Chapter 18Chapter 18 Notes Notes

Mrs. MarshallMrs. Marshall

By 1850 the South was well of By 1850 the South was well of both politically and both politically and economically.economically.

Zachary Taylor, southern born Zachary Taylor, southern born slaveholder, was President.slaveholder, was President.

South had a majority serving in South had a majority serving in the cabinet and on the US the cabinet and on the US Supreme Court.Supreme Court.

15 slave states15 slave states

Cotton fields were expanding Cotton fields were expanding and the price of cotton was and the price of cotton was good.good.

Underground RailroadUnderground Railroad

Refers to the effort to assist people Refers to the effort to assist people held in bondage to escape from held in bondage to escape from slavery.slavery.

Used railroad terms:Used railroad terms: ““stations” and “depots”- the homes stations” and “depots”- the homes

and businesses where fugitive slave and businesses where fugitive slave would rest and eatwould rest and eat

““stationmasters”- people who ran the stationmasters”- people who ran the homes and businesseshomes and businesses

““stockholders” people who stockholders” people who contributed money or goodscontributed money or goods

““conductor”- person responsible conductor”- person responsible for moving fugitives from one for moving fugitives from one station to anotherstation to another

Stations averaged being about Stations averaged being about 20 miles in distance.20 miles in distance.

Levi CoffinLevi Coffin- a Quaker who - a Quaker who assisted more than 3,000 slavesassisted more than 3,000 slaves

Harriet Tubman- Harriet Tubman- made 19 trips made 19 trips into the south and escorted over into the south and escorted over 300 slaves to freedom.300 slaves to freedom.

California applied for admission California applied for admission into the union as a free state. into the union as a free state. This would undo the equal This would undo the equal balance in the Senate.balance in the Senate.

  

Henry ClayHenry Clay- wanted the North - wanted the North and South to compromise and and South to compromise and the north to agree to a stronger the north to agree to a stronger fugitive slave law.fugitive slave law.

Stephen DouglasStephen Douglas supported Clay. supported Clay.

   John C. CalhounJohn C. Calhoun- said current - said current

fugitive slave laws were not fugitive slave laws were not strong enough.strong enough.

Daniel WebsterDaniel Webster- favored a - favored a stronger fugitive slave law but stronger fugitive slave law but said nature would decide areas said nature would decide areas which would be slave or free which would be slave or free states by climate and terrain of states by climate and terrain of the land.the land.

“ “Seventh of March” Seventh of March” speech(1850) helped lead to speech(1850) helped lead to compromisecompromise

William Henry Seward William Henry Seward young young senator from NY-highly opposed senator from NY-highly opposed system of slavery, opposed any system of slavery, opposed any type of compromisetype of compromise

Henry ClayHenry Clay- introduced an - introduced an omnibus bill (relating to or omnibus bill (relating to or containing many items) to deal containing many items) to deal with the issues of slavery.with the issues of slavery.

Opposed by Taylor, had no Opposed by Taylor, had no chance of passingchance of passing

   Taylor died July of 1850 and Taylor died July of 1850 and

Millard Fillmore became Millard Fillmore became President.President.

Stephen DouglasStephen Douglas

a northern Democrat, resurrecteda northern Democrat, resurrected

Clay’s bill and had it passed pieceClay’s bill and had it passed piece

by piece. Fillmore signed theby piece. Fillmore signed the

series of compromises that passedseries of compromises that passed

CongressCongress

Compromise of 1850Compromise of 1850

1-California was admitted into 1-California was admitted into the union as a the union as a

free state-this appeased the free state-this appeased the northnorth

2-Stronger Fugitive Slave Law 2-Stronger Fugitive Slave Law was passed was passed

(known as the Bloodhound Bill) (known as the Bloodhound Bill)

3- Territories of New Mexico and 3- Territories of New Mexico and

Utah would decide the issue of Utah would decide the issue of

slavery by popular slavery by popular

sovereignty at time of sovereignty at time of

admissionadmission 4- 4- Slave Trade, but not slavery Slave Trade, but not slavery

was abolished in the District was abolished in the District

of Columbiaof Columbia

5-Texas boundary was cut down 5-Texas boundary was cut down

by almost half and Texas debt by almost half and Texas debt

was assumed by the federal was assumed by the federal

governmentgovernment

Northerners did everything they Northerners did everything they could to undermine the Fugitive could to undermine the Fugitive Slave Act.Slave Act.– Massachusetts made it a penal Massachusetts made it a penal

offense for any state official to offense for any state official to enforce the new lawenforce the new law

– States passed “personal liberty States passed “personal liberty laws” which hampered enforcementlaws” which hampered enforcement

  

Election of 1852Election of 1852 Democrats nominated Franklin Democrats nominated Franklin

PiercePierce Whigs nominated Winfield Scott.Whigs nominated Winfield Scott. Both avoided issues of slavery Both avoided issues of slavery

and sectionalism.and sectionalism. Pierce was elected.Pierce was elected.

