 Disagreements over slavery (early-
mid 1800s) increased regional
differences (b/t Northerners and
Southerners) and led to the breakup
of the Union
 Modern Democratic and Republican
parties emerged from these political
divisions
 Sectional differences had divided the North and the
South for many years; sectionalism dated to earliest
years of the American republic
 what was divisiveness about in those years?
 North - industrialized
 South - agricultural
 More and more dependent on slave labor
 Compromises over issues of slavery and states’
rights had kept the Union together
 North and South increasingly disagreed over slavery
 Main focus was in the territories that wanted to become
states (areas in Louisiana Territory and land acquired from
Mexico after the War with Mexico)
 Texas – entered the Union as a slave state (Dec. 1845)
 In other territory acquired from Mexico, neither slavery nor
involuntary servitude could exist (Wilmot Proviso 1846 –
proposed in Congress but never passed)
 Abolitionism = anti-slavery movement
 Mainly in the North
 But – people who were okay with slavery greatly
outnumbered the abolitionists and anti-slavery
sympathizers
 Some Northerners even captured free blacks and sold them
into slavery
 Whig Party - a national party
 founded during Jackson presidency, 1834
 reaction to “King Andrew’s” authoritarian policies (BUS,
Indian Removal, reaction to Supreme Court decisions)
 descendants of former Federalist Party
 key Whigs: Senators Henry Clay and Daniel Webster
 Whig Party became split over slavery issue (and Kansas-
Nebraska Act of 1854)
 “Conscience Whigs” - Northerners - abolitionists
 “Cotton Whigs” - Southerners - pro-slavery
 Republican Party formed in 1854 - Northern Whigs
 Southern Whigs joined Democratic Party
 Democratic Party also split North/South over slavery issue
Free Soil Party - 1848
Free Soil !
Free Speech !
Free Labor !
Free Men !
 “Barnburners” – discontented northern
Democrats
 Anti-slavery members of the Liberty and
Whig Parties
WHY?
 Opposition to the extension of slavery
in the unorganized territories!
 Republican Party is formed - 1854
 strongly opposed to expansion of slavery
 formed by Northern Whigs, Free Soilers,
Know-Nothings (American Party) and
disgruntled Northern Democrats
 a regional, not a national party
 “restore the Union to its true mission of
champion of Liberty”
 anti-slavery BUT opposed racial equality
 Nativist (anti-immigrant)
 North and South views again divided: California – slave
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or free state? (1849)
Pres. Taylor not in favor of a compromise
Led to Southern calls for secession
Sen. Henry Clay (KY) lobbied in Congress to save the
Union – earned the nickname, “the Great Compromiser”
Sen. John C. Calhoun (SC) - famous speech opposing
any compromise; defending slavery and warning of disunion
Sen. Daniel Webster (MA) supported the Compromise
despite being from a strong anti-slavery region - greatest
concern - keep the Union intact
Provisions:
 California would enter the Union as a free state (1850)
- ended the balance of power in the Senate!
 Residents of the territories allowed to vote on slavery
 Known as popular sovereignty
 Congress passed a tough Fugitive Slave Law
 Texas gave up claim on eastern New Mexico territory
 Slave trade abolished in District of Columbia
(Washington, D.C.) - but not slave ownership
 The Compromise temporarily avoided Southern
states’ secession
 What was the key issue dividing the country (N vs S)
by the mid-1800s?
 slavery and its expansion
 Which new political party formed from the divided
Whig Party?
 Republican Party
 What position did it take on slavery?
 against expansion of slavery in the unorganized
territories
 Name the provisions of the Compromise of 1850
 Identify each provision as pro-slavery or anti-slavery