Chapter 12, Section 01: The Compromise of 1850

The Compromise of 1850

Antebellum Many thought that the

raw material to be gained in new states would bring strife and tragedy for our nation as a whole. The first act of this drama would result in a great “compromise”.

The only question that was left for a nation that was “conceived in liberty” was, when and how would they abolish slavery.

The Gold Rush

Coincidently, gold was found near Sutter’s Mill, California. It was found in the same year that Mexico handed over California to the Untied States. In result, all the gold rushers went to California.

The Clipper Ships

Some of the most splendid sailing vessels ever built sailed to California. Clipper ships received their name because they could “clip” time off of a passage. These swift ships were built in New England and used for the need to speed to California. British steamships, which were larger and more dependable, brought the age of sail to an end.

The Clipper Ships (cont’d.)

The best clipper ship was made by master shipbuilder Donald McKay. When he was a young man, he emigrated from Nova Scotia.

He had a rare sense of design and detail, he made the quickest and most beautiful ships of the age while working in East Boston.

McKay became a great hero for his generation.

California asks for Admission to the Union

Everyone everywhere rushed to California. Nantucket lost ¼ of its voting population in 9 months.

In 1849, over 80,000 people made it to California. These Americans wanted to join the Union as a new state, and make California a free state which would break the tie.

In 1849 there were 30 states, altogether, which made 15 free stats and 15 slave states.

California

The Wilmot Proviso

Questions being brought up were: What was to be done with all the rest

of the newly acquired lands? How was slavery to be dealt with out

there? Antislavery congressmen knew

that there would be demands for more land from Mexico.

David Wilmot, a Democrat from Pennsylvania, proposed an amendment to Polk’s bill.› He offered that “_______________

_______________________________ ________________________________ _______________________________.

The Wilmot Proviso (cont’d.)

Antislavery men and Westerners who were still upset that they couldn’t take all of Oregon supported the amendment.

It passed many times in the House in 1846-1847, but each time the Senate didn’t pass it.

The result was that Americans were now divided by the problems of expansion.

David Wilmot

The Wilmot Proviso (cont’d.)

The South spoke through its leaders, John C. Calhoun of South Carolina and Jefferson Davis of Mississippi, opposed the Wilmot Proviso.

Congress thought they didn’t have any right to interfere with slavery in the territories.

Slavery would now be forbidden, but only when a territory achieved statehood, and then by act of the state itself.

John C. Calhoun

The Election of 1848

While the election of 1848 drew near, both of the political parties wanted to avoid all divisive questions.

The Democrats nominated Governor Lewis Cass of Michigan.› Cass was a strong expansionist, sympathetic to the South,

and cared little about slavery one way or the other

The Election of 1848

The Whigs opposed the war They nominated the hero of the

Battle of Buena Vista, General Zachary Taylor› Taylor was a professional soldier

and a Louisiana sugar planter› he was also the owner of 300

slaves & he knew nothing about politics.

› Taylor had not even voted in some years

The Free-Soil act consisted of Democrats, Conscience Whigs, and abolitionists. They nominated Martin Van Buren for President, and Charles Francis Adams, for vice president.

Taylor won but didn’t last long!

Old Rough and Ready did win the election of 1848 but died after 16 months in office of gastroenteritis (the third shortest tenure of any President. Only Presidents William Henry Harrison and James Garfield served less time) served less time. Taylor was succeeded by his Vice President Milliard Fillmore (13th President).

Henry Clay’s plan Henry Clay, 73 years of age from Kentucky, was

at the congressional arena along with John C. Calhoun. Calhoun made impossible demands. He said that in order to have “justice” in the north and south, the north would have to permit slavery as well.

Clay created the “Compromise” of 1850, that said California would be admitted as a free state (something for the North), a Fugitive would allow slave owners to recapture slaves (something for the South), the slave trade would be abolished in the District of Columbia (something for the North), and slavery would be protected there (something for the South).

David Webster approved of the compromise, for fear that the Union was at stake.

September 1850, President Fillmore signed the Compromise into law.

Henry Clay

Revolt against the Fugitive Slave Act

This act provided that the state and city authorities and normal citizens Should help in capturing and returning runaway slaves.

Northerners helped the slaves by making more ways and routes to escape.

In response to this act, runaway slaves and Northerners made the “Underground Railroad”, the most famous “leader” of this was Harriet Tubman

Election of 1852

The North and the South were disagreeing in who they would choose to elect.

The Democrats nominated Franklin Pierce, of New Hampshire.

The Whigs nominated General Winfield Scott, of Virginia.

Democrat Pierce, won the election by a lot. With this defeat, the Whig party began to fall.

Uncle Tom’s Cabin

Uncle Tom’s Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe showed just what a slave was put through.

In the end the hero, the Christ-like black, Uncle Tom is flogged to death by plantation owners because he wouldn’t give up the hiding spots of two escaped slaves.

Mrs. Stowe gave a copy of the book to President Franklin Pierce and while he was reading it on the train, he began to cry.

It’s thought that without the book, Lincoln could have never been elected.› Mrs. Stowe went to see Lincoln as well and

Lincoln said, “It is the little woman whose book made such a great war?”

Uncle Tom’s Cabin

Galvanized – to be brought together Slavery was in conflict with the

Antebellum faith in Christianity Master depicted as ignorant Why did she write it?

› Stowe’s son died – understood what it was like to separate families

› Fugitive Slave Act

The End!