The Compromise of 1850 | The Election of 1852

The Buchanan Administration

1. The Compromise of 1850 (see Goldfield, pp. 395-398)

Major problems facing nation:

• California statehood: free or slave?
• Southwest (New Mexico): free or slave?
• Slavery and slave trade in Washington, DC
• Lax enforcement of Fugitive Slave Act of 1793
• Underground railroad

President Taylor’s solution:

• Admit California as a state; popular sovereignty
• Admit New Mexico; popular sovereignty

Henry Clay—1850

• Compromise suggestions defeated
• Left Washington
• Stephen Douglas provides leadership

Death of Zachary Taylor—July 1850

• Millard Fillmore new president

Compromise of 1850

• California admitted as free state
• Southwest divided into New Mexico and Utah; popular sovereignty
• Slave trade abolished in Washington DC
• Fugitive Slave Act of 1850

2. The Election of 1852 (see Goldfield, pp. 398-399)

Election of 1852

• Franklin Pierce (Democrat)—254
• Winfield Scott (Whig)—54

3. The Kansas-Nebraska Act (see Goldfield, p. 400)

Kansas-Nebraska Act

• Introduced by Stephen Douglas
• Divide territory in two: Kansas and Nebraska
• Popular sovereignty for both territories
• Strong opposition in North

4. Bleeding Kansas (see Goldfield, pp. 400-403)

American Party (1854)

• Opposed immigrants, Catholics
• "Know-Nothing" Party

Republican Party

• Northern support
• West must be free territory to protect white labor

Settlement of Kansas

• "Border Ruffians" influence election of pro-slavery congressman
• Pro-slavery legislature elected; established in Lecompton
• Anti-slavery legislature established in Topeka
• Violence
  • Lawrence (anti-slavery town) sacked by pro-slavery mob (1856)
  • John Brown attacks Pottawatomie Creek (pro-slavery) settlers
  • "Bleeding Kansas"

5. The Buchanan Administration (see Goldfield, pp. 403-412)

Election of 1856

• John Fremont (Republican)—114
• James Buchanan (Democrat)—174
• Millard Fillmore (Know-Nothing)—8

Dred Scott Case (1857)

• Dred and Harriet Scott sue for freedom in Missouri state court; appeal to Supreme Court
• Owner (John Emerson) took Scott to live in free states and territory, therefore Scott should be free
• Supreme Court decision (7-2)
• Blacks inferior, have no rights
• Missouri Compromise unconstitutional; Congress cannot ban slavery in territories
• Scotts’ status not affected by time in free states and territories

Kansas Controversy (continued)

• Delegates elected for constitutional convention in Lecompton
• Lecompton Constitution (pro-slavery document) approved by voters, submitted to Congress
• Congress sends Lecompton Constitution back to Kansas voters; defeated in second referendum
• Status of Kansas unresolved

Illinois Senate Election (1858)

• Stephen Douglas (Democrat)
• Abraham Lincoln (Republican)

John Brown’s Raid (1859)

• Attack on arsenal at Harpers Ferry (Virginia)
• Hopes for slave uprising
• Brown captured, executed
• Feared by southerners
• Idolized by northerners