Chapter 18 Popular Sovereignty

1. Chapter 18 Popular Sovereignty Each party enjoyed support in North and South-many wanted to ignore slavery yet could not Polk a single termer so Democrats looked to a new man Turned to Lewis Cass-Democrats wanted to be quiet on the issue yet Cass supported popular sovereignty Much of the public like this-Self Determination Politicians thought it was a compromise-threw the issue to the people and therefore they did not have to take the issue It might spread slavery?

2. Triumph of Taylor • Whigs nominated Zachary Taylor • Avoided key issues & tried to stick to appeal • Free Soil was organized-against slavery in the territories & for the Wilmot Proviso, for federal aid for internal improvements, free government homesteads for settlers • Attracted a wide group: Northerners who opposed tariff reduction, favoritism for all of Texas & not Oregon, those who feared competing w/ blacks, those who condemned slavery-nominated Van Buren • Free Soil Argument? • Taylor wins!-(Van Buren help?)

3. Californy Gold • Taylor could not sit on lid of slavery w/ discovery of gold in California in 1848 • Thousands poured in w/ few successes-most not particularly good citizens-crime explosion • Many law abiding and wanted an adequate state government • California drafted a constitution in 1849 that excluded slavery & applied for statehood-bypass territorial stage-bypassing Southern Congressman trying to block free soil-Violent opposition

4. Sectional Balance & Underground RR • South of 1850 was well-off-Taylor in the White House,Majority of cabinet and Supreme Court Southerners, equality in the Senate, Cotton fields expanding and profits high. Many felt slavery was safe below the Mason-Dixon line-Senate Power! • South worried delicate balance would be lost w/California • Problems already existed w/ New Mexico and Utah-nonslave-fateful precedent for Mexican territory lost w/ southern blood • Texas also argued it additional territory • South also angered by agitation for abolition in DC • Angered by runaway slaves-Underground RR (Harriet Tubman) • Southerners demanded new and tougher fugitive slave laws-Northerners failed to follow laws • 1850-South was losing about 1,000 slaves per year-most gained freedom through purchase or voluntary emancipation

5. Need for Compromise • Allow California in as a free state? Clay, Calhoun, Webster in twilight • Clay, 73, played large role, proposed a series of compromises ably helped by Stephen A. Douglas-North needed to yield • Calhoun, 68, championed the Southern cause-leave slavery alone, return runaways, give South its political rights & restore balance-2 presidents? • Webster, 68, asked for a new fugitive slave law w/ teeth & no slavery in the territories-his speech strengthened the union for a time

6. Compromise of 1850-Pg. 397 • New guard had their say-WH Seward came our vs. concession-strong antislavery position • Seward argued Christian legislators must obey God’s law • Taylor threatened to veto any compromise & threatened to take our Texas himself Compromise • Taylor died-Millard Fillmore took over reigns & signed a series of compromises • Union strengthened & favored compromise-South did not • Effort at gathering extremists of the the South failed-Talk of secession died out temporarily

7. Who Benefited? • North had the best deal-control of the Senate-N. Mexico & Utah-popular sovereignty • Texas paid $10 million for land that would be free • No slave trade in DC • Fugitive slave law of 1850-slaves could not testify & no trial by jury-help in escape would bring heavy fines and punishment • States passed personal liberty laws to fight fugitive law • North was forging ahead of South each passing decade • Delay also added to the moral strength of the North-Compromise won the war for the North

8. Defeat for Whigs • 1852-Dems nominate Franklin Pierce/Whigs Winfield Scott • Issue of slavery not brought to the forefront-Mudslinging • Whigs began the split along N/S-Pierce wins • Whig Party dies-emergence of sectional political alignments • Contribution?

9. Pierce • Expansionist-Canals & Cuba • South wanted land-no slavery in Mexican cession • Nicaragua-Wllm Walker-1850s-crushed by Coalition • Nicaragua interested Britain-1850 Clayton-Bulwar Treaty-not America nor Britain would secure exclusive control over any isthmian waterway • US wanted trade with China and Japan • By 1853 Japan was ready to emerge from seclusion • Fleet of US ships arrived in Japan in 1854-led to treaty

10. Cuba • Manifest Destiny of 1850s-offered $100 million & Spain refused • 1850-51-two efforts from Southern adventurers failed-Spain seized American vessel, “Black Warrior” • Ostend Manifesto-$120 million for Cuba, if refused, US would take the island • Word of Manifesto leaked-Free Soilers cried foul & Pierce had to back off • South-Cuba, North-Canada?

11. RR and Gadsden Purchase • California & Oregon were tough travel • RR was real solution-who would have terminus? • Secretary of War, Jefferson Davis arranged for James Gadsden to be minister to Mexico • Santa Anna in power & need of $-offered $10 million for land • Purchase allowed South to lay claim to RR • North-if organized territory the test-Nebraska should be organized-Many land hungry were poised on Nebraska border • Greeted w/ apathy by South

12. Kansas-Nebraska • Douglas-goal-Chicago terminus • Plan: Nebraska cut into Kansas & Nebraska-popular sovereignty • Idea: Kansas-slave/Nebraska-free • Violation of the Missouri Compromise • South backed and so did Pierce(1854) • Free Soilers in Congress passed bill through • Douglas’ motives? • Failed to feel the moral issue in North-breach of faith w/ repeal of Missouri Compromise-”No more clean bed without snakes” • Douglas still popular in Illinois

13. Congress Legislate Civil War • Kansas-Nebraska Act greased the slippery slope to Civil War • Antislavery Northerners were angered-made compromise in the future more difficult • Fugitive Slave Law dead in the North-1820-1850 Compromises done! • New Republican Party emerged • Quickly became a second party and a sectional one • Democrats hurt/No Republicans in the South • Sectionalism ruled the day