The Civil War Lesson 1 Slavery Divides the

Nation

The Civil War Lesson 1 Slavery Divides the

Nation
Learning 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.
Analyze why the Fugitive Slave Act increased tensions between the
North and South.

The Civil War Lesson 1 Slavery Divides the

Nation
Key Terms

Wilmot Proviso
Free-Soil Party
popular sovereignty
secede
Compromise of 1850
Fugitive Slave Act
personal liberty laws
Underground Railroad
Harriet Tubman
Harriet Beecher Stowe

Different Perspectives on the Issue of

Slavery
From the nations earliest days, the issue of slavery divided Americans.
As the nation expanded, the problem became more pressing. Should
slavery be allowed in the new western territories? Southerners said yes;
many northerners said no.
South was too dependent on cotton

Different Perspectives on the Issue of

Slavery

Wilmot Proviso Sparks Controversy

Started with new lands gained from Mexico in the Mexican
American War
Threatened to imbalance free states/slave states in the
Senate
David Wilmot- Pennsylvania Congressman- Wilmot Proviso- no
slavery in the lands obtained from Mexico Never passed but just discussing it caused controversy
Northern Perspectives on Slavery
North was still very racists
Tended to view slaves as inferior
Limited the rights of African Americans
Abolitionists- vocal minority- believed slavery was morally wrong
Some northerners were invested in Southern cotton
Some were worried freed slaves would compete for labor in the
north
Southern Perspectives on Slavery
Southern politicians argued that northern free labor system
harmed society more than slavery did
A few Southerners argued against slavery, but it was
normally to their detriment

Different Perspectives on the Issue of

Slavery

This image shows the northern city of New York in 1855. Infer What might
everyday life have been like in New York during this time?

Slavery's Effect on the 1848 Election

The Wilmot Proviso had given the nations political parties a new focus.
In the 1848 presidential campaign, both Democrats and Whigs split over
the question of whether to limit the expansion of slavery. New political
factions emerged, with slavery at the center of debate.

Slavery's Effect on the 1848 Election

The Free-Soil Party

National platform of freedom
Nominated Martin Van Buren as president
Free Slavery, free speech, free labor, and free men
Main goal was to keep slavery out of the western territories
Whigs and Democrats Put the Choice to Voters
Both had avoided the topic of slavery
Free-Soilers made the major parties take a stance on slavery
Popular Sovereignty- policy that let voters in a territory decide if
they would be a slave or a free state
Whigs nominated Zachary Taylor- Mexican American war general
(and slave owner)
Democrats- Lewis Cass- opposed the Wilmot Proviso and
supported Pop. Sov.
Free-Soilers took votes from the Democrats and Zachary Taylor
was elected narrowly

Slavery's Effect on the 1848 Election

Former President Martin Van Buren was the Free-Soil candidate for the presidency
in 1848. Interpret What do the images on this poster tell you about the party?

Slavery's Effect on the 1848 Election

Analyze Maps What does this map reveal about sectional political affiliations in the
late 1840s?

The Compromise of 1850 Averts a Crisis

To expand slavery or restrict itthis dilemma came to haunt the rapidly
growing nation. In 1848, gold was discovered in California, and soon
thousands of adventurers were headed west to seek their fortune.
Before long, the burgeoning western territories would petition for entry
into the Union. Should these new states allow slavery? Who would
decide?

The Compromise of 1850 Averts a Crisis

California Starts a Crisis

1849- drafted a constitution and asked to be admitted to the
union as a free state
Admitting them would tip the balance
Other areas were becoming territories looking at statehood in
the future
D.C. was looking to abolish slavery
The south wanted enforcement of a Fugitive Slave Law
Clay Proposes a Compromise
Great Pacificator
Urged the North and the South to reach a compromise- California
as a free state with a harsher Fugitive Slave law
Popular Sovereignty would decide Utah and New Mexico

The Compromise of 1850

Averts a Crisis

Calhoun and Webster Debate Clay's Plan

Daniel Webster and John C. Calhoun were leading congressmen (Clay
is too ill)
South threatened to secede if they did not get more protection from
the government on slavery
The Senate Passes the Compromise of 1850
Each measure was adopted and voted on separately
By September 1850- Calhoun and Taylor had died (both against the
compromise)- Millard Fillmore was for it
California was admitted as a free state, Popular sovereignty was
applied to the new territory from Mexico, Texas gave up territory to
New Mexico, slave trade was prohibited in Washington D.C. (but not
slavery), and a new Fugitive Slave Act was passed (citizens who
assisted a fugitive slave could be imprisoned or fined)

The Compromise of 1850 Averts a Crisis

This image shows a San Francisco street in 1849. California boomed as miners
flocked there from all over the world after the discovery of gold in 1849.

The Compromise of 1850 Averts a Crisis

Analyze Maps Based on the information in this map, would the expansion of the
United States westward in the 1850s benefit free or slave state interests?

The Compromise of 1850 Averts a Crisis

Analyze Information How were the votes on two of the Compromise's measures
divided? How would you describe the impact of the Fugitive Slave Act?

Northern Resistance to Slavery Increases

Americans had greeted the Compromise of 1850 with relief. But the ink
on the document had barely dried before the issue of slavery resurfaced,
this time with violent results.
Fugitive Slave law was very controversial to Northerners
Personal liberty laws were passed by some northern states that
nullified the Fugitive slave act in their state

Northern Resistance to Slavery Increases

Many Northerners Defy the Law

Christiania Riot- no one was found guilty
People openly defied the law
The Underground Railroad Ferries People to Freedom
Escape system
Harriet Tubman- Maryland born fugitive slave- Black Moses
Guided hundreds of slaves to safety
Abolitionist Authors Portray Life Under Slavery
Harriet Beecher Stowe- 1852- Uncle Toms Cabin
Gave slavery a face for those who had never witnessed it
Sold 300,000 in the first year

Northern Resistance to Slavery Increases

Published in 1851, this cartoon satirizes the results of the Fugitive Slave Act.
Analyze Political Cartoons Why does one abolitionist suggest that this is all your
fault, Webster?

Northern Resistance to Slavery Increases

Analyze Maps Which sections of the Underground Railroad were likely the riskiest
for fugitives to pass through?