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The 1850 Sectional Crisis

Explore the causes of the 1850 Sectional Crisis and the compromises that were made to address the issues of slavery and new territories. Understand the problems and tensions that arose, leading to increased threats of secession and violence between politicians. Discover the key players and their roles in finding a compromise.

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The 1850 Sectional Crisis

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  1. The 1850 Sectional Crisis Causes and compromise

  2. Problems causing the crisis

  3. New territories • Heated debate about whether slavery should be extended to the newly acquired western territories; • California • New Mexico • (Nevada and Utah also) • “free soilers” opposed slavery’s advocates • Wanted land available for free whites.

  4. The Wilmot Proviso • David Wilmot is a “free soiler” who wanted northern whites to benefit from new terrirtories. • His proviso was part of a finance bill for the Mexican- American war. • House of Representatives passed this bill- 83 YES 64 NO. • The Senate prevent this becoming law; • To preserve slavery • To preserve the Union

  5. Robert Toombs objected to halting the spread of slavery into the territories of California and New Mexico Influential in the South Southern politicians

  6. Calhoun supported states' rights and nullification, under which states could declare null and void federal laws which they deemed to be unconstitutional. He famously defended slavery as a "positive good" rather than as a "necessary evil". John Calhoun

  7. The Nashville Convention • slaveholding states agreed to send delegates to Nashville to define a resistance strategy to the Wilmot Proviso. • It appeared as if, with Calhoun at their head, secession was a possibility. • Calhoun accused the north of upsetting the equilibrium established by the Missouri Compromise.

  8. David Wilmot William Seward- an abolitionist influenced the President (Taylor) Northerners represented a coalition of free soilers and abolitionists against slavery’s spread. Northern “free soilers”

  9. Result- sectional tension • Increased threats of secession from the South. • Actual violence between politicians. • An atmosphere of mutual distrust. • An increasing polarisation, especially among Democrats, on sectional lines.

  10. How was a Compromise found? A few issues to consider

  11. New territories • Henry Clay’s proposals; • California to be a free state- appeased northerners upset about the Mexican War having a pro south agenda. • Decisions on other new territories effectively delayed (Clay believed new territories weren’t suitable for slavery), but New Mexico/Utah to have no restrictions. • Territorial dispute between Texas and New Mexico settled

  12. Southern Politicians • Calhoun attacked the Compromise, predicting "the balance between the two sections" was destroyed would be a day not far removed from disunion, anarchy, and civil war. • Calhoun died in Washington, D.C. in March 1850 of tuberculosis, at the age of 67. • "The Union; second to our liberty most dear!", "Liberty and Union, now and for ever, one and inseparable!" JCC

  13. Daniel Webster • Daniel Webster was a respected, elder politician who wanted to preserve the Union • On March 7, 1850, Webster gave one of his most famous speeches, characterizing himself "not as a Massachusetts man, nor as a Northern man but as an American..." In it he gave his support to the 1850 compromise.

  14. Northern Free Soilers • Effectively appeased by the admission of California. • Backed off from precipitating secession. • Hoped that new territories would not be fruitful for slavery- turned out to be a false hope. • Zachary Taylor died; his successor Millard Fillmore advocated compromise.

  15. The “Little Giant” broke down the proposals. He passed the proposals as a part of separate bills. Therefore, Douglas, an ambitious businessman and politician, was instrumental. Stephen Douglas

  16. Why was Compromise found in 1850? • Southern State Conventions, e.g. at Nashville were guided by moderates. Some States didn’t even send members. • Experienced and loyal politicians; Webster, Clay and even Calhoun were at heart Unionists. • Douglas skilfully got the proposals passed. • Free Soilers hoped new territories were unsuitable for plantation/slave labour.

  17. The 1850 Compromise saved the Union; It appeased the “fire eaters”. It solved the problem of the new territories. It appealed to Union sentiment. It satisfied free soilers. The 1850 Compromise was the beginning of the end for the Union; It created resentment about the strict Fugitive Slave Law, in the north. It did not satisfy southern slaveholders. It diluted the Missouri Compromise of 1820. (no slavery above 36° 30.) There is a debate about 1850

  18. Footnote • A likely essay title might be something like; • “Why was there a compromise found in 1850, but not in 1860?” • You need to be able to compare events around 1850, with those surrounding 1860. • You need to understand how the crisis deepened 1850-1860.

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