Renewing the Sectional Struggle: 1848-1854

1. Renewing the Sectional Struggle:1848-1854 Theme: The sectional conflict over the expansion of slavery that erupted after the Mexican War was temporarily quieted by the Compromise of 1850, but Douglas’s Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854 exploded it again. Theme: In the 1850s American expansionism in the West and the Caribbean was extremely controversial because it was tied to the slavery question. Theme: A series of major North-South crises in the late 1850s culminated in the election of the antislavery Republican Lincoln to the presidency in 1860. His election caused seven southern states to secede from the union and form the Confederate States of America.

2. I. Compromise of 1850 • Background Events • Wilmot Proviso, 1848 • The compromise: Popular Sovereignty • Election 1848 • Taylor/Fillmore (W) v. Cass (D) • “Free soil, free speech, free labor, free men.” • CA Gold Rush • Background Issues • Political balance of slavery • CA and Mexican Cessation? • Fugitive Slave Law, 1793 a. Harriet Tubman • Disputed territory with TX • Slavery in D.C. (1000 per year) • Negotiations • Clay and Douglas and Webster and Fillmore • Calhoun • William “higher law” Seward • Provisions (PopFACT)

3. Manifest Destiny SF Walking Tour, Dec. 21st

4. II. Expansion of Slavery A. Election of 1852 • Pierce a proslave northerner supported the F.S.L. (D) • Scott’s (W) support of F.S.L. alienated southern Whigs B. International Expansion • Asia • Treaty of Wanghia, 1844 • Commodore Perry, 1852 • Latin America • Clayton-Bulwer Treaty, 1848 • W. Walker in Nicaragua • Ostend Manifesto, 1854

5. II. Expansion of Slavery (cont.) • Domestic Expansion: Transcontinental RR • Gadsden Purchase • Proposed territory of NB and KS • S. Douglas • Popular Sovereignty • Reactions! • North “Free-Soilers” • Southern “Fire-eaters” • Crash of Democratic Party-28 years • Creation of GOP

6. III. Rise of Sectionalism • Voices of Sectionalism • Harriet Beecher Stowe • Hinton Helper • Case Study: “Bleeding KS” • Emigration into KS • NEEAC and “Beecher’s Bibles” • Territorial vote, 1855 • “border ruffians” • Free-soilers in Topeka • Violence • Attack on Lawrence, KS • Pottawatomie Massacre, 1856 • Lecompton Constitution, 1857 • Caning of Senator Sumter • Election of 1856 • Buchanan (D) v. Fremont (R) v. Fillmore (“Do Not”) John Steuart Curry’s Tragic Prelude (1938-1940)

7. IV. Failure of Compromise • Dred Scot Decision • Pro-Slave majority on court (Taney) • Hit #1: No citizenship for blacks • Hit #2: Slaves be taken anywhere (5th) • Hit #3: Missouri Compromise unconstitutional (5th) • North horrified, “It’s an opinion, not decision!” • Financial Crisis of 1857 • Ca Gold and Over-production/speculation • Western demand for free land/160 • Industrialists demand for higher tariffs • Cotton is King! • Lincoln-Douglas Debates, 1858 • GOP spotlight • Freeport Doctrine-territories could refuse to pass laws protecting slavery—ending slavery. • Harper’s Ferry, 1859 • Establish free black state • Became a martyr in north and feared in the south Standing Lincoln, Lincoln Park, Chicago

8. IV. Failure of Compromise (cont.) E. Election of 1860 • Democrats • Douglas • Breckinridge • Constitutional Union • Bell • Republicans • Lincoln • Tragic Chain Events • 11 states secede by VA • Confederate States of Am., 1861 • Crittenden amendments

9. Review Question • Analyze the ways in which controversy over the extension of slavery into western territories contributed to the coming of the Civil War. Confine your answer to the period 1845-1861 (2010, A) • Analyze the social, political, and economic forces of the 1840s and early 1850s that led to the emergence f the Republican Party (2009, A)