Election of 1848Election of 1848 Polk would not run for reelection -- ailing Democrats nominate General Lewis Cass

– “Father of popular sovereignty” Slavery: Turn nat’l issue into local issue – shove it under the rug

– Flaw: Might spread slavery

Whigs nominate Zachary Taylor – “Hero of Buena Vista”– Whigs Didn’t choose Clay – too many enemies– Dodged most significant issues, no formal stance on extension of

slavery – shove it under the rug Free Soil Party (ardent anti-slaveryites) nominated Martin

Van Buren– Supported Wilmot Proviso– Only with “Free Soil” in the west could a family hope to move

up. Taylor Wins

California Gold Rush California Gold Rush Ignited issue of slavery from underneath Taylor –

had hoped to sit on the issue– Tens of thousands flooded California – no stable

government established – rampant crime and mayhem ensued

– 1849 – Drafted a Constitution (excluding slavery) and applied for admission

– Slave states protested South had majority in cabinet and SC and equality in the

Senate – 15 slave states could easily veto any proposed Const. Amend.

Feared tipping of balance Angered by call for abolition in D.C. (location), Loss of

runaways through Underground Railroad – wanted more stringent fugitive slave law

Compromise of 1850Compromise of 1850 How do we keep the nation together and deal with

California/slavery Key Players: Clay, Calhoun, and Webster

– Clay defended compromising– Calhoun Rejected concessions – leave slavery alone, return runaway

slaves, restore balance– Webster defended Clay’s calls for compromise – famous “Seventh of

March Speech” Deadlock in Congress Taylor would likely veto any compromises

– Taylor dies unexpectedly ->Millard Fillmore– Compromise

North SouthCal admitted as Free State Formed NM & UT Terr. Open to

pop. Sov.Disputed Texas Territory given to NM Texas given $10 milAbolish slave trade (but not slavery) in DC Stringent Fugitive slave law

Better Deal?Better Deal?North!!

– Cal as free state tipped the balance– Disputed “Texas” territory had been ripped from

slaveholding Texas Almost certain to be free – pop sov.

– Abolition of Slave Trade in D.C.– Most Controversial – Fugitive Slave Law

Enraged Northerners – some refused to enforce (like SC in 1832)

Election of 1852Election of 1852 Democrats – couldn’t decide who to run

– Franklin Pierce (who’s he?) Dark-horse, enemyless – (prosouthern northerner – accepted by the

proslaveryites of the Dem party) Platform – territorial expansion, support of Compromise of 1850

(including Fugitive Slave Law)

Whigs – probably should have run someone associated with Compromise of 1850 (Fillmore or Webster)– Went with tradition (military leader) – Winfield Scott– Whigs were Split

Antislavery (North) did not agree with Scott’s endorsement of the Fugitive Slave Law

Southern Whigs agreed with platform, but weren’t convinced of Scott’s commitment to the Compromise of 1850

Pierce Wins -- landslide

Expansion South?Expansion South? South needed more slave territory (UT and NM territories

left to popular sovereignty)– Caribbean– William Walker tried to take control of Nicaragua

Pierce withdrew diplomatic recognition Coalition of Central American nations formed against him – firing squad

Cuba– Polk had considered offering Spain $100 million (Spanish

refused)– Southerners try to invade – repelled– Angry mob attacks Spain’s consulate in New Orleans– Spain seizes Black Warrior

Spain won’t have support of England, France, or Russia – Crimean War– Ostend Manifesto

U.S. offer $120 mil – if refused, US justified in taking Northerners embittered – Pierce Administration drops

The Gadsden PurchaseThe Gadsden Purchase Transportation Problems – land transportation was

necessary to the keep the Pacific Coast from breaking away– Solution: Transcontinental Railroad– Could only afford one line – North or South?

Rewards: Wealth, Population, and Influence

Economically, South was losing the race with the North– South is eager for railroad– Best route in the South ran slightly south of Mexican border

(needed another chunk of Mexico) James Gadsden negotiates treaty w/ Santa Anna in 1853 -- $10 million Allowed South to insist on Railroad

– Had land, mountains were less high, route would not pass through any unorganized territory (NM officially a territory w/ federal troops)

Douglas’s Kansas-NebraskaDouglas’s Kansas-NebraskaStephen Douglas’ counter attack to South’s

Gadsden Purchase– Cut Nebraska Territory in two (Kan. & Neb.) –

Slavery would be determined by popular sovereignty– Assumed Nebraska would be free, Kansas would be

slave – maintain balanceProblem – Contradiction of MC

– KS is due west of Missouri – north of 36°30’ Southerners saw a chance to gain one more slave state Northerners react with opposition to the Fugitive Slave

LawMost importantly, rise of the Republican Party!

– Moral argument against spread of slavery