Ch. 18 Renewing the Sectional Struggle
1848-1854
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Theme: 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 created another explosion.
Results of the Mexican War?
1. The 17-month war cost $100,000,000 and 13,000+
American lives (mostly of disease).
2. New territories were brought into the Union which forced the explosive
issue of SLAVERY to the center of national politics.
* Brought in 1 million sq. mi. of land (incl. TX)
3. These new territories would upset the balance of power between North and
South.
4. Created two popular Whig generals who ran for President.
5. Manifest Destiny was partially realized.
Election of 1848
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Democratic candidate: General Lewis Cass
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“popular sovereignty”
Avoided slavery issue
Whig Candidate: Zachary Taylor “Hero of Buena
Vista
Never held office or voted for pres.
Avoided slavery issue
Free Soil Party
 Candidate: Martin Van Buren: “Free Soil, Free Speech,
Free Labor, Free Men!”
“Barnburners” – discontented northern Democrats.
 Anti-slave members of the Liberty and Whig Parties.
 Opposition to the extension of slavery in the new
territories!
WHY?
The 1848 Presidential Election Results
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GOLD! At Sutter’s Mill, 1848
John A. Sutter
California Gold Rush, 1849
49er’s
“Gold Rush”
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Thousands rushed to CA to strike it rich!
Majority did not
Mostly criminals and “virtueless women”
High rates of crime, violence and murder
1849: CA drafted Constitution which prohibited
slavery and they applied for admission to Union
Outraged Southern Politicians-tipped balance
CA-free state, NM & Utah wanted admission as free
state-set precedent for Mexican territories
The South 1850
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Major concerns
 Texans threaten to seize territory east of Rio
Grande and north to the 42nd parallel
 District of Columbia wanting to abolish
slavery
 Loss of runaway slaves/underground RR
 Wanted more effective Fugitive Slave Law
Threat of Secession
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Prominent figures-Clay, Calhoun & Webster
address Congress
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Clay: wanted North & South to make concessions
and favored a more feasible Fugitive Slave Law
Calhoun: rejected Clay’s proposals because they
didn’t protect southern rights
Webster: New Fugitive Slave Law & felt Wilmot
Proviso answered slave question
Missouri Compromise 1850
Concessions to North
Concessions to South
California admitted as free
state
•Territory disputed by
Texas and New Mexico to
be surrendered to New
Mexico
•Abolition of the slave
trade (not slavery) in the
District of Columbia.
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New Mexico and Utah
formed as territories-issue
of slavery open to “popular
sovereignty”
•Texas paid $10 million
from federal government
as compensation
•More stringent Fugitive
•Slave law
Who got the better deal from this
compromise?
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The North!!!
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CA as free state tipped Senate balance of power
permanently
New Mexico and Utah use popular sovereignty to
determine slavery issue
Environment of territories supported free soil
South needed to gain territory
Fugitive Slave Law
1850
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“Bloodhound Bill”
Fleeing slave can’t testify on own behalf & were
denied trial by jury
Feared this would set a precedent for whites
Federal Commissioner in charge of case received $5
if slave freed, $10 if not
Northerners who aided slaves to escape faced heavy
fines, jail etc.
Created more abolitionists
Personal Liberty laws passed
Results of the Compromise of 1850
and Fugitive Slave Law
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Debate gave North time to accumulate
material and moral strength for war
Bolstered Yankee resistance to secession
South angry because North failed to
enforce Fugitive Slave Law
End of Whig Party
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Election of 1852
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Democrats: Franklin Pierce: endorsed
Compromise of 1850 and Fugitive Slave Law
Whigs: Winfield Scott-Praised Compromise of
1850
Whig party split
Pierce wins
Pacific Railroad/Gadsden Purchase
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Legacy of Mexican War=problems with
transportation to new territories-Ca. and
Oregon
Solution: build transcontinental railroad
Where?? Through south or north? Why??
Gadsden Purchase 1853 $10 million dollars
Territorial Growth to 1853
Kansas-Nebraska Act 1854
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Stephen Douglas introduced legislation to
counter Gadsden Purchase
Territory of Nebraska would be split in twoNebraska & Kansas
Slavery issue settled by popular sovereignty
Kansas most likely slave, Nebraska free
Problem: contradicted Missouri Compromise
of 1820 (forbid slavery in the proposed
Nebraska territory north of the 36’ 30 line)
Fallout from Kansas-Nebraska Act
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Southerners supported Act
Northerners resisted
Led to violence “Bleeding Kansas”
Destroyed Missouri Compromise of 1820 and
1850
Increased tension over Fugitive Slave Law
Paved way to Civil War
Question???
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Was Stephen Douglas an instigator of war
because he introduced the Kansas-Nebraska
Act? Or was war inevitable even if the bill had
not been enacted?