THE UNION IN PERIL:

CAUSES OF THE CIVIL WAR

CHAPTER 10Section 1Objectives:1. To describe the growing differences between the North and South in their economy and way of life.

2. To explain why the Wilmot Proviso failed to pass and the statehood issue of California statehood became so important.

3. To show how the efforts of Clay, Webster and Douglas produced the Compromise of 1850 and a temporary halt halt to talk of secession.

What was the controversy in the territories about?Why was the Compromise of 1850 adopted?

VARYING ECONOMIESSOUTH

Single Crop Plantation Economy (Cotton)

Rural

Segregated black v. whiterich planters v. poor whites

Fearful of Northern interference & slave revolts

NORTH

• Industrial economy

• Urban

• Socially and Culturally Diverse – Immigration from Europe

• STOP SLAVERY!

• Why were immigrants so opposed to slavery??

Map: Population Distribution, 1790 and 1850

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Slavery in Territories Should territories and new states have slavery

Missouri Compromise

Wilmot Proviso Closed to slavery

California, Utah, and New Mexico

Against southern constitutional rights

Congress had no right to control the territories

Passed by the House, rejected by the Senate

Twice

David Wilmot, Penn. Congressman

“The north is going to stick the Wilmot amendment to every appropriation and then all of the South will vote against any measure thus clogged. Finally, a tremendous struggle will take place and perhaps Polk in starting one war may find half a dozen on his hands. I tell you, the prospect ahead is dark, cloudy, thick and gloomy.” - Alexander H. Stephens

Debate over Slavery in the territories leads to…

SECTIONALISM!!! (AGAIN!!!)Wilmot Proviso = an amendment passed in 1846,

stating that “neither slavery nor involuntary servitude shall ever exist” in the territory seized from Mexico during the war.

WHY? More slave states would upset the balance of power established in the Missouri Compromise.

PROBLEM: Gold Rush means that California is ready to become a state, due to population boom. California petitions to be a FREE state, despite being below the 36º30’ Missouri Compromise Line

Statehood for California Gold Rush

Population explosion Skipped requirements to become a territory

State Constitution Outlawed slaveryOutrage of Southerners

Location of California

How should California enter the union?

Free or slaveBalance of power

The Senate Debates - 1849

Pres. Zachary Taylor supports Californiapopular sovereignty

Some Southern states, threaten secession

Senators Henry Clay, Daniel Webster, and John Calhoun work out the Compromise of 1850

Compromise of 1850CONCESSIONS TO NORTH

California admitted as free

New Mexico to receive disputed land with Texas

Slave trade, but not slavery, abolished in D.C.

CONCESSIONS TO SOUTH

New Mexico and Utah Territories to be determined by popular sovereignty

Texas paid $10 million as compensation for New Mexico

Stronger Fugitive Slave Act

COMPROMISE OF 1850Calhoun and Webster debate the Compromise. Calhoun

rejects it, Webster argues for it.

Calhoun= advocate of state’s rights. Slaveholders have no need to get permission to take their property into the new territories.

Webster= the Union must be preserved, even if some Southerners and some abolitionists remain unsatisfied.

Compromise initially fails but Stephen A. Douglas (Illinois) renews efforts to pass the Compromise in sections, which works.

Taylor dies, and Millard Fillmore becomes President. Fillmore supports compromise and signs the bill into law.

Map: The Compromise of 1850

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Potential Essay Topics

Compare and Contrast Compromise of 1820 and 1850

Causes and Effects of Manifest Destiny

Causes and Effects of Texas Revolution

Causes and Effects of Mexican War

Factors for increased Sectionalism and declining nationalism

TERMSWilmot Proviso

Secession

Compromise of 1850

Popular sovereignty

Stephen A. Douglas

Millard Fillmore

Objectives:

1. To describe the growing differences between the North and South in

their economy and way of life.

2. To explain why the Wilmot Proviso failed to pass and the statehood issue of California statehood became so important.

3. To show how the efforts of Clay, Webster and Douglas produced the Compromise of 1850 and a temporary halt halt to talk of secession