The Union in Peril
Conflict Over Status of Territories Wilmot Proviso (1846) fails to ban
slavery from newly acquired Mexican territories
Free Soil Movement Party Found support from northern
Democrats and Whigs Didn’t demand end to slavery,
only spread of slavery
Conflict Over Status of Territories Southern position:
oppose abolitionists, Free Soilers, favor extending 36°30’ westward
Popular Sovereignty Lewis Cass, Michigan Democrat…
let the people decide
Conflict Over Status of Territories Election of 1848
Democrats nominate Cass Whigs nominate Zachary Taylor Free-Soil Party nominates Martin Van
Buren Taylor won because vote siphoned off
by Free-Soil party in NY and PA
Conflict Over Status of Territories Election of 1848
Taylor won because vote siphoned off by Free-Soil party in NY and PA
The Compromise of 1850 California joins as free state Utah and New Mexico to join as
territories, w/ popular sovereignty Ban slave trade in DC,
but allow slavery there Adopt new fugitive slave law
All proposed initially by Henry Clay
The Compromise of 1850 Daniel Webster speaks on behalf in
order to preserve the Union John C. Calhoun
speaks against, insists on Southern territorial rights
The Compromise of 1850 Millard Fillmore
succeeds deceased Taylor, supports compromise
Stephen A. Douglas gathers support for individual portions of plan
Agitation Over Slavery Fugitive Slave Law
Track down runaway slaves
Lack of rights for the accused
Agitation Over Slavery Underground
Railroad
Agitation Over Slavery - Literature Harriet Beecher Stowe’s
Uncle Tom’s Cabin
Agitation Over Slavery - Literature Hinton R. Helper’s nonfiction
Impending Crisis of the South
Agitation Over Slavery - Literature Southern response
Slavery positive for masters and slaves Sanctioned by the Bible, history Attacks on northern “wage slaves”
Literature & laws polarized the sides
National Parties in Crisis Election of 1852
Dem’s nominated “doughface” Franklin Pierce of New Hampshire
Whigs nominated Winfield Scott, ignored slavery
Whigs lose big time
National Parties in Crisis
Kansas-Nebraska Act (1854) Repeals Missouri
Compromise Some Northerners
sees it as slave power conspiracy
The Republican Party Know-Nothings surge but fail Republican party forms (1854) as
coalition of Free-Soilers, antislavery Whigs, dissatisfied Democrats
Oppose extension of slavery
Election of 1856
Extremism & Violence “Bleeding Kansas” –
Border Ruffians v. Free-State Warriors
Extremism & Violence Caning of Senator Sumner
Constitutional Issues Lecompton Constitution –
proslavery constitution of Kansas Dred Scott v. Sandford (1857)
Lincoln-Douglas Debates Stephen Douglas debates Abraham
Lincoln Slavery key
issue
John Brown’s Raid
Election of 1860