The Divisive Poltics of Slavery

1. The Divisive Poltics of Slavery • or how did we get from Virginia Dare to Virginia dares please see James McPherson’s Battle Cry of Freedom

2. Consider • Was the North really in favor ofending slavery? This is your exit ticket

3. What caused it all to shift? • The West • As long as the slavery controversy focused on morality of the institution where it already existed, the 2 party system could contain the issue • Expansion caused the issue to explode

4. “The great and primary cause” of danger “is that the equilibrium between the two sections has been destroyed”

5. North South • Rural • Infrastructure - rivers • 1/3 nation’s population but only 10% of the wealth • 3/4 world’s cotton grown in South • very few immigrants settle in the South • Socially- 2x as many men in the military profession • Slavery by 1840 “great moral, social, political blessing” - cradle to grave security • Diversity • Infrastructure - railroads • Immigrants- status and competition • Socially - 2x as many men of literature, arts, sciences • Business - 3x as many men. 6x as many engineers and inventors

6. Spoke same language but even words were used to cast division The legal system became divided North South • Northern states passed personal liberty laws to defy national fugitive slave laws of 1793 • Southern dominated Supreme Court denied the right of Congress to exclude slavery in the new territories - Dred Scott Decision

7. Spoke same language but even words were used to cast division • Even THE religion on the nation- Protestantism- became divided North South Northern Methodist & Baptist- slavery moral issue Southern Methodist & Baptist- slavery moral issue • Even ideology of Republicanism became divided Republicanism = cherished right of property Republicanism = free labor

8. Exit ticket • Examine the idea that the North, in general, did • want slavery to continue in order to secure jobs, homes, etc. • Comments on the idea thatthe North was hypocritical in the desire to free the slaves.

9. Slavery in territories

10. Slavery in territories • Wilmot Proviso- significance of it? North South North feared more slave states would upset balance in Congress South oppose b/c it raised complex constitutional issues such as property

11. Slavery in territories • Wilmot Proviso- significance of it? • Calhoun of SC insisted territories were “common properties” of sovereign states. Since Congress was the “agent” of these states it could no more prevent a slave owner from taking his human property to the territories than it could prevent him from taking his horses or hogs there. “The right to carry slaves to NM or California is no very great matter,” said John J. Crittenden of Ky, because, “no sensible man would carry his slaves there if he could.”

12. 1850 The South Is Happy SOUTH HAPPY Zachary Taylor as president Majority on Supreme Court Outnumbered in the House Equal in the Senate Cotton expanding profits are high BUT IT IS SAD BECAUSE... 15 free and 15 slave states Calaifornia adminssion is a problem NM and Utah want admission as a free state Texas claims part of New Mexico Northerners want to end slavery in Washington, DC Runaway slaves are assisted by Underground RR

13. Statehood for California • There is a presidential election in 1848. Almost unnoticed, workers for John Sutter’s sawmill discovered flecks of gold in the river bed. • Skipped territory stage - 80,000 ppl in 1849 migrated • 31st state? New state consitution forbade slavery - south alarmed - all that northern political aggression: Northwest Ordinance of 1797, Missiouri Compromise, state personal liberty laws preventing recovery of fugitive slaes, Wilmot provision • South a.k.a Calhoun feels personal liberty,prosperity, equality at stake • problems

14. California statehood • Most southerners won’t support Calhoun. After all, the South had just won the Presidential Election of 1848 with Southern war hero Zachary Taylor Old Rough and Ready

15. California statehood • OMG! Once in office Zachary Taylor turns out to support CA admission as free state - Like any good military commander, Taylor planned to break the slavery stalemate by a flank attack to bypass the territorial stage and admit California and NM directly as states Taylor is a traitor to the southern whigs! I warned you! California admitted as free NM slower to react -only English speaking citizens there were those Salt Lake Mormons and Texas claimed 1/2 of NM

16. INTO THIS PROBLEM COMES THE GREAT COMPROMISER...again except I’m old as dirt now

17. Clay’s compromise • ♣ Clay worked around the clock with Daniel Webster to try and work out an agreement that would be acceptable to both North and South • ♣ Together they forged the Compromise of 1850

18. Clay’s compromise • ♣ CA would be a free state • ♣ New and more effective Fugitive Slave Law • ♣ POPULAR SOVEREIGNTY – residents of a territory would be the ones to vote for or against slavery • ♣ Federal govt paid Texas $10 m to give up its claim to NM territory • oNorth is happy: This limited slavery in TX to within its current borders • oSouth is happy: the money would help cover Texas’ expenses from Mexican War

19. Clay’s compromise The Debate over it • Calhoun for slavery in the territories • Webster for national unity • They are on the same side in not wanting to see the nation dissolved.

