America: A Narrative History (Ninth Edition) Chapter 15 - The Gathering Storm I. Slavery in the territories o A. The Wilmot Proviso o B. Calhoun’s resolutions in reaction to the Proviso o C. Other proposals addressing slavery in the territories 1. Extension of the Missouri Compromise line 2. Popular, or squatter, sovereignty a. Controversy over admission of Oregon as a free territory o D. Slavery debate and the 1848 presidential election 1. Cass for popular sovereignty 2. Whigs shun Clay for Taylor 3. Formation of Free-Soil party a. Three elements form the coalition (1) rebellious Northern Democrats (2) anti-slavery Whigs (3) Liberty party b. “Cotton“ vs. “Conscience“ Whigs c. Van Buren nominated 4. Victory for Taylor in close race II. The push for California statehood o A. California gold rush o B. The mining frontier o C. Zachary Taylor’s motives and California statehood o D. Taylor calls for admission of California as a free state III. The Compromise of 1850 o A. Southern outrage and secession threats o B. Clay presents compromise package of eight resolutions o C. Calhoun’s response o D. Webster’s plea for union o E. Seward’s response for the abolitionists o F. Taylor’s opposition and Whig divisions o G. Taylor’s unexpected death o H. Fillmore supports the Clay compromise o I. Douglas’s “comprehensive“ strategy for compromise o J. Terms of the Compromise o K. Reaction to the Fugitive Slave Act 1. Terms of the law 2. Uncle Tom’s Cabin IV. The election of 1852 o A. The Democrats turn to Franklin Pierce o B. Free-Soilers promote John P. Hale o C. Whigs turn to Winfield Scott o D. Pierce is the victor V. The Kansas-Nebraska crisis o A. Development 1. Ideas for a transcontinental railroad reopen slavery issue 2. Douglas’s “popular sovereignty“ bill leads to repeal of the Missouri Compromise a. Proposed bill permits slavery expansion into new territories on basis of popular sovereignty 3. Douglas’s unclear motives 4. Congress passes “Kansas-Nebraska Act“ despite growing anti-slavery sentiment o B. Consequences of passage 1. Growing opposition to “Fugitive Slave Act“ a. Trial and return to slavery of Anthony Burns 2. Break-up of the Whigs a. Formation of the Republican Party 3. The “battle“ for Kansas a. Free-Soilers vs. pro-slavery forces compete to settle Kansas b. Fraudulent vote established official pro-slavery government c. “Free state“ counter-government established in Topeka d. Violence in Lawrence and Pottawatomie e. The Sumner-Butler-Brooks clash in Congress VI. The election of 1856 o A. The American and Whig parties nominate Fillmore o B. The Republicans choose John Frémont as their first presidential candidate Tindall/Shi America: A Narrative History (Ninth Edition) o o o Tindall/Shi C. The Democrats nominate James Buchanan D. The campaign and Buchanan’s election E. Buchanan’s background and perspective VII. The Dred Scott decision o A. Nature of the case: Dred Scott tries to get freedom based on his residency in non-slave states o B. Analysis of the court’s decision 1. Decided against Scott on basis he lacked legal standing 2. Denied the right of Congress to exclude slavery from a territory o C. Consequence: Sectional divisions inflamed 1. Anti-slavery advocates infuriated 2. Emboldened Southerners demand a federal slave code VIII. Movements for Kansas statehood o A. Governor Walker’s pro-Union efforts o B. The pro-slavery Lecompton Constitution o C. Buchanan’s support for Lecompton o D. Popular vote in Kansas rejects Lecompton constitution o E. Postponement of statehood for Kansas, now in anti-slavery hands IX. Panic of 1857 o A. Causes and nature of the economic reversal o B. Sectional reactions to the economic problems 1. Northern businessmen blame Democratic Tariff of 1857 2. Less-affected South emboldened and convinced of cotton’s importance o C. Hard times inspire “prayer-meeting“ revivals from 1857–1859 X. The Lincoln-Douglas 1858 senatorial contest in Illinois o A. The candidates and their situation 1. Democrat Douglas was weakened by his earlier role in rising sectional crisis 2. Republican Lincoln opposed to slavery but not an abolitionist o B. National significance of the Illinois race and debates o C. The Freeport Doctrine and popular sovereignty o D. Candidates’ differences on the moral question of slavery o E. Douglas defeats Lincoln in Illinois 1. But Democrats fare poorly elsewhere in the nation 2. Power shifting to the Republicans XI. Sectional divide increases, 1858–1860 o A. John Brown’s raid at Harpers Ferry o B. The effects of Brown’s raid and martyrdom 1. Martyr for the anti-slavery cause in the North 2. Inspired tremendous fear in the South XII. The election of 1860 o A. Democrats split 1. Democratic convention eventually nominates Douglas a. He promises to defend slavery where it exists but does not support its expansion 2. Southern Democrats secede from main party and nominate ardently pro-slavery Breckenridge o B. Republican convention nominates Lincoln 1. Adopts a platform restating its resistance to expansion of slavery and pledging to support measures that promoted national economic expansion o C. Constitutional Union party formed by former Whigs to support Bell and preservation of the Union o D. Nature of the campaign 1. No candidate had a national following 2. Sensing defeat, Douglas goes south to try to save the Union o E. Victory for Lincoln 1. Clear electoral majority 2. Smallest plurality ever XIII. Secession begins o A. South Carolina is first to secede o B. Six more Deep South states leave the Union by early 1861 o C. Buchanan’s non-reaction to secession o D. Secessionists seize federal property in the South o E. Last failed efforts to compromise 1. Crittenden’s proposal 2. Proposed thirteenth amendment to the Constitution protecting slavery in existing areas passes both Houses of Congress a. States never had the chance to ratify it 3. Lincoln takes office with nation on edge of self-destruction