U.S. History

Chapter 18: A Divided NationSection 1: The Debate Over Slavery

The Expansion of Slavery

• Mexican-American War reignited the debate over slavery

The Expansion of Slavery

• Some proposed extending the Missouri Compromise line

The Expansion of Slavery

•Wilmot Proviso—stated that slavery was not permitted in the Mexican Cession

David Wilmot

The Expansion of Slavery

•Sectionalism—a devotion to the interest of one region rather than those of the entire country

The Expansion of Slavery

• Popular Sovereignty—principle that would allow voters in a particular territory to decide whether they wanted to ban or permit slavery

Lewis Cass

The Expansion of Slavery

• Election of 1848

– Major issue: slavery in the Mexican Cession

– Democrats & Whigs fail to take firm stance

– Formation of Free Soil Party—supported Wilmot Proviso

The Expansion of Slavery

Martin Van BurenFree Soil Party

Zachary TaylorWhig Party

Lewis CassDemocratic Party

The Expansion of Slavery

• California seeks admission to Union

• Adding a free state would upset free/slave state balance

The Compromise of 1850

• Henry Clay: created the Compromise of 1850 to resolve the issue of California’s admission to the Union

The Compromise of 1850

• Compromise of 1850:

– CA admitted as a free state

– Mexican Cession divided into New Mexico & Utah territories—slavery decided by popular sovereignty

The Compromise of 1850

• Compromise of 1850:

– Stronger fugitive slave law

– Slave trade banned in Washington D.C.

– Texas give up claims in NM in exchange money to pay debts from Republic days

Fugitive Slave Act

•Fugitive Slave Act—law that made it a crime to help runaway slaves; allowed for the arrest of escaped slaves in areas where slavery was illegal and required their return to their owners

Fugitive Slave Act

• Suspected fugitive slaves could be taken before a U.S. commissioner

• Slaveholders prove ownership through testimony of white witnesses

• Accused fugitives could not testify in own defense

Fugitive Slave Act

• Commissioners paid $5 when they rejected claim

• Commissioners paid $10 when they returned a suspected fugitive

• Penalties: 6 months in jail & $1000 fine

Fugitive Slave Act

•Opposed and resisted by abolitionists

Fugitive Slave Act

• Anthony Burns: fugitive slave who abolitionists tried to rescue from jail

Anthony Burns

Fugitive Slave Act

•Deputy marshal killed

•Returned to slavery in Virginia

Antislavery Literature

Sojourner Truth Frederick Douglass

Antislavery Literature

• Uncle Tom’s Cabin:

– Written by Harriet Beecher Stowe

– Kindly old slave who is sold to a vicious cotton planter

Harriet Beecher Stowe

Antislavery Literature

• Sold 2 million copies

• Sparked outrage in the South, praise in the North