Chapter 18

1. Chapter 18 Renewing the Sectional Struggle 1848-1854

2. Notes • The debate over slavery in the Mexican Cession threatened to disrupt or split national politics along North – South lines.

3. Popular Sovereignty • Slavery in the territories would be determined by the vote of the people in the territory in question. • The public was in favor of it because it fit in with the democratic tradition of self-determination.

4. 1848 Election • Zachary Taylor – Whig Party • Lewis Cass – Democrat Party • Martin Van Buren – Free Soil Party • Zachary Taylor won the election • The discovery of Gold in California caused turmoil in his administration.

5. Harriet Tubman • She helped slaves escape to Canada. • The most frequent way to gain freedom was to buy it.

6. The Seventh of March Speech • It was written by Daniel Webster. • He called for more strenuous or tougher fugitive slave laws. • It was condemned by abolitionists.

7. Compromise of 1850 • Slavery in Utah and New Mexico would be decided by popular sovereignty. • It contained a new fugitive slave law. • Denial of a jury trial to runaway slaves. • Denial of fleeing slaves right to testify on their own behalf. • The penalty of imprisonment for Northerners who helped slaves escape.

8. Continued • The fugitive slave law was alarming to Northerners. • Northern states passed “personal liberty laws” in response to the Compromise of 1850’s decision on runaway slaves.

9. Kansas – Nebraska Bill • Required the repeal of the Missouri Compromise (36 degrees 30 minutes). • Bill was introduced by Stephen Douglas. • He thought popular sovereignty should decide. • President Pierce signed the bill into law.