free labor ideology and the politics of the mexican war
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Free Labor Ideology and the Politics of the Mexican War. The Long March to Civil War Begins. Previous Conflict Over Territory: Missouri Compromise, 1821. The major issues of the Second Party System were …. A. Economic (Bank War) B. Social (Temperance & Reform) - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Free Labor Ideology and the Politics of the Mexican War
The Long March to Civil War Begins
Previous Conflict Over Territory: Missouri Compromise, 1821
The major issues of the Second Party System were …
A. Economic (Bank War)
B. Social (Temperance & Reform)
C. Slavery (Abolitionism, Cycle of Distrust)
Lessons Learned from Missouri Compromise Debates
Keep slavery out of national politics (“Conspiracy of Silence”).
Make sure that each region has enough land for future expansion.
Needed both northern and southern support to win national elections.
Defining Free Labor Ideology
Definition: Set of ideals that celebrated the North’s economic progress and the ability of ordinary men to become financially independent. These ideals include the belief that slavery invariably degraded free labor.
Glorification of Hard Work and Economic Progress
Hard Work Always Led to Economic Mobility
Both Manual and Mental Labor Good
Failure = Laziness, Personal Failing
Yet Free Labor Reflected Fears of Economic Change
Growth of Cities with Large Working Class: Can These Workers Acquire Independence?
Solution: WESTERN LAND Tied to Manifest Destiny
Western Land Provided Opportunity for All
“The public lands [in the West] are the safety valve of our industrial and social engine.”Horace Greeley, Editor, New York Times
Free Labor’s Economic Critique of Slavery
Slavery degraded free labor and bred laziness.
South lacked economic vitality.
“Slave Power Conspiracy”
Recipe for Political Disaster: South Wanted West as Well
Southerners needed fresh land for cotton.
Southerners worried about declining political and economic influence.
Southern honor: insult to exclude slavery from western territories.
James K. Polk and the Election of 1844
Slaveholder from Tennessee; Rabid Expansionist
Elected in 1844 on Expansionist Agenda
Polk Wanted to Annex Texas and Goad Mexico into War
“Mexico Will Poison Us”
Popular War, but Undercurrent of Opposition
U. S. Acquired Huge Territory
Northerners Feared Spread of Slavery
Northerners Supported the Wilmot Proviso
David Wilmot, PA Democrat: No Slavery in Newly Acquired Territory
Huge Debate that Deadlocks Nation
Nashville Convention of 1850
Compromise of 1850 and Mexican War Controversy California entered into
the Union as a free state.
Utah and New Mexico: Open to slavery via popular vote.
Slave TRADE ended in Washington, D.C.
Stronger Fugitive Slave Act
New Fugitive Slave Act Created More Controversy
New Law Established Federal Commissioners
Northerners MUST Return Fugitive Slaves
Northern Interpretation of Fugitive Slave Act of 1850
Single Biggest Event that Led to New Republican Party and
War:
The Kansas Nebraska Act
of 1854
The Kansas-Nebraska ActRepealed the MO Compromise
The Kansas-Neb Act Unleashes “One Helluva Storm”
Mass public meetings led to the Republican party.
Northern Whigs become Republicans.
Southern Whigs join Democrats.