The Fight For Slavery In The Fight For Slavery In CaliforniaCalifornia

by James M. McPherson by James M. McPherson 

History 141 # 71154Student: B Lukas

Instructor: Dr. M Arguello

The Annexation of Texas  The Annexation of Texas  1845 After the conquest over Mexico in 1845 After the conquest over Mexico in

the Mexican-American war; the the Mexican-American war; the annexation of Texas took place.annexation of Texas took place.

Some people debated over whether to Some people debated over whether to expand slavery to the west. expand slavery to the west.

Mexico was reduced to half its size and Mexico was reduced to half its size and the USA increased by a third. the USA increased by a third.

Many opposed Pennsylvania Congressman Many opposed Pennsylvania Congressman David Wilmot’s “Proviso” – ‘any territory David Wilmot’s “Proviso” – ‘any territory acquired from Mexico “neither slavery nor acquired from Mexico “neither slavery nor involuntary servitude shall ever exist in involuntary servitude shall ever exist in any part of said territory”‘ any part of said territory”‘

Disagreements between Abolitionists and Disagreements between Abolitionists and others over the morality of slavery, the others over the morality of slavery, the scope of democracy and the economic scope of democracy and the economic merits of free labor versus merits of free labor versus slave plantations caused the Whig and slave plantations caused the Whig and “Know-Nothing” parties to collapse, and “Know-Nothing” parties to collapse, and new ones to arise. new ones to arise.

Majority of Confederate soldiers fought to Majority of Confederate soldiers fought to protect slavery , which they viewed as an protect slavery , which they viewed as an integral part of southern economy, integral part of southern economy, culture, and manhood. culture, and manhood.

GOLD RUSH!!! GOLD RUSH!!! Early 1848 - Gold was discovered in Early 1848 - Gold was discovered in

the riverbed on the American River the riverbed on the American River near Sacramentonear Sacramento

December 1848 - Two hundred December 1848 - Two hundred ounces of pure gold was sent to ounces of pure gold was sent to Washington as proof Washington as proof

Spring of 1849 – California population Spring of 1849 – California population boomed due to the discovery of gold boomed due to the discovery of gold

There is no vocation in the world in There is no vocation in the world in which slavery can be more useful and which slavery can be more useful and profitable than in mining“ profitable than in mining“

California is by nature peculiarly a California is by nature peculiarly a slave holding State. If it were not for slave holding State. If it were not for the agitation to exclude slavery, the agitation to exclude slavery, thousands of young, intelligent, thousands of young, intelligent, active men...would have been in that active men...would have been in that region, having each carried with region, having each carried with them from one to five slaves.“them from one to five slaves.“

MinersMiners By the Spring of 1849 thousands of By the Spring of 1849 thousands of

people were migrating to California in people were migrating to California in search of Gold. search of Gold.

People came as far as Chile, China, People came as far as Chile, China, Mexico, Australia, France, and other Mexico, Australia, France, and other parts of the world. parts of the world.

By 1849 the population of California By 1849 the population of California was as large as Delaware and Florida, was as large as Delaware and Florida, existing states. existing states.

The people that arrived to San The people that arrived to San Francisco and the mining camps Francisco and the mining camps needed a form of government. needed a form of government.

They would require courts, land and They would require courts, land and water laws, mail service, and other water laws, mail service, and other institutions. institutions.

In 1849 settlers in California made In 1849 settlers in California made their own state constitution.their own state constitution.

A group of the miners 49s that have flocked to California

Affects on California Affects on California The Southern fear that admission of California as the sixteenth The Southern fear that admission of California as the sixteenth

free state would tip the balance of power against slave states in free state would tip the balance of power against slave states in the Senate and set a precedent for additional free states from the the Senate and set a precedent for additional free states from the Mexican cession giving the Northern/Union the upper hand.Mexican cession giving the Northern/Union the upper hand.

Democratic Party vs. Chivalry’s Proslavery Democratic Party vs. Chivalry’s Proslavery The Chivalry made repeated efforts to infiltrate slavery into The Chivalry made repeated efforts to infiltrate slavery into

California California 1852 Permitted slave owners to “sojourn” indefinitely in California 1852 Permitted slave owners to “sojourn” indefinitely in California

with his human property with his human property Divided the state in two, with the Southern portion reverting to Divided the state in two, with the Southern portion reverting to

territorial status and open to slavery like New Mexico and Utah territorial status and open to slavery like New Mexico and Utah Violent and disharmony among California politicians Violent and disharmony among California politicians David Terry killed David Broderick David Terry killed David Broderick Despite everything, California remained one state and slave free Despite everything, California remained one state and slave free

in the end in the end

ResourcesResources The New York Review of Books: The New York Review of Books: The Fight For Slavery In The Fight For Slavery In

CaliforniaCalifornia by James M. McPhersonby James M. McPherson Google Image Search www.google.comGoogle Image Search www.google.com WIKIPEDIA the Free Encyclopedia en.wikipedia.orgWIKIPEDIA the Free Encyclopedia en.wikipedia.org