20. The Great Debate Over the Compromise of 1850or as it really was...what are we going to do about slavery and the political balance of power?

21. Twilight of THE Senatorial Giants HC JC DW

22. Twilight of the Senatorial Giants Henry Clay Clay’s last great compromise. Aided by Senator Stephen Douglas (Illinois) John C Calhoun’s championed the South in his last great speech (let’s elect presidents!) Uphold Clay’s measures - urged concessions like the Fugitive Slave Law. Why worry because the good Lord had decreed through geography, and climate that slavery won’t last in new Mexican territories (bankers of North liked this as they won’t lose investments in South) John Calhoun Daniel Webster

23. Slavery is evil but disunion is a worse evil. He despised abolitionists and never joined their ranks I agree! Daniel Webster

24. Deadlock and Debate • The junior Senators from the North speak up • Wm. Seward says he appeals to a “higher law” than the Constitution • They are more interested in purifying the nation. They are not interested in patching it up! President Zachary Taylor I agree with Seward!

25. Compromise Passes! • ♣Pres. Taylor dies suddenly on July 9th and his successor, Millard Fillmore made it clear that he is in favor of the Compromise • ♣Calhoun dies – he was an obstacle to compromise Fillmore,president due to Zachary Taylor’s death, supported the Compromise of 1850 and saw it as the “final settlement” of the question of slavery

26. Compromise Fails! • ♣ Senate initially rejects the compromise • ♣ Clay leaves Washington • ♣ Stephen A. Douglas (IL) picks it up • ♣ Douglas presents each part • separately • oCongressman like the idea of • voting for what they like and • abstaining from voting for what • they don’t like Stephen Douglas “the little giant”

27. The Compromise of 1850 • Texas gives up disputed NM land but gets $10 milliion to pay off debt to Mexico • NM, Nev, Az, UT will be organized w/ no mention of slavery • Slave trade abolished in Washington, DC but slavery practice could continue • California would be admitted as a free state • To make South happy (since Cali. admitted as a free state) • the Fugitive Slave Law would be strenghtened - a lot!

28. Compromise of 1850What are the concessions on both sides?

29. Compromise Passes! • . • Crisis is over but the relief is short-lives. • New crisis looms: enforcement of the new Fugitive Slave Law

30. FUGITIVE SLAVE ACT The Fugitive Slave Act was the most controversial part of the Compromise of 1850 It required citizens to assist in the recovery of fugitive slaves. It denied a fugitive's right to a jury trial. (Cases would instead be handled by special commisioners -- commisioners who would be paid $5 if an alleged fugitive were released and $10 if he or she were sent away with the claimant.) The act called for changes in filing for a claim, making the process easier for slaveowners. Also, according to the act, there would be more federal officials responsible for enforcing the law.

31. Fugitive Slave Act was the Reign of Terror for Blacks in Ameirca Free blacks were captured and sent to the South. With no legal right to plead their cases, they were completely defenseless.

32. Fugitive Slave Act Passage of the Fugitive Slave Act made abolitionists all the more resolved to put an end to slavery. Bostonian went to bed one night an old fashioned, conservative, Compromise Union Whigs and waked up stark mad Abolitionists” The Underground Railroad became more active, reaching its peak between 1850 and 1860. The act also brought the subject of slavery before the nation. Many who had previously been ambivalent about slavery now took a definitive stance against the institution.

33. Was the Compromise of 1850 a success?

34. Was the Compromise of 1850 a success? The Compromise of 1850 accomplished what it set out to do -- it kept the nation united -- but the solution was only temporary. Over the following decade the country's citizens became further divided over the issue of slavery. The rift would continue to grow until the nation itself divided

35. Why not begin the Civil War in 1850? South - happy to since Northerners not following laws (Fugitive) and promises North - time to expand and create more wealth and population Time for moral strength of the North to build

37. slavery in territories • fugitive slave law Now you are a criminal if you don’t participate! If you just “don’t get involved” you too can be criminally charged!