The Divisive Poltics of Slavery
The Divisive Poltics of Slavery
or how did we get from Virginia Dare to Virginia dares
or how did we get from Virginia Dare to Virginia dares
please see James McPherson’s Battle Cry of Freedomplease see James McPherson’s Battle Cry of Freedom
ConsiderConsider
Was the North really in favor of ending slavery?
This is your exit ticket
What caused it all to shift?
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
“The great and primary cause” of danger “is that the equilibrium between the two sections has been destroyed”
North
•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
•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
South
Spoke same language but even words were used to cast division
NorthSouth
• 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
The legal system became divided
Spoke same language but even words were used to cast division
•Even THE religion on the nation - Protestantism- became divided
North South
Republicanism = free labor
Republicanism = cherished right of property
Northern Methodist & Baptist- slavery moral issue
Southern Methodist & Baptist- slavery moral issue
•Even ideology of Republicanism became divided
Examine the idea that the North, in general, did want slavery to continue in order to secure jobs, homes, etc.
Comments on the idea that the North was hypocritical in the desire to free the slaves.
Exit ticket
Slavery in territoriesSlavery in territories
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“the United States will conquer Mexico,
but it will be as the man swallows the
Arsenic, which brings him down in
turn. Mexico will poison us.”
Slavery in territoriesSlavery in territoriesWilmot 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
Slavery in territoriesSlavery in territoriesWilmot 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.”
Statehood for CaliforniaStatehood for CaliforniaThere 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
California statehoodCalifornia statehoodMost 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
California statehoodCalifornia statehoodOMG! Once in office Zachary Taylor turns out to support CA admission as free state -
Taylor is a traitor to the southern whigs! I warned you!
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
California admitted as freeNM slower to react -only English speaking citizens there were those Salt Lake Mormons and Texas claimed 1/2 of NM
INTO THIS PROBLEM COMES THE GREAT
COMPROMISER...again
INTO THIS PROBLEM COMES THE GREAT
COMPROMISER...again
except I’m old as dirt now
Clay’s compromiseClay’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
Clay’s compromiseClay’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 territoryoNorth is happy: This limited slavery in TX to within
its current bordersoSouth is happy: the money would help cover
Texas’ expenses from Mexican War
Clay’s compromiseClay’s compromise
Calhoun for slavery in the territories
Webster for national unity
They are on the same side in not wanting to see the nation dissolved.
The Debate over it
Compromise Fails!Compromise Fails!
♣Senate initially rejects the compromise♣Clay leaves Washington♣Stephen A. Douglas (IL) picks it up♣Douglas presents each part separatelyoHoping to obtain a majority vote of them singlyoCongressman like the idea of voting for what
they like and abstaining from voting for what they don’t like
Compromise Passes!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 ♣ Southern leaders come out in favor of Clay’s plan – the best the South
could hope for, without some radical action♣ Becomes law in 1850• ♣ Fillmore says: this is the final compromise on the question of
slavery and sectional differences.• o Crisis is over but the relief is short-lives.• o New crisis looms: enforcement of the new Fugitive Slave Law
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slavery in territoriesslavery in territoriesfugitive 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!
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