Chapter 10 – Sectional Conflict Intensifies

Impact of the War With Mexicoi. The War opened up vast new territories out west which reignited sectional tensions between North and South

a. President Polk Sees Trouble Aheadi. Polk didn’t think the Southwest would be suitable for slavery.

b. Wilmot Provisoi. (PA) Democrat David Wilmot proposed that slavery be outlawed from the territory won from Mexico. II. Calhoun countered the proviso

c. Popular Soverigntyi. Lewis Cass (MI) proposed the idea of popular sovereignty

a. Thought it would remove slavery from national politicsb. Abolitionists objectedc. Midwesterners thought they would settle the territories

d. Free Soil Party Emergesi. Formed out of Conscience Whigs, Northern Democrats and Abolitionistsii. Free Soil, Free Speech, Free Labor, Free Men (Open for Whites to Move West)

e. Election of 1848i. Lewis Cass (D) Michigan – Popular Sovereignty. Would veto the Wilmot Provisoii. Martin Van Buren (FS) Backed the Wilmot Provision, against slaveryiii. Zachary Taylor (W) Avoided the issue altogether

The Search for Compromisei. The Discovery of Gold in California brought thousands to the territory, and they began to organize for statehood. ii. Taylor didn’t think slavery needed to expand iii. Wanted to allow California to vote on it themselves (Pop Sov.)

Compromise of 18501. What are you going to do about California? They want in the Union, but as a free state? The South wants Southern California excluded2. What will you do about the rest of the territory won from Mexico? Is slavery going to be permitted in the territories?3. How will you maintain the balance between North and South?4. Texas claimed land all the way to the Rio Grande, they are resisted by New Mexico. They are still in debt as a state5. Missouri Compromise line still stood

Settle the Issue: Due Wednesday