Sectional Conflict 1850-60 Flashcards
What was the Wilmot Proviso? Why did it create conflict? What was popular sovereignty ?
As MEx War started, Pennsylvania Senator Wilmot proposed a Bill that no territories acquired during the mx war be admitted as slave states. Southerners were very opposed to this. Senators like John Calhoun of SC, felt that new states should not be prohibited from any property rights that others had, and that congress had no right to state otherwise. Northerners obvi disagreed. Some, like Lewis Cass and Stephen Douglas, felt that pop. sovereignty, which allowed citizens of a state to determine its laws, was the best option
election of 1848. Who were candidates and what were their views on slavery?
Dems nominated Lewis Cass, Whigs nom Zachary Taylor, and neither takes a who stance for or against slavery. Many within both of those parties who were against slavery formed a third party called the Free Soil party, who nominated Martin Van B. Zach Taylor wins by a large margin
How did the gold rush in Cali contribute to North- South tensions?
Gold was first discoverd at Sutter’s mill, outside of Sacramento. Many rushed in, and the population swelled to well over 100k, the number set for a territory to seek admission as a state. With no formal government, California was a turbulent and lawless place. Few Southern slaveholders had risked venturing out there, so Cali sought admission as a free state, which would contribute to an already lessening balance of power for the south in the senate.
What were the points of the compromise of 1850? How was it eventually passed?
For the north: Cali admitted as free state. Utah and NM would be decided by popular sovereignty; slave trade would be abolished in DC
For South: Tougher fugitive slave law enacted; fed gov’t pays Texas’ $10m pre-annexation debt; congress would relinquish control over interstate slave trade; slavery not abolished in DC.
Henry Clay wrote this, and many, such as President Taylor, John Calhoun, Dan Webster, and northern/ southern extremists, argued for months about the bill.
President Taylor died and was succeeded by Millard Fillmore, who favored compromise. Stephen Douglas played a large part by breaking the bill apart and gaining components for the different sections. Thus the bill passed
Who won the presidential election of 1852? what were some of his accomplishments?
Franklin Pierce, of New Hampshire. Made the Gadsen Purchase, which acquired AZ and southern NM. He favored economic development and the “young America” campaign, which included increasing railroad tracks, opening routes from Northeast to Midwest, and opening trade routes to different countries. This included Canada, and Japan, which had before been closed to international business. He sought to annex Hawaii, and acquire Cuba from spain
What were the provisions of the enhanced Fugitive Slave Law that enraged Northerners?
- Any Black ppl living in North but claimed by a slave catcher was denied a trial and due process.
- All US citizens were required to aid in the capture of alleged fugitives when called upon.
Kansas Nebraska Act: who created it, and how did it lead to the development of the Republican Party?
Stephen A. Douglas. Wanted the new territories to become states so that a trans-continental railroad could be built. In this bill, he suggested revoking the Missouri Compromise, so that they states could decide their own fate via pop. sov. With support of many Southerners in Senate and Pierce Administration, the bill passes. Outraged Northerners and former members of the Whig and Know-Nothing party formed Republican party, who felt slavery should not spread any further than the states that already had it
What was Bleeding Kansas?
Both Northerners and Southerners sent people to settle in Kansas. During election day, border ruffians from Missouri came in and voted, contributing to election fraud. they helped create a pro-slavery gov’t, which was opposed by the free soil gov’t which formed in their response. Both sides started fighting, and guerilla warfare occurred, including the massacre at Pottawatomie creek, led by anti-slavery John Brown
Dred Scott Case. What was it, and what was S.Court’s final ruling?
Dred scott, a slave of a doctor, sued for his freedom on the grounds that his owner had taken him to live in Illinois and Wisconsin for several years. SC ruled that Scott did not have the grounds for which to sue, and that living in a free as a temporary resident did not make you free. Also revoked the Miss Comp, stating it was unconstitutional for congress to claim authority to exclude slavery from any territory. Similarly, territorial gov’ts did not have power to prohibit slavery.
This created more divide as Southerns took extreme positions, as did Northerners, who felt there was a pro-slavery conspiracy in the gov’t
