lines.

The Popular Sovereignty Panacea:

  • Polk decided to retire after one term (that chronic diarrhea's a killer)
  • Democrats turned to pompous General Lewis Cass -> thought slavery should be decided by popular sovereignty, dissolve national issue into local issues, but could spread slavery (uh-oh)

Political Triumphs for General Taylor:

  • Whigs nominated Zachary Taylor "Hero of Buena Vista" - Clay had too many enemies -> Taylor owned slaves but didn't take stand on slavery expansion issue
  • Antislavery northerners made Free Soil Party: attracted Democrats, those mad at Polk, "immoral slavery" abolitionists, and northerners. They ran Van Buren.
  • Taylor's wartime popularity won him the election 1848.

"Californy Gold":

  • Gold Rush -> huge impouring into Cali. Lawless men => crime - needed good state government.
  • Cali drafted constitution 1849 that excluded slavery and applied it to Congress - Souther politicians arose in violent opposition.

Sectional Balance and the Underground Railroad:

  • South doing well - cotton, Zach Taylor, majority in cabinet and Supreme Court
  • 15 slave and 15 free states - Cali would destroy balance in the Senate
  • Texas claimed part of New Mexico as their own and threatened to seize it.
  • North wanted Washington DC to be free area - South upset.
  • South also upset about Underground Railroad to Canada - Harriet Tubman - losing slaves.
  • South wanted stricter fugitive slave law

Twilight of the Senatorial Giants:

  • Congressional Convention 1850: Clay, Calhoun, Webster.
  • Clay (backed by Stephen A. Douglas) thought N&S should compromise, and N should enact better fugitive slave law
  • Calhoun wanted more safeguards for South - leave slavery alone, return runaway slaves (and elect 2 presidents, one for N and one for S). Then he died.
  • Webster pushed Clay's idea - reasonable concessions to the South. Webster stood by Wilmot Proviso - and said slavery (cotton-growin') wasn't possible on Mexican territory anyhow. (7th of March Speech 1850).
  • Webster regarded slavery as evil but disunion as worse.

Deadlock and Danger on Capitol Hill:

  • Also at Congressional debate of 1850 - younger northern radicals - Seward - against concession, strong antislaveryite, Christian morals, NO compromise.
  • Deadlock in Congress - Taylor was for "Higher Law" Seward - and bent on vetoing any compromise. Determined to hang and use force to stop Texan dissenters if they marched on Santa Fe.

Breaking the Congressional Logjam:

  • 1850, Prez Taylor died! VP Millard Fillmore (complete invalid..in my opinion) took over - gladly signed compromise measures.
  • Compromise of 1850: North gradually started to accept it, but South violently opposed (tried to start boycott movement, but there were enough Southern Untionists to stop it)
  • Southward opp0sition - but 2nd Era of Good Feelings ensued - brief!

Balancing the Compromise Scales:

  • Compromise benefitted N b/c Cali was admitted as free state and Senate tipped to the N. S needed more territory for another slave state.
  • New Fugitive Slave Law of 1850 "Bloodhound Bill" - got opposition from N. Commisioner payed $5 to free a slave and $10 to not.
  • MA refused to enforce slave law - much of N didn't enforce it.
  • War could have broken out in 1850, but N was set on preserving Union.

Compromise of 1850:

For the North:

  • Cali admitted as free state
  • Abolition of slave trade in DC
  • Disputed NM territory that TX wanted was given to NM

For the South:

  • NM and Utah slavery choice based on popular sovereignty
  • TX got $10 million as compensation
  • Fugitive slave law

Defeat and Doom for the Whigs:

  • 1852, Democrats chose Franklin Pierce for election. Proslavery, pro-Compromise of 1850.
  • Whigs ran Winfield Scott.
  • Whig pary split - N antislavery, S proslavery. AYY what will happen next?? FIND OUT IN CHAPTER 19....dun dun dun

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

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Anonymous said...

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anisha said...

aww how touching

Anonymous said...

yeah, anisha's saving my ass too. sorry some people like to help others..

Anonymous said...

love these!!!!!!! OMG

Anonymous said...

Anisha you're a beast...don't listen to stupid ungrateful people.

Thanks a lot for everything :)

Anonymous said...

You didn't finish the chapter... You stopped at "Defeat and Doom for the Whigs."

There are 5 sections after. Just a heads up to the people using the notes.

Anonymous said...

OMG THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!

Tyler said...

Gently tipping the scales in favor of what is right.

Anonymous said...

wow this is soooooo helpful thank you kind soul