US1H Unit 10

Election of 1840

Whigs v. Dems, William H. Harrison and John Tyler vs Van Buren. Whigs want to re-establish national bank, protective tariffs, and federal funding for internal improvements. Dems want opposite.

John Tyler

Harrison’s VP and the President after his death, known as “A Man without a Party” because he didn’t agree with the Whig opinions, vetoed Clay’s bank, and his whole cabinet eventually dipped.

Manifest Destiny

An idea created by John O’Sullivan where white americans were entitled by god to settle and conquer the entire continent.

North on Expansion

Mainly, they feared the spread of slavery, the center of trade moving west, and weaker politics with new slave states.

South on Expansion

Mainly, they liked the spread of slavery, more political power, and more land for agriculture.

Conflict in Maine

The Aroostock War was a boundary dispute in New Brunswick, and tensions rise through “Flaming Caroline”, before Webster ultimately forges a map and settles it with a treaty.

Flaming Caroline

Incident where Canadians destroyed a US ship at Niagra Falls, and then Americans arrested a canadian, created lots of tension.

Texas Problem

Mexicans had invited Americans to settle there to increase economic activity and raise taxes, however, too many came, and ultimately overpowered the Mexicans.

Santa Ana

The dictator of Mexico. He introduced laws that strengthed the Federal Gov, and also sent troops to Texas. Texans didn’t like him.

Texas’ War for Independance

After troops showed up, Texans declared independance, however, they were pretty disorganized at the beginning.

Alamo

Santa Ana surrounded Texans at Alamo and sieged them for 10 days. Davy Crockett was in charge, and eventually everyone inside was executed. Angered the Texans hella and boosted their movement.

Sam Houston

The commander in chief of the war and the soon to be leader of the Lone Star Republic.

Battle of San Jacinto River

Sam Houston led his troops to defeat Santa Ana, “Remember the Alamo!” They killed Mexican soldiers in front of Santa Ana, and forced him to sign treaty.

Viewpoints of annexation

Van Buren / Andrew Jackson: Don’t annex immediatly, avoid conflict.

South/West: Supported it, wanted more states and slaves to boost Congress, west wanted expansion.

North: Did not support, same fears as earlier, and also feared War with Mexico.

Oregon Problem

Claimed by both GB and US, and both desired the territory. US pulled out of joint occupation, as it was against Manifest Destiny and they were rapidly moving into the territory through the Oregon Trail.

Election of 1844

Whigs: Henry Clay, wanted to avoid issue of Texas, but said later he wanted to, alienating his major support group in North.

Dems: James Polk, supported annexation of Texas and Oregon (54/40 or fight). Dark horse candidate, because he was not supposed to win.

Liberty Party: James Birney, wanted to avoid annexation and opposed slavery. supported by random Whigs.

Polk would win the election

Polks Four Point Plan

1.) Lower tariffs

2.) Restore independant treasury

3.) Reoccupy Oregon

4.) Acquire Cali

Polk in Oregon

While he wanted 54/40 or fight, he ultimatly ended up settling at the 49th parallel.

Polk in Cali

Wanted to play the “Texas Game”, and therefore people moved to Cali and outnumbered the Mexicans. Created the Bear Flag Republic for a little while.

Slidell Mission

Slidell offers Mexico 25 mill to buy Cali, however, the Mexican Gov. refuses to even meet him.

Mexican American War

Started when Polk sent Zachary Taylor across Rio Grande, which Mexicans saw as an invasion, and killed 11 Americans. Ultimatly, Winfield Scott and 14k troops captured Mexico City, elevating his role and position, making him a war hero.

Nicolas Trist

Chief negotiator for America, he negotiates the Treaty of Guadulepe Hidalgo

Treaty of Guadulepe Hidalgo

Mexico cedes parts of Cali, Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, and Nevada.

US pays 15 mill and owes 3.25 mill in debt.

Border set at Rio Grande.

Mexicans maintain rights in ceded territories, are allowed to either go back to Mexico or become US citizens.

Wilmot Proviso

David Wilmot offers a spending bill that would: Ban slavery in any territory gained from Mexico. Was extremely inflammatory because it would have upset the balance between North and South, and went against Missouri Compromise. Passed House but was blocked in Senate. Southern Whigs joined Dems to stop it, creating divide in Whig Party.

Election of 1848

Dems: Lewis Cass. Introduced Popular Sovereignty.

Whigs: Zach Taylor, slave owner and war hero, hope to pull in southern voters.

Liberty Party: Salmon P. Chase, most extreme abolistionists.

Free Soil Party: Van Buren. Moderate abolitionists who believed slavery should not be expanded because of economic reasons. Labeled “barn burners” for ditching dems.

Zachary Taylor wins.

California Gold Rush

People from all walks of life came, and they were labeled 49ers. Came from East and Midwestern states, taking trails such as the Oregon and Cali trail. Boom towns popped up, no official gov, so they used pop. soveirgnty, and Cali eventually became a free state. South called it “tyranny of the majority”.

Compromise of 1850

California admitted as free state, create Utah and New Mexico to decide slavery under pop. sovereignty, slave trade abolished in DC, Texas gives up claim to disputed territory to pay debts.

Fugitive Slave Clause

Free states were required to help capture runaway slaves, where they would not be given a jury trial and judges were paid more for ruling in favor of slaveholders.

Debates over Compromise

Calhoun: Extreme southerner, argues for extension of slavery. Wants slavery to balance North and South, and wants full slavery. Against compromise.

Webster: “Seventh of March” speech, urges preservation of Union above all else. Supported the compromise because he thought it would keep the Union together. Infuriates Northerners who thought he would go against any provisions for slavery.

Clay: “Compromise Speech”, similar to Webster, wants to preserve Union, and says North and South must give up concessions to do so.

