Transcript Compromise of 1850/Fugitive Slave Act Kansas

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Read page 485 of your textbook.
Pick up an opener paper from the table and
answer the following questions on it:
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How did the Kansas-Nebraska Act “eliminate” the
Missouri Compromise of 1820?
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Why were Northerners “outraged” by the KansasNebraska Act?
 Describe
how The Missouri
Compromise 1820,
Compromise of 1850, Fugitive
Slave Act, Kansas Nebraska
Act and Bleeding Kansas
increased sectional tensions.
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In the summer of 1846,
Pennsylvania congressman David
Wilmot attached an amendment to
an appropriations bill that would
have forbidden slavery in any
territory acquired from Mexico.
Southerners denounced the Wilmot
Proviso as treason, but several
northern states endorsed it. It never
became law, but was reintroduced
throughout the war, putting
increasing stress on the Whigs and
the Democrats, who had followers
in both the North and the South.
This cartoon portrays the 1848 Whig
presidential candidates, Zachary
Taylor and Millard Fillmore,
attempting to avoid the issue.
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Slave owners may
enter free states to
retrieve their
“property”.
Government officials
will aid in the capture
of fugitives.
Northern, white
citizens must help to
capture fugitives or
face fines and/or
imprisonment.
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Supported by Stephen
Douglas.
Eager to develop lands
west of Illinois.
Wanted a railroad built
from Illinois, through
Nebraska to the Pacific
Ocean.
1853, Douglas suggests
forming two new
territories – Kansas &
Nebraska.
NORTHERN REACTION
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Northerners wanted to settle
Nebraska; after all, it is
above the 36 30 Missouri
Compromise line.
Douglas knows his only
chance to make the south
happy is to divide Nebraska
as free and Kansas as slave
territory.
THIS PLAN WOULD
OFFICIALLY UNDO THE
MISSOURI COMPROMISE
OF 1820!!!!!!
SOUTHERN REACTION
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Southerners were against
settlement of Nebraska; it
would be all “free soil.”
Some Southern
congressmen said they
would rather see
Nebraska “sink in hell”
before it became
organized into a territory.
Missouri would possibly
be surrounded by free
territory.
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To win Southern
support, Douglas
proposed that slavery
in the new territories
be decided by popular
sovereignty.
Southerners now
support the KansasNebraska Act.
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South is sure slave
owners will move
west from Missouri.
South hopes that in
time Kansas will enter
the Union as a slave
state.
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The North is
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OUTRAGED!!
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What was the Kansas-Nebraska Act?
How did the Kansas-Nebraska Act contribute
to the tension between the North and the
South?
Maine Senator William
Pitt Fessenden:
Douglas’ proposal was “a
terrible outrage…The
more I look at it the
more enraged I become.
It needs but little to
make me an out and out
abolitionist.”
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Anti-slavery men were
determined to “wage
war on the prairie.”
 William H. Seward:
“I accept it in behalf of the
cause of freedom. We
will engage in
competition for the soil
of Kansas, and god give
the victory to the side
which is stronger in
numbers as it is in
right.”
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Missourians and people
from the Northeast
flocked to populate
Kansas in order to
manipulate elections to
influence the politics
there.
“Border Ruffians” from
Missouri rode in,
threatening a mostlynorthern population into
voting for pro-slavery
legislators.
Elections were illegally
decided by non-residents
who were pro-slavery!
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Free-soil residents did not
intend to follow the laws
enacted by a government that
wasn’t freely elected…violence
between pro and anti-slavery
residents ensues!!!
Another government is elected,
being a composed of a majority
of free-soil members.
Two separate governments now
operating in Kansas…violence
teetered on the edge of Civil
War!!! Politicians went to
“battle” in Congress.
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Charles Sumner (right)
criticized Preston Brook’s cousin
while giving a speech.
The next day Brooks savagely
beat Sumner with his cane.
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Lawrence Kansas is
burned by BorderRuffians.
John Brown pledges to
“fight fire with fire.”
“Something must be done
to show these barbarians
that we, too have rights.”
May 1856, John Brown
and two of his sons
kidnap and hack to death,
five pro-slavery men at
Pottawatomie Creek with
broad swords.
We’ll see old John Brown
again!!
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The Marais des
Cygnes Massacre,
May 19, 1858.
Retaliation against
Brown's raid, the
proslavery forces
killed five free-soilers.
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There are two separate gov’ts opperating in
Kansas (free & slave). Each drafted a state
constitution; one including slavery, one
excluding slavery.
Kansas residents voted on both; obviously,
each were “passed” by different voters.
The pro-slavery constitution was sent to
Congress for approval…Fights break out in
Congress!!! – Congressmen begin to carry guns,
knives and clubs into the House Chamber.
The measure is defeated!!
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Free-state Kansas residents win a majority in
new elections in 1859.
Kansas finally is admitted into the Union in
1861…AS A FREE STATE!
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5.
Under the Compromise of 1850, California was
admitted as a free state, but a tough Fugitive Slave
Act took power away from Northerners.
Any person caught aiding a fugitive slave would
be fined and thrown in jail under the Fugitive
Slave Act of 1850.
The Kansas-Nebraska Act initially undid the
Missouri Compromise.
“Bleeding Kansas” happened when Northerners,
know as “border ruffians,” came from anti-slavery
states to tamper with elections.
Kansas was finally admitted as a slave state after
years of debate, bloodshed and political divisions.