Chapter 18 Flashcards
(33 cards)
The Democrats nominated __________ who’d spoken previously for popular sovereignty.
Gen. Lewis Cass
The people of a territory should decide and issue for themselves
popular sovereignty
The Whigs nominated __________ in 1848. He had no political experience but was the “hero of Buena Vista” which went a long way; he won the election.
Gen. Zachary Taylor
This group emerged in 1848 when many Northerners were upset that neither party took a position on the expansion of slavery. They nominated Martin Van Buren and their position was clearly against the expansion of slavery.
Free Soil Party
This was supposed to “round up” runaways up North and ship them back South. This was largely not being done and the South took it as a personal offense.
Fugitive Slave Law
A secret route from “station to station” that led many slaves to the North and eventually to Canada.
Underground Railroad
She was the most well-known “conductor” of the “railroad.” She snuck back into the South 19 times and led some 300+ slaves to freedom.
Harriet Tubman
He was known as the “Great Compromiser.” He urged both sides to make concessions and to compromise.
Henry Clay
In the South, he argued for states’ rights. He wanted slavery to be left alone, the runaway slaves to be returned to the South, and state balance kept intact
John C. Calhoun
For the North, he had been opposed to slavery’s expansion, but in his famous “Seventh of March” speech he urged the North to compromise on the issue
Daniel Webster
Abolitionist and poet; sharply criticized Webster as a traitor to the cause
Whittier
Chief among the Young Guard; staunchly against slavery and argued that, when it came to slavery, Americans must follow a “higher law” above the Constitution
William H. Seward
What is “higher law”?
God’s law
Was Vice President; took over for President Taylor when he died. He was more open to compromise
Millard Fillmore
- Senate leaders Henry Clay, Daniel Webster, and Stephen Douglas all urged the North to compromise.
- Southern “fire-eaters” were still very much a against concession/compromise. Yet, calmer minds prevailed, the South went along, and the Compromise of 1850 passed.
Compromise of 1850
What did the North get from the Compromise?
- California admitted as a free state. This tipped the balance to the free side, permanently.
- Texas gave up its claims to lands disputed with New Mexico.
- The slave trade in District of Columbia was banned, but slavery was still legal. This was symbolic only. It was symbolic in that the nation’s capital “took a stance” against the trade. However, it was impractical because the trade only was illegal, not slavery, and since a person could easily buy a slave in next-door Virginia.
What did the South get from the Compromise?
- Popular sovereignty in the Mexican Cession lands. This was good for the South because prior to this, there was to be no new slave lands (the 36°30’ Missouri Compromise line had drawn that). On paper, this opened a lot of land to slavery, possibly. This was bad for the South because those lands were too dry to raise cotton anyway and therefore would never see slaves.
- Texas was paid $10 million for the land lost to New Mexico.
- A new, tougher Fugitive Slave Law of 1850 had read teeth in it. Details held that (a) runaway slaves weren’t given “due process” rights if caught, (b) the official that handled the case received $5 for a slave’s freedom but $10 for a slave’s return, and (c) officials were demanded to catch runaway slaves despite their personal convictions on the matter.
This proved to be the most controversial of the measures in the Compromise.
Fugitive Slave Law
This stated that local officials didn’t have to chase and return fugitive slaves.
Personal Liberty Laws
Personified the law. He was a runaway slave, captured and tried. But, violent protests eventually saw him bought out of slavery. He then went on to college and became a preacher.
Anthony Burns
Who got the better of the Compromise and why?
The North because (a) the balance tipped their way, (b) the Fugitive Slave Law was largely not enforced, and (c) it bought time before war while the North could build up their resources.
Not a great leader, but had no enemies. The Democrats nominated him in the election of 1852.
Franklin Pierce
Hero of the Mexican War. Also known as “Old Fuss and Feathers.” Whigs nominated him
General Winfield Scott
This group garnered 5% of the Northern vote, which hurt Scott and led to Pierce winning 254 to 42.
Free Soil Party
