Overview
This lecture discusses the national crisis over slavery and territorial expansion that led to the Compromise of 1850, examining the debates, key figures, provisions, and its legacy in temporarily averting disunion.
Sectional Crisis in the Late 1840s
- The late 1840s saw severe disagreements between North and South over slavery, territory, and federal laws.
- Major issues included slavery in the capital, Texas boundaries, free state admissions, fugitive slave laws, and slavery in the territories.
- Fears of disunion and secession grew, with many leaders openly discussing breaking up the Union.
Key Political Debates and Figures
- Henry Clay, Daniel Webster, and John C. Calhoun led efforts to resolve the crisis.
- Calhoun’s 1850 speech called for the protection and expansion of slavery, warning of secession if denied.
- Webster’s reply emphasized union, called for compromise, and denounced secession as an impossibility.
- William H. Seward’s "higher law" speech argued morality above the Constitution, rejecting compromise on slavery.
The Compromise of 1850: Development and Passage
- Clay proposed multiple resolutions designed to balance interests of North and South.
- Initial opposition, especially from President Taylor and extremists, stalled the compromise.
- Taylor's death and Fillmore's support, along with Stephen A. Douglas's strategy of splitting the proposals, allowed passage.
- Calhoun’s death reduced Southern resistance.
Provisions of the Compromise of 1850
- California admitted as a free state.
- New Mexico territory organized with disputed territory from Texas.
- Texas’s modern borders established; Texas received $10 million.
- Slave trade (but not slavery) banned in Washington, D.C.
- Strengthened Fugitive Slave Law imposed strict penalties and required state cooperation.
- Popular sovereignty applied to New Mexico and Utah territories on slavery.
Legacy and Impact
- The Compromise pleased few extremists and was seen as a temporary, imperfect truce.
- Northern resentment focused especially on the harsh Fugitive Slave Act.
- Southern radicals continued to press for secession; the Nashville Convention hinted at future disunion.
- The core issue of slavery’s expansion was unsettled, just postponed.
- The compromise delayed Civil War by a decade but failed to resolve sectional tensions.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Popular Sovereignty — letting settlers in new territories decide if slavery would be allowed.
- Fugitive Slave Law — legislation requiring return of runaway slaves, strengthening slaveholder rights.
- Omnibus Bill — a single legislative document containing multiple proposals or measures.
- Secession — formal withdrawal of states from the United States.
- Abolitionist — person advocating the end of slavery.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review the final provisions of the Compromise of 1850 and their immediate effects.
- Read primary excerpts from Calhoun, Webster, and Seward’s speeches for deeper understanding.
- Be prepared to discuss how these compromises delayed, but did not prevent, the Civil War.