Transcript Chapter 18 McGehey

Wilmot Proviso & Conscience Whigs
Provided, That, as an express and fundamental condition to the acquisition of
any territory from the Republic of Mexico by the United States, by virtue of any
treaty which may be negotiated between them, and to the use by the Executive
of the moneys herein appropriated, neither slavery nor involuntary servitude shall
ever exist in any part of said territory, except for crime, whereof the party shall
first be duly convicted.
– The Wilmot Proviso, 1846
Angered Polk and
Southerners. Passed the
House, but never the
Senate.
Further divided the North
and South
Election of 1848 & Popular Sovereignty
“popular sovereignty”
Choose Slave or Free
Democratic tradition
Good Compromise politically
Keep issue of slavery local
One big problem: it might allow for
the spread of slavery! (oops)
Free Soil Party
•Organized by abolitionist northerners
•Supported Wilmot Proviso (ban on
slavery in territories)
•Tried to broaden appeal beyond
antislavery
•Supported federal aid for internal
improvements and free homesteads
for settlers in West
•Diverse supporters of Free Soil Party
•Industrialists who didn’t
like Polk’s reduction of
tariffs
•(Northern) Democrats who didn’t
like the fact that Polk got all of
Texas but only part of Oregon
•Northern and Western whites who
did not want blacks to move into
territories (because of prejudice
against them)
•“conscience Whigs” who
condemned slavery on moral
grounds
*Free Soil Party = Republican
Party!
The problem of California & The Mexican Cession
Southern Fears – all states out of
cession would apply as Free States
and permanently throw off power.
1849 applied for statehood = free;
this would upset the 15=15 balance.
Threatening to take part of TX, give
to N. Mexico and make free state
The Underground RR = 1000 slaves annually
The loss of honor from
Underground RR hurt
more than the loss of
“property.”
Clay/Webster/Calhoun Debates
Clay argued for North
Calhoun argued for South
• Leave slavery alone
• return runaways
• South rights as
minorities
• Restore balance
•Webster – supported Clay
• strong fugitive slave law
• Wilmot Proviso
• Seventh of March speech “let us not be
pygmies, in a case that calls for men.”
Financial markets relieved, threatened with loss of millions $$$ due
to secession.
Compromise of 1850
North:
South:
California –
free
NM & Utah
popular
sovereignty
TX cedes to
NM (popular
Sovereignty)
Texas gets
$10 million
Abolition of
slave trade in
DC
Tough
fugitive
slave law*
Fugitive Slave Law
No jury trial, could not testify
Fines up to $1000 for aiding or not turning in
a runaway
Federal officials paid for return
***Effect: Abolition movement in North gains
support, Underground RR more active, states
pass “personal liberty laws.”
Election of 1852 (Death of the Whigs)
Franklin Pierce – Fainting
General - Democrat
Pro-Southern Northerner
Winfield Scott – Whig
Both support Compromise of
1850
Pierce wins in landslide =
Death of Whigs!
Whigs voted for Webster,
Who died two weeks earlier.
Pierce
Cass
Buchanan
Marcy
Douglas
Ostend Manifesto
In 1854 three American diplomats met in Ostend, Belgium. Representing the views of many Southern Democrats, the
diplomats issued a warning to Spain that it must sell Cuba to the United States, or risk having it taken by force.
This statement had not been authorized by the Franklin Pierce administration and was immediately repudiated.
Reaction, both at home and abroad, was extremely negative.
Southerners, who had long feared that Cuba might become an independent black republic, applauded the document, but
it was vigorously denounced by the free-soil press as a plot to extend slavery.
Gadsden Purchase
Purpose: Transportation
Camels???
How about a RR?
North or South? Economic benefits to the
region
South – easier – no mountains, no
Unorganized territories. Federal troop
protection,
North – We will organize Nebraska!
James Gadsden- S.C. RR man, minister to MX. $10 million
for area
Kansas-Nebraska Act
Stephen A Douglas of IL, invested in Chicago RR company.
Slice Territory of Nebraska – let slavery be settled by popular sovereignty
Kansas = Slave
Nebraska = Free
This would mean repeal
of Missouri Compromise
Effects: No more
Democratic presidents
past 1856 for 28 years,
growth in anti-slavery
movement, repeal of
Missouri Compromise and
Compromise of 1850
BIRTH OF REPUBLICAN
PARTY!!!
Writing Assignment
To what extent did the debates about the Mexican War and its aftermath reflect
the sectional interests of New Englanders, westerners, and southerners in
the period from 1845 to 1855? (2005 FRQ)
Due: Friday 12-19
Worth: Quiz Grade
What to turn in:
•
Rough draft of introductory paragraph and ONE body paragraph on the
template (see website)
• Final copy on own paper, hand-written NOT TYPED.