Lecture Notes: The Crisis and Consequences Post-Mexican-American War

Consequences of American Victory in the Mexican-American War

• Reopening of the Slavery Debate:
  • The victory led to a debate over slavery, causing a sectional crisis in the 1850s.
  • This crisis eventually led to the secession crisis and the Civil War.

Election of 1848

• James K. Polk:
  • Polk declines re-election due to health and previous promise.
  • Died shortly after leaving office.
• Candidates:
  • Louis Cass (Democrat): Followed Jacksonian principles.
  • Zachary Taylor (Whig): Campaigned against the expansion of slavery, war hero.
  • Martin Van Buren (Free Soil Party): Anti-slavery, gained 10% popular vote, no electoral votes.
• Outcome:
  • Zachary Taylor wins presidency.

The Crisis of 1850

• Origins:
  • Rooted in the territory acquired from Mexico.
  • Wilmot Proviso (1846): Proposed that territories gained from Mexico be free of slavery.
    • Introduced by David Wilmot before territory acquisition.
    • Aimed to prevent slavery debate; however, it started it earlier.
  • Sectional Response:
    • South: Saw it as an insult, questioned the implication on Southern slavery.
    • North: Supported by anti-slavery individuals, halted the spread of slavery.

The Slavery Question and Debate

• Principles of Each Side:
  • North: Implicitly argued slavery is wrong by preventing its expansion.
  • South: Viewed slavery as a positive social good, existential for Southern way of life.
• Slavery Question:
  • Does Congress have the right to stop the spread of slavery into new territories?

Steps to Answer the Slavery Question

1. Read the Constitution:
   • Congress governs territories (Article 4, Section 3).
2. Look for Past Precedents:
   • Missouri Compromise (3630 line) as precedent.

North's Argument

• Constitutional Basis:
  • Congress controls territories and can set laws, including slavery laws.
• Precedent:
  • 3630 line from Missouri Compromise restricted slavery's expansion.

South's Argument

• John C. Calhoun's Senate Resolutions (1847):
  • Fifth Amendment protects property; slaves seen as property.
  • Argued against restricting slavery as it deprived the South of property.
• Inequality Argument:
  • Northerners can take property anywhere; Southerners cannot.

Middle Ground - Popular Sovereignty

• Proponents:
  • Stephen Douglas and Louis Cass.
• Concept:
  • Citizens of territories decide on slavery through vote once a population benchmark is reached.

Conclusion

• Debate on Slavery Question:
  • Each section’s view presented: North, South, and middle ground (popular sovereignty).
• Upcoming Discussion:
  • Other issues related to the crisis of 1850 and the Compromise itself.