Whig party split over the issue of Whig party split over the issue of slavery. Never nominated slavery. Never nominated another presidential candidate. another presidential candidate. Party soon disappeared. Party soon disappeared.

NicaraguaNicaragua William Walker tried to gain William Walker tried to gain

control of this Central American control of this Central American country in the 1850’s. Using country in the 1850’s. Using force he declared himself force he declared himself president in July 1856 and president in July 1856 and legalized slavery.legalized slavery.

Coalition of Central American Coalition of Central American nations formed an alliance to nations formed an alliance to overthrow him. His plan failed.overthrow him. His plan failed.

Great Britain was interested in Great Britain was interested in Nicaragua because they feared Nicaragua because they feared the northern part of the US the northern part of the US would monopolize trade there.would monopolize trade there.

Clayton-Bulwer TreatyClayton-Bulwer Treaty (1850) (1850) Stated that neither American nor Stated that neither American nor

Britain would fortify or secure Britain would fortify or secure exclusive control over any future exclusive control over any future isthmian waterway.isthmian waterway.

  

Matthew PerryMatthew Perry- opened trade in - opened trade in

Japan to the United States. Japan to the United States.

Obtained a treaty permitting trade Obtained a treaty permitting trade

and the opening of Japanese ports and the opening of Japanese ports

to US merchant ships.to US merchant ships.

The south was interested in CubaThe south was interested in Cuba

because of the large slavebecause of the large slave

population and the sugarpopulation and the sugar

plantations.plantations.

Could make several states out of Could make several states out of

Cuba and maintain equal balance Cuba and maintain equal balance

in the senate.in the senate.

Narcisco LopezNarcisco Lopez

Planned an expedition to Cuba inPlanned an expedition to Cuba in

1848- was ended by President1848- was ended by President

Taylor.Taylor.

2 years later another unsuccessful 2 years later another unsuccessful

expedition was attempted.expedition was attempted.

  

1851 a 31851 a 3rdrd expedition gained a expedition gained a foothold on the island but ended foothold on the island but ended in complete defeat and in complete defeat and capture /execution of 50 capture /execution of 50 southerners who had southerners who had participated along with Lopez.participated along with Lopez.

Ostend ManifestoOstend Manifestoa secret document written in 1854 by USa secret document written in 1854 by US

diplomats at Ostend, Belgium describing adiplomats at Ostend, Belgium describing a

plan to acquire Cuba from Spain.plan to acquire Cuba from Spain.

On orders from Sec. of State, William Marcy, 3On orders from Sec. of State, William Marcy, 3

us diplomats (minister to Britain, France andus diplomats (minister to Britain, France and

Spain) devised a plan to purchase Cuba-ifSpain) devised a plan to purchase Cuba-if

Spain refused the offer it suggested the USSpain refused the offer it suggested the US

take Cuba by force.take Cuba by force.

News of the document leaked out-becameNews of the document leaked out-became

public knowledge-caused outrage amongpublic knowledge-caused outrage among

northerners-President Pierce was forced tonortherners-President Pierce was forced to

forget his scheme.forget his scheme.

Harriet Beecher StoweHarriet Beecher Stowe author of author of

Uncle Tom’s Cabin. PublishedUncle Tom’s Cabin. Published in in

1852-inspired by the Fugitive 1852-inspired by the Fugitive

Slave Law. Slave Law.

  Stephen Douglas-Stephen Douglas-senator from senator from

Illinois. Wanted to organizeIllinois. Wanted to organize

territory west of Illinois so that aterritory west of Illinois so that a

transcontinental railroad could be transcontinental railroad could be

constructed.constructed.

     

Kansas-Nebraska ActKansas-Nebraska Act

Passed in 1854. Passed in 1854.

Allowed people in the territories Allowed people in the territories of of

Kansas and Nebraska to decide for Kansas and Nebraska to decide for

themselves whether of not to themselves whether of not to

allow slavery within their borders.allow slavery within their borders.

1- It repealed the Missouri 1- It repealed the Missouri Compromise of 1820. Infuriated Compromise of 1820. Infuriated many in the north who many in the north who considered the compromise to be considered the compromise to be a binding agreement.a binding agreement.

2- The Pro-slavery south 2- The Pro-slavery south supported the Kansas-Nebraska supported the Kansas-Nebraska Act.Act.

Douglas’ motivation in introducing Douglas’ motivation in introducing

the bill:the bill: Trying to gain southern support Trying to gain southern support

for his presidential ambitionsfor his presidential ambitions His beliefs in the principles of His beliefs in the principles of

self-determination and self-self-determination and self-governmentgovernment

His northern railroad interest His northern railroad interest which was contrary to Pierce’s which was contrary to Pierce’s interest in a southern routeinterest in a southern route

His beliefs that nature would His beliefs that nature would preclude slavery from going into preclude slavery from going into certain geographic areas certain geographic areas regardless of popular sovereigntyregardless of popular sovereignty