Relationship between growing North-South divisions and Westward Expansion

Standard 8

3 Distinct Regions Emerge in the US

• North – Industrial Economy; few slaves

• South – Agricultural Economy; many slaves

• West – Mixture of North and South

Abolition

• This movement campaigned to end slavery (without compensation to slave owners)

• Slavery existed mostly in the South, so abolition became a leading cause of hostility between the North and the South

• Abolitionists (people who fought for the abolition of slavery) could be found in the North and the South

Notable Abolitionists

• William Lloyd Garrison – white abolitionist, published an antislavery newspaper that contained stories of mistreatment

Notable Abolitionists

• Frederick Douglass – former slave who worked for Garrison; traveled the US giving speeches about equality

Notable Abolitionist

• Grimke Sisters – Sarah and Angelina were southern women who toured northern states, telling stories about their experiences growing up on a plantation

Arguments against Abolition

• The southern economy would be impossible to maintain without slave labor

• Southerners boasted that southern white culture was highly sophisticated, made possible by the plantation economy

• Slaves were treated well and lived better lives than factory workers in the North

• Whites provided better lives for slaves than free blacks were able to provide for themselves

As people expand westward, so does the issue of slavery…

Temporary Solution to the slave debate…

The Missouri Compromise

Nat Turner

• African American preacher (believed his mission on Earth was to free his people from slavery)

• Seeing an 1831 solar eclipse as a message from above, he led a slave rebellion on four Virginia plantations. – About 60 whites were killed– Turner was captured, tried, and executed.

• To stop such uprisings, white leaders passed new laws to limit the activities of slaves and to strengthen the institution of slavery.

Nullification Crisis

John C. Calhoun resigned from the Vice Presidency to lead the efforts of the Southern states in crisis

His loyalty to the South over the US as a whole contributes to the rise of sectionalism in the US

The Mexican-American War

Texas won its independence from Mexico– Wanted to be annexed (or added) to the US

When the US annexed Texas, it set its sight on other Mexican territories

The war with Mexico was short, and ended with a US victory

During the War with Mexico…

Congress debated over whether or not slavery would be allowed in any territory obtained from Mexico

The Wilmot Proviso – outlawed slavery in the new territory– Not passed by the House of Representatives– Issue of slavery goes unresolved

Compromise of 1850

Westward expansion continues to threaten the survival of the United States

• Many are still unhappy about the extension of slavery into western territories (Missouri Compromise did not end the tension)

Compromise of 1850Henry Clay (again) creates a plan to appease the

North and South:1. Border disputes surrounding Texas would be

solved by creating the state of New Mexico2. New states added to the Union (New Mexico)

would be allowed to vote on becoming a free state or a slave state (Popular Sovereignty)

3. California would be admitted as a free state4. Tougher Fugitive Slave laws would be enacted5. The slave trade would end in Washington D.C. (but

not necessarily the practice of owning slaves)

Compromise of 1850

The plan fails (does not receive enough congressional votes)

• It was voted on as a package deal

Stephen Douglas presents the same plan, but as separate measures to be debated and voted on individually.

• Compromise of 1850 is passed

Compromise of 1850

Ends sectional tensions temporarily…

Four years later, the issue came up again (this time in the Kansas-Nebraska territory)

• The Kansas-Nebraska Act was signed, allowing popular sovereignty (rule by the people) in this territory

Kansas-Nebraska ActProslavery groupsmoved in to vote

Anti-slavery groupsmoved in to vote

Both sides set up a state constitution

House supported Abolitionist Constitution

Senate supported Slavery Constitution

VIOLENCE ERUPTED!!!

Popular Sovereignty had FAILED!

Practice Question

The western expansion of the United States in the early 1800s provoked a congressional debate over the issue of slavery. Congress resolved this debate by

A making the Louisiana PurchaseB passing a constitutional amendmentC adopting the Missouri CompromiseD accepting the doctrine of nullification

Practice Question

The western expansion of the United States in the early 1800s provoked a congressional debate over the issue of slavery. Congress resolved this debate by

A making the Louisiana PurchaseB passing a constitutional amendmentC adopting the Missouri CompromiseD accepting the doctrine of nullification

Practice Question

The western expansion of the United States in the early 1800s provoked a congressional debate over the issue of slavery. Congress resolved this debate by

A making the Louisiana PurchaseB passing a constitutional amendmentC adopting the Missouri CompromiseD accepting the doctrine of nullification

Practice Question

The western expansion of the United States in the early 1800s provoked a congressional debate over the issue of slavery. Congress resolved this debate by

A making the Louisiana PurchaseB passing a constitutional amendmentC adopting the Missouri CompromiseD accepting the doctrine of nullification

Practice Question

The western expansion of the United States in the early 1800s provoked a congressional debate over the issue of slavery. Congress resolved this debate by

A making the Louisiana PurchaseB passing a constitutional amendmentC adopting the Missouri CompromiseD accepting the doctrine of nullification