the compromise of 1850 Flashcards
(10 cards)
Taylors plan
Taylor was a slaveholder himself, so people expected him to support slavery.
However, he planned to bypass the territorial stage and admit California and New Mexico directly as states, producing 2 free states.
This would upset the balance between free and slave states, undoing the balance in Congress.
southern outrage to Taylors plan
This caused Southern outrage as Southerners saw it as unfair and an injustice. Future Confederate President argues, “for the first time we are about permanently to destroy the balance of power between the sections”.
Taylor ignored the Southern backlash. In October 1849, California therefore adopted a free state constitution and in November elected a Governer and legislature that petitioned Congress for statehood.
Taylor also pledged not to veto legislation such as the Wilmot Proviso which Southerners resented. He said in a speech in Pennsylvania “the people of the North have no fear of the further extension of slavery”.
how did Taylors plan heighten sectional tensions
Heightened sectional tension because sectional loyalties were stronger than party loyalties. Therefore, the House of Representatives failed to elect a speaker. The Southern Whigs also refused to endorse the Whig candidate because he endorsed the Wilmot Proviso.
Alexander Stephens called for the South to make “… the necessary preparation of men and money, arms and munitions etc, to meet the emergency”.
Threats for disunion were prominent as Southern politicians claimed their liberty was at stake.
clays resolutions
Henry Clay (Northern Whig) felt that Taylors plan to not consider the North was dangerous. He offered the Senate a set of resolutions as a basis for solution to the crisis, they were designed to please both the North and South.
Clays resolutions for a basis of compromise
California would be admitted as a free state (N)
Utah and New Mexico would be organised as territories without any mention (or restrictions) on slavery. (S)
Slave-trading, but not slavery, should end in the district of Columbia (Washington) (N/S)
A Fugitive Slave Act should be passed to placate the South (S)
The Texan-New Mexico dispute should be settled (N/S)
Taylors reaction to Clays resolutions
President Taylor refused Clays proposal and refused to retreat from his position. He held a firm belief that California and New Mexico should be admitted as free states.
southern reaction to clays resolutions
Nashville Convention June 3rd, 1850: 9 of 15 slave states met in Nashville (the rest did not attend as a protest). Displayed that secession was not wanted and that there were divisions between Southern politicians. Southern Whigs were hopeful however that a compromise could be made.
why was clays bill defeated
Clays “Omnibus bill” (all measures would be passed together) was defeated because many Northern Senetors where anxious about bargaining with the Slave Power conspiracy and the imputations that came with it.
When Taylor died in July 1850, Millard Filmore was appointed as President, he helped Stephen A Douglas get the bill through.
resolution - Douglas managed to get bill through
Stepehen A Douglas managed to get the compromise through Congress as he broke it down and submitted it into 5 component parts, instead of as an omnibus bill.
Majority of Americans reacted positively to this and both Northerners and Southerners voted for proposals they liked.
Southern “fire-eaters” really resented the anti-slavery measures however
Additionally, many Northern abolitionists resented the Fugitive Slave Act and also resented the fact that Congress had surrendered to the South.
McPhersons view on compromise
McPherson: “The compromise of 1850 undoubtedly averted a grave crisis. But hindsight makes clear that it only postponed drama”
Susan-Mary Grants view on compromise
Susan Mary Grant: “As with previous compromises, the Compromise of 1850 was, at best, a temporary solution”.
