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Conflict over Slavery Before 1850. Objectives. Contrast the economies, societies, and political views of the North and the South. Describe the role of the Free-Soil Party in the election of 1848.
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Objectives • Contrast the economies, societies, and political views of the North and the South. • Describe the role of the Free-Soil Party in the election of 1848. • Analyze why slavery in the territories was a divisive issue between North and South and how Congress tried to settle the issue in 1850.
Wilmot Proviso – outlawed slavery in lands won from Mexico Free-Soil Party – a political party that promised free soil, free speech, free labor, and free men popular sovereignty – followers believed a territory’s voters should decide themselves whether to allow slavery Terms and People
Terms and People(continued) • secede – to break away, especially from the Union • Compromise of 1850– legislation designed to avoid division between North and South over slavery • Fugitive Slave Act– stringent laws that required citizens to apprehend fugitive slaves
How did Congress try to resolve the dispute between North and South over slavery? As the nation expanded, the problem of slavery became a divisive and difficult issue to resolve. Different economies and viewpoints of the North and the South hindered compromise.
The South wanted new territories to beslave states. Since the passage of the Missouri Compromise in 1820, Congress had tried to maintain a balance of free states and slave states. The North wanted new territories to be free states. In 1846, the Wilmot Proviso, proposed that all lands acquired from Mexico would be free territories. It was defeated, but it brought the issue of slavery to the forefront of public debate.
In the election of 1848, the Democrats and the Whigs split over the issue of slavery,and a third party was formed, the Free-Soil Party. Former President Martin Van Buren ran on the Free-Soil Party against Whig Zachary Taylor and Democrat Lewis Cass. Taylor was elected.
Although the Free-Soil party lost the election, it had a large influence on politics.
The Democrats and Whigs were forced to address the slavery issue. Both parties supported popular sovereignty, or havingvoters in a territory decide whether their territory would be free or allow slavery. Having voters decide had wide appeal since it seemed in keeping with the tradition of American democracy. It would also remove Congress from the controversy.
Once again, the slavery issue was debated in the Senate by three political leaders. Daniel Webster from the North John Calhoun from the South Henry Clay from the West
Henry Clay proposed the Compromise of 1850, a series of resolutions that made concessions to both the North and South.
During a heated debate in the Senate, Calhoun and Webster took different stands on the compromise.
Congress passed the Compromise of 1850, and President Millard Fillmore signed it into law. • The compromise was supposed to bring calm to the nation, but many people were dissatisfied. • Northerners were particularly upset by the Fugitive Slave Act. • Larger crises loomed in the decade ahead.
