Ch. 18 Notes
The Effects of the Mexican War
1. As the war with Mexico ended, the Wilmot Proviso
ensured that slavery would be a major topic.
2. With the Mexican Cession, the major issue became
whether the new states formed from the region
would be free or slave.
3. This issue would eventually lead to the death of the
Whig Party, the split of the Democratic Party along
sectional lines and the birth of the Free Soil and
Republican Parties.
4. The issue really came to a head when California
wanted to enter the Union – as a free state.
Presidential Election of 1848
1. The Democrats nominate Lewis Cass, who runs on the
idea of popular sovereignty – the belief that the people
living in a territory should decide the issue of slavery –
2. The public actually liked this idea because it fit with the
country’s democratic tradition of self-determination.
3. Cass and the Democrats try to downplay the issue of
slavery in the election and don’t really mention it at all.
4. The Whigs nominate Zachary Taylor and also ignore the
issue of slavery – run him solely on his popularity from the
war with Mexico (but he was a slave owner).
5. Northern Democrats and “Conscience Whigs” don’t like
either candidates so they form the Free Soil Party and
nominate Martin Van Buren.
The Free Soil Party
1. The Free Soil Party claimed that slavery
destroyed the chances of free white workers to
rise to self-employment.
2. Their main goal was to keep slavery from
spreading into the new territories gained from
Mexico.
3. To appeal to a broader audience, though, they
also push for free land in the Mexican Cession
for new settlers and federal aid for internal
improvements.
The Gold Rush of 1849
1. In 1849, gold was
discovered at Sutter’s
Mill in California.
2. This discovery led to a
rapid growth in
California’s population
and the eventual desire
for statehood.
3. California wanted to be
a free state but was
divided in half by the
southern border of
Missouri.
Southern Fears
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
By 1850, the south was relatively well off both economically and
politically.
However, as the debate over the Mexican Cession and California
continued, they had several major concerns.
If California entered as a free state, it would not only upset the
balance of power in Congress, it would also set a precedent for
the Utah and New Mexico territories.
Also, the abolitionist movement was growing and pushing for the
abolishment of slavery in the District of Columbia.
Most distressing of all, was the loss of runaway slaves to the north
– often through the work of people like Harriet Tubman and the
Underground Railroad.
The loss of property wasn’t nearly as significant as the north’s
refusal to help return runaways (loss of honor).
The Compromise of 1850
1. Henry Clay, the Great Compromiser, will step
into the picture during this time and help
work out a series of compromises that
together became known as the Compromise
of 1850.
2. Many believed that the Compromise of 1850
would settle the U.S.’s problems over slavery
once and for all.
The Compromise of 1850
1. California entered the Union as a free state.
2. Slave trade was abolished in the District of
Columbia (but not slavery).
3. Texas received $10 million to pay off war debts
and for and that was ceded to the New Mexico
Territory.
4. A new, stronger Fugitive Slave Act was passed.
5. Popular sovereignty would be used in the New
Mexico and Utah Territories to decide the issue
of slavery.
The Fugitive Slave Act
1. The most alarming aspect of the Compromise of 1850
was the Fugitive Slave Act.
2. Under the act, accused runaways were tried by a
commissioner who received $5 if he set them free
and $10 if he found they were a runaway – they were
also not allowed to testify on their own behalf.
3. Also, northerners could be made to help enforce the
law – and could be fined or even jailed if they didn’t.
4. It was incredibly harsh and most northerners opposed
it – many northern states passed personal liberty laws
which interfered with federal enforcement of the
Fugitive Slave Act.
Presidential Election of 1852
1. This election will see the end of the Whig Party,
which splits up over the issue of slavery.
2. The Whigs nominate Winfield Scott and run him
on his war record.
3. The Democrats nominate Franklin Pierce, a
doughface – a northerner who takes southern
positions on most issues.
4. The Free Soilers nominate John Hale.
5. In the election, Pierce wins easily.
Southern Expansion
1. The south is looking to create new slave states in
an effort to restore the balance of power in
Congress.
2. William Walker will take over Nicaragua, but
after he is ousted by a coalition of Latin
American countries, the U.S. withdraws their
support.
3. The south then tries to get Cuba because it can
be made into several slave states – the U.S.
attempts to buy it but Spain refuses.
Ostend Manifesto
1. Pierre Soule is the U.S.’s foreign ambassador to
Spain – he will secretly meet with the U.S.
ambassadors to Great Britain and France and
come up with a scheme to take Cuba.
2. They will offer to buy Cuba again and when
Spain refuses they will take Cuba by force,
claiming it’s a threat to U.S. security – if they
ever free their slaves there it could cause slave
rebellions in the south.
3. The plan leaks though and is abandoned
because of the uproar in the north.
The Transcontinental Railroad
1. A transcontinental railroad was proposed to link
the east and the west – both the north and the
south want it.
2. The southern route would be best because the
railroad would be easier to build in this area –
the Gadsen Purchase is even made to get the
last area from Mexico that would be vital to
building the railroad.
3. To keep it in the north, then the Kansas and
Nebraska region needs to be organized.
Kansas/Nebraska Act
1. Illinois Senator Stephen Douglas proposes this
law in Congress to organize the Kansas and
Nebraska Territories into state so that the
transcontinental railroad can be build through
the north.
2. In order to get the south to support it, he
proposes that the issue of slavery be decided
through popular sovereignty – he doesn’t think
the north will care because the region wouldn’t
support cotton and therefore slavery wouldn’t
be necessary.
3. He was very wrong.
The Kansas/Nebraska Act
1. The Kansas/Nebraska Act repeals the Missouri
Compromise, which set the old boundary line
for slavery.
2. Northerners look at this as an attempt by the
south to gain more slave states in an area that is
supposed to be free.
3. It will eventually lead to fighting in Kansas
between pro and anti slavery forces.
4. It will also lead to the development of the
Republican Party.