Chapter 18.1The Debate Over Slavery

• The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo ended the Mexican-American War…

• However, it started a whole new debate about the extension of slavery.

Remember the last time when…• The last time America

expanded this much was the Louisiana Purchase.

• Question: – How did we handle the

issue of slavery when it came to the new territories?

• Compromise of 1820– Missouri = slave state– Maine = free state

» No more slavery north of Missouri

So, now that we have more land…

• Should we extend the line to the Pacific Ocean?

– Pres. Polk says yes!

• Congressman David Wilmot– Proposed ending slavery

in all new territories gained• Called Wilmot Proviso

America Begins To Divide• The Northerners– Rallied around the Wilmot Proviso

• Thought it was great way to fulfill dream of Founding Fathers– “All Men are Created Equal”

• The Southerners – Were able to vote the proviso down in the Senate.

• Knew now that slavery would jeopardize the Union.

• Sectionalism– Happens when politicians choose the interests of their

region/supporters over the interests of the entire country

– How do we keep the nation from separating into two sections?

Lewis Cass and his Popular Sovereignty

• Lewis Cass– Senator from Michigan

– Believed that the people of an area should decide whether they wanted to ban or allow slavery.

• Called popular sovereignty

• How does it work? – If the majority agree to

have slavery, then slavery is allowed!

Election of 1848• Democrat –Lewis Cass

– Wanted to keep America expanding with popular sovereignty

• Whigs – Zachary Taylor– Popular General from Mexican American War– Had never held office or voted– Southern slave owner

• Free Soil – Martin Van Buren– Supported the Wilmot Proviso – Wanted to stop the spread of slavery to west because they wanted wages to rise

so a working class could climb social ladder

– Free Soil party steals votes from the Democrats that support Cass! • Zachary Taylor wins and becomes 12th POTUS

President Zachary Taylor• Won a narrow victory in the

election– Was the 1st POTUS not

previously elected to any other public office.

• First issue he has to deal with…– What to do with California?

• It’s big enough to join the United States as a state.

– Should it be a free state or a slave state?

– Right now w/o California» 15 free states» 15 slave sates

Senate Debate of Californian Issue

• John C. Calhoun– Demanded California to be a slave state

• William Seward– A young senator from New York– Hated slavery• Would become best friends with Abe Lincoln

• Henry Clay– Argued hard for compromise…again

Clay’s Compromise of 1850

1. Californian admitted as a free state

1. The Utah and New Mexico Territories could decide the slave issue with popular sovereignty

2. Outlawed slave trade in DC

3. Stricter fugitive slave laws

Death of President Taylor

• July 4,1850– President Zachary Taylor

stood hatless in the sun for hours listening to long-winded speeches

– Returned to the White House and attempted to cool off by eating cherries, cucumbers and drinking iced milk.

– Dies 3 days later.

13th POTUS -Millard Fillmore• Signed the Compromise of

1850 making it law.

– Keeps North and South happy….sort of.

– Problem: • The citizens don’t care for

Fillmore. – Look to others to lead

their nation…» The South starts to

consider naming their own leader…

Slavery in 1850

Review Questions

• Who is the 12th POTUS?

• What is popular sovereignty?

• What is the Compromise of 1850?

• Who is the 13th POTUS?