Birney: Anti-slavery and anti-compromise,

William Seward: Took a moral and religious standpoint, stating God’s law was higher than the Constitution, therefore slavery should not be allowed. Irrespresible Conflict Speech.

How was the Compromise of 1850 settled?

Since nobody would agree to the full thing, Stephen Douglas splits it up into smaller legislation, and eventually passes it.

Stephen A. Douglas

Dem. from Illinois, settled Compromise of 1850, and wants to build a railroad and become Pres.

Election of 1852

Dems: Franklin Pierce: took a neutral stance on slavery since their party was made up of North and Southerners. Considered Dark Horse.

Whigs: Winfield Scott: was seen as neutral on the issue of the compromise, however, by trying to please both North and South, they failed.

Free Soil: John P. Hale: Economic approach to the compromise

Frankling Pierce wins

North and West draw together

Because of the railroad and economic developments, they become more connected, and their political values align more.

Ostend Manifesto

Wanted to annex Cuba, but it was leaked to public and faced hella backlash. Created more tensions because North thought they were trying to make another slave state.

Gasden Purchase

Bought from Mexico for 10 Million, main goal was to try and build and railroad through it.

Kansas Nebraska Act 1854

Stephen Douglas wants to appeal the south and build railroad through Chicago. Therefore, he wants to divide it into Kansas and Nebraska and use pop. sovereignty to decide slavery. Appealed to the South, but North feels betrayed, loses Douglas northern support.

Republican Party

Whigs are fractured, and many who appose slavery join the Republicans.

Bleeding Kansas

Never said when voting for slavery would take place, so people rushed into Kansas to try and sway the vote. Pro slave and anti slave towns. Would cause violence.

LeCompton vs. Topeka

Pro-slave people from Missouri went across the border and voted for slavery, and created the official LeCompton Consitution. However, abolitionists thought it was unfair, since it wasn’t fairly voted for, and they created the Topeka, which reflected the ideals of the people more. Ultimately, Buchanan picks LeCompton, but a re-vote takes place and Kansas is a free state.

Pottawatomie Creek Massacre

John Brown , after the sack of Lawrence, led his followers to the homes of pro-slavery settlers and killed 5 men in front of their families. Violence escalated into Bleeding Kansas.

Sack of Lawrence

Pro-slavery men from Missouri travelled to Lawrence and destroyed the town and ransacked the homes of free-soilers and anti slavery people.

Caning of Senator Sumner

Charles Sumner spoke out against LeCompton, and also insulted Andrew Butler of SC. Butler’s relative, Preston Brooks, caned him. North saw Sumner as a martyr, South saw Brooks as a hero. More division.

Uncle Tom’s Cabin

Written by Harriet Beacher Stowe, written from the perspective of a slave. Made many moderates support abolition.

Election of 1856

Republicans: John C. Freemont: Wanted to stop expansion of slavery, wanted to repeal Kansas Nebraska, abolish slavery in DC, prohibit slavery in new territories. Wanted to raise tariffs, distribute land, and make internal improvements.

Dems: James Buchanan: Will accept LeCompton, retain everything thats been working for hte Dems so far, terrible president.

Know Nothings: Milliard Filmore: Made up of southern whigs, wants to stop immigration and catholics.

Buchanan wins

Panic of 1857

Affected North more than South, gave South false sense of security from King Cotton.

Homstead Act

Give away land in 160 acre increments. Southern dems thought it would strengthen anti-slavery. Vetoed by Buchanan but later accepted by Lincoln.

Dred Scott

Dred Scott was in Missouri, set free by the precedant “Once free always free”. However, southerners challenged this, and the Missouri Supreme court overturned, abandoning hte precedant. Supreme Court tried to avoid the case altogether, so Scott went through John Sandford. Supreme Court ultimately ruled that: Scott wasn’t free because he was black, and blacks aren’t citizens. The MO compromise was unconsititional, and enslaved people were property of their owners, which was protected by the Constitution, which means they can’t be set free even in free states.

Significance of Dred Scott

Gave constitutional authority to slavery, and made it impossible to compromise over. North feared slaves would now be allowed in all territories. Republicans begin focusing on winning an election in order to overturn the ruling.

Lincoln-Douglas debates

Douglas was a strong orator, and Lincoln took a bold step to challenge him. They had 7 debates, most important is the Freeport Doctrine.

Freeport Doctrine

Says that if there are no laws protecting slavery in Kansas, no slave holder will ever go to Kansas, essentially making it prohibited. So if people don’t pass laws to support slavery, slavery won’t exist despite the Supreme Court rulings. Therefore pop. sovereignty is necessary. Hurts Douglas’ chances to become President as he loses southern support.

Raid on Harpers Ferry

John Brown and his men take an armory, trying to incite a large slave rebellion. However, nobody really follows him, and General Lee encircles him. Brown was found guilty and exectued. South sees him as a terrorist, North sees him as a martyr.

Election of 1860

Republicans: Lincoln: Tried to include North/West, all of the other republican ideals apply. Didn’t want to be too polarizing, and didn’t condemn slavery.

Southern Dems: John C. Breckenridge: Wanted to expand slavery, take Cuba.

Northern Dems: Stephen Douglas: Pop. Sovereignty for slavery question, support fugitive slave, utilize freeport doctrine.

Constitutional Union Party: John Bell: Main goal to preserve union, made up of former Whigs/Dems. Appealed to moderates and ignored slavery.

Lincoln wins, south secedes as a result.

Critteden Compromise

John Critteden wanted to stop the south from leaving and wanted a compromise. Proposed amendments protecting slavery in the southern states and extending MO compromise westward, allowing for western slave expansion. Lincoln and other republicans reject it.