The COMPROMISE of 1850 [APUSH Review Unit 5 Topic 4] Period 5: 1844-1877

Growing Tensions Over Slavery: 1844 to Civil War

Overview of the Context

• The video discusses the escalating tensions surrounding slavery from 1844 until the onset of the Civil War, focusing on various proposals aimed at addressing these issues, particularly the Compromise of 1850.

Background on Mexican-American War and Wilmot Proviso

• The previous discussion highlighted how territories acquired from the Mexican-American War intensified debates over slavery expansion, notably with the failed Wilmot Proviso that sought to ban slavery in these new territories.

Positions on Slavery Expansion

Southern Position

• Southerners argued that slavery was a constitutional right and referenced the Missouri Compromise (1820), which established boundaries for slavery's existence. They proposed extending this line to the Pacific Ocean.

• The Missouri Compromise was crucial for Southern states as it guaranteed their way of life and economy would remain intact below this line, making any attempt to limit slavery feel like an existential threat.

Free Soil Movement

• Composed mainly of Northern Democrats and Whigs, this movement advocated for new territories to be free labor domains rather than slave-holding ones. However, their motivations were often rooted in racial exclusion rather than moral opposition to slavery.

• While some members wanted outright abolition everywhere, others simply desired a land free from competition with enslaved laborers. This faction eventually led to the formation of the Free Soil Party.

Popular Sovereignty

• Advocates for popular sovereignty believed that residents of each territory should decide whether or not to allow slavery. This concept seemed moderate but proved divisive among factions.

• Although it appeared as a compromise solution, popular sovereignty heightened tensions because it could lead either side to feel threatened depending on local decisions regarding slavery.

Intensifying Conflicts Post-Mexican American War

• Following the war's conclusion and subsequent territorial acquisitions, conflicts escalated further due to California and New Mexico entering as free states.

• The admission of these states disrupted Senate balance between free and slave states, leading Southern leaders to threaten secession due to fears over losing political power.

Importance of Senate Balance

• The Senate's equal representation meant that any legislation concerning slavery required careful navigation; thus far-reaching implications arose when California and New Mexico entered as free states tipping this balance towards anti-slavery sentiments.

