Sectional StrugglesSectional Struggles

AP US HistoryAP US History

The Union in PerilThe Union in Peril

The north had been industrializing The north had been industrializing rapidly, and large cities began popping rapidly, and large cities began popping up all over the northern territory.up all over the northern territory.

The south remained mostly rural, The south remained mostly rural, consisting of mostly plantations and consisting of mostly plantations and small farms. small farms.

1/3 of the population lived in the 1/3 of the population lived in the south, but they produced only 10% of south, but they produced only 10% of the nation’s manufactured goods. the nation’s manufactured goods.

Slavery in the TerritoriesSlavery in the Territories August 1846 – Democrat David Wilmot August 1846 – Democrat David Wilmot

introduced an amendment saying that introduced an amendment saying that “Neither slavery nor involuntary “Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude shall ever exist” in any servitude shall ever exist” in any territory that the United States may territory that the United States may acquire in the war with Mexico. Known acquire in the war with Mexico. Known as the as the Wilmot Proviso.Wilmot Proviso.

This meant CA, UT, and NM would be This meant CA, UT, and NM would be closed to slavery forever.closed to slavery forever.

Northerners were for it, and Northerners were for it, and Southerners against it, arguing that the Southerners against it, arguing that the Constitution protected “property”Constitution protected “property”

Southerners worried if the Wilmot Southerners worried if the Wilmot Proviso was passed, it would shift the Proviso was passed, it would shift the balance of power in government to the balance of power in government to the north permanently. north permanently.

Statehood for CaliforniaStatehood for California

As a result of the gold rush, California As a result of the gold rush, California grew in population and in 1850 held a grew in population and in 1850 held a constitutional convention, which forbade constitutional convention, which forbade slavery.slavery.

Some saw the idea that a state be able to Some saw the idea that a state be able to decide on the issue of slavery a good way decide on the issue of slavery a good way of settling tension between the north and of settling tension between the north and south. south.

This angered southerners, who began to This angered southerners, who began to threaten secession.threaten secession.

Compromise of 1850Compromise of 1850 Henry Clay worked to come up with a compromise to Henry Clay worked to come up with a compromise to

the issue of slavery, especially in the territory the issue of slavery, especially in the territory acquired from Mexico.acquired from Mexico.

He presented a series of resolutions called the He presented a series of resolutions called the Compromise of 1850Compromise of 1850:: California would be admitted as a free stateCalifornia would be admitted as a free state Utah and New Mexico territories would decide Utah and New Mexico territories would decide

about slavery through about slavery through popular sovereigntypopular sovereignty.. Texas-New Mexico boundary dispute was resolved Texas-New Mexico boundary dispute was resolved

and Texas would be paid $10 million by the federal and Texas would be paid $10 million by the federal governmentgovernment

The sale of slaves would be banned in D.C., but The sale of slaves would be banned in D.C., but slavery could continue there.slavery could continue there.

Fugitive Slave Act required people in the free Fugitive Slave Act required people in the free states to help capture and return escaped slaves.states to help capture and return escaped slaves.

Compromise of 1850Compromise of 1850

The Compromise is The Compromise is AdoptedAdopted

The Senate rejected the compromise The Senate rejected the compromise at first. Stephen A. Douglas, a at first. Stephen A. Douglas, a politician from Illinois, broke down politician from Illinois, broke down the compromise and reintroduced it in the compromise and reintroduced it in individual partsindividual parts

When President Taylor died and When President Taylor died and Millard Fillmore took over, he made it Millard Fillmore took over, he made it clear he supported the compromise.clear he supported the compromise.

After 8 months, the Compromise of After 8 months, the Compromise of 1850 was voted into law. 1850 was voted into law.

Fugitive Slave ActFugitive Slave Act A component of the Compromise of 1850A component of the Compromise of 1850 Alleged fugitives were not entitled to a trial by Alleged fugitives were not entitled to a trial by

juryjury Fugitives could not testify on their own behalfFugitives could not testify on their own behalf A statement by a slave owner was all that was A statement by a slave owner was all that was

required to have a slave returned. required to have a slave returned. Those in charge of enforcing the law were Those in charge of enforcing the law were

awarded $10 for returning them fugitive awarded $10 for returning them fugitive slaves, but only $5 for freeing them.slaves, but only $5 for freeing them.

Anyone convicted of helping a run away slave Anyone convicted of helping a run away slave was subject to a fine of $1,000 or prison for 6 was subject to a fine of $1,000 or prison for 6 months.months.

The North ReactsThe North Reacts Nine northern states Nine northern states

passed personal liberty passed personal liberty laws, forbidding the laws, forbidding the imprisonment of runaway imprisonment of runaway slaves and guaranteed slaves and guaranteed them a trial by jury. them a trial by jury.

Trials would often be Trials would often be carried out over several carried out over several years, to increase slave years, to increase slave catchers’ expenses. catchers’ expenses.

The Underground The Underground RailroadRailroad

Over time, free African Americans and Over time, free African Americans and white abolitionists developed a secret white abolitionists developed a secret network of people to aid fugitives in network of people to aid fugitives in their escape. This was known as the their escape. This was known as the Underground RailroadUnderground Railroad..

““Conductors” hid slaves in secret Conductors” hid slaves in secret locations, providing them with food locations, providing them with food and clothing, and helping to escort and clothing, and helping to escort them to their next ‘station’. them to their next ‘station’.

Harriet TubmanHarriet Tubman

One of the most famous One of the most famous Underground Railroad Underground Railroad Conductors. Conductors.

Born into slavery, but Born into slavery, but escaped to Philadelphia in escaped to Philadelphia in 1849 after the death of her 1849 after the death of her owner.owner.

Made 19 trips back to the Made 19 trips back to the south and saved 300 slaves, south and saved 300 slaves, including her own parents. including her own parents.

Tension in Kansas & Tension in Kansas & NebraskaNebraska

Tension arose when slavery resurfaced, Tension arose when slavery resurfaced, even though it was supposedly settled even though it was supposedly settled by the Compromise of 1850.by the Compromise of 1850.

Needed to divide the territory west of Needed to divide the territory west of Iowa and Missouri. In 1854, Stephen Iowa and Missouri. In 1854, Stephen Douglas proposed to divide it into two Douglas proposed to divide it into two territories, Kansas and Nebraska. territories, Kansas and Nebraska.

Wanted slavery decided through Wanted slavery decided through popular sovereignty.popular sovereignty.

Kansas-Nebraska ActKansas-Nebraska Act

Jan 1854- Douglas introduced a bill to Jan 1854- Douglas introduced a bill to Congress to divide the land into two Congress to divide the land into two territories.territories.

If passed, it would repeal the Missouri If passed, it would repeal the Missouri Compromise and establish popular Compromise and establish popular sovereignty for both territories. sovereignty for both territories.

90% of Southern congressmen voted 90% of Southern congressmen voted for it.for it.

Became law in May 1854. Became law in May 1854.