Slavery in America 1850: Slavery in America 1850

Slavery in America 1850:

• Slavery in America 1850:

• Existed for 200 years – mostly in the South

• Abolished in the North Shortly after Revolutionary War

• 1850 Societies:

• North – Wage Labor and Industrial Revolution
• South – Slave labor and little to no industrialization

The Debate over Slavery

• The Debate over Slavery

• Property Rights vs. Human Rights

• South – Slaves were property protected by Constitution

• North – A Nation of Free men and equal rights for all and we still have slavery?

• Early 1800’s – most Americans agreed with South – No connection to slavery = don’t care

The Debate over Slavery:

• The Debate over Slavery:

• Mexican Cession:

• 500,000 Square Miles available
• Free or slave?

• Debate shift – Will Slavery expand Westward?

• Political Debate:

• Free soil states allowed into union could pass anti-slavery laws

• 1850: California Applies for Statehood

• Applied as a free soil state
• Potential to upset the balance between slave/ free reps.

Compromise of 1850:

• Compromise of 1850:

• Great debate took place

• Wilmot Proviso would have banned slavery  in any territory acquired in the Mexican war

• S.C. Rep John C. Calhoun stated that secession was on the table in slavery abolished

• Leads to compromise of 1850 Proposed

Compromise of 1850:

• Compromise of 1850:

• California Admitted

• New Mexico becomes a territory using Pop. Sov.

• Utah becomes a territory Pop. Sov.

• Fugitive Slave Act – Huge Issue

• Maintained the Balance! Compromise Successful

Fugitive Slave Act

• Fugitive Slave Act

• Allowed the arrest of runaway slaves in Free – states to be sent back to the South

• Federal crime to help a slave escape

• Blacks had to carry paperwork proving free status

• “Selling Someone Down the River”

• HATED BY NORTHERNERS – now FORCED to protect slavery

• Active and passive resistance to FSA

The Kansas-Nebraska Act

• The Kansas-Nebraska Act

• Stephen Douglas – Young Politician

• Needed South Support for Transcontinental R.R.

• Douglas new that South would give support to RR if Popular Sovereignty is allowed in Kansas/ Nebraska

• Popular Sovereignty: The idea that the people of a territory or state should decide the slavery issue themselves, not a imaginary line dividing the country

Kansas-Nebraska Act:

• Kansas-Nebraska Act:

• Opened up Kansas & Nebraska to settlement

• KS / NB would be decided by Popular Sov.

• Repealed Missouri Compromise – Slavery can happen anywhere as long as the people want slavery

• Northerners opposed

Popular Sovereignty: The People of Kansas Shall decide if Slavery shall be allowed in Kansas

• Popular Sovereignty: The People of Kansas Shall decide if Slavery shall be allowed in Kansas

• Process:

• Until a state constitution was drafted, territory could be settled by anyone

• Settlers would elect representatives to write constitution

• Constitution would determine if slavery is allowed or not

• Pro-slavery and Free-Soil supporters will battle for the state and what it represents…open the flood gates, here they come!

Pro-Slavery force:

• Pro-Slavery force:

• Settlers from Missouri and Arkansas start bringing in slaves

• Slave sentiment – Missouri Senator David Atchison:

• “If we win we carry slavery to the Pacific Ocean, if we fail we lose…all the territory.”

• If they won Kansas they could take all the territories

Free-soil Forces:

• Free-soil Forces:

• Settlers from Iowa, Michigan, Wisconsin, and New York

• Financed by Abolition groups –Provided Free transport and land to Free-soilers to move to KS

• Free Soil Sentiment – William Seward,

• “We will engage in competition for the virgin soil of Kansas…God give the victory to the side which is stronger in numbers as it is in right.”

The Vote Came: Free or Slave?

• The Vote Came: Free or Slave?

• Vote Day – 1,700 armed Missourians crossed into KS threatening violence if they were not allowed to vote

• There were twice as many votes cast than there were voters registered

• At the end of the elections 36/40 delegates were pro-slavery delegates to the writing of the KS Constitution

• Free-Soilers were outraged!

• Wrote their own constitution
• Formed their Own Government

• Two Governments exist in KS – Two Constitutions

The Sack of Lawrence:

• The Sack of Lawrence:

• Lawrence is haven for Free-soilers and runaway slaves

• 1855 – Pro-Slavery Government chargeded Free-Soiler government with Treason and ordered them arrested

• May 21, 1855

• Sheriff + 800 Pro-Slavery posse show up in Lawrence
• Posse burned down most of Lawrence and looted everything

Response to Sack of Lawrence

• Response to Sack of Lawrence

• John Brown – lives in Kansas near KA-MO border

• Took personal revenge for sack of Lawrence

• Radical Abolitionist

• John Brown + Small group of abolitionist dragged 5 pro-slavery settlers and brutally executed them

Outcome of Kansas

• Outcome of Kansas

• Civil War erupted in Kansas between Pro-slavery/ Free-soil forces

• Federal Government (President James Buchanan) took little interest

• 4 months after it started Federal troops finally sent in and restore order

• New Elections were held (under federal supervision)

• Free-soilers gained majority easily
• Wrote new constitution quickly – approved by the people
• Approved by Congress
• KS becomes a Free-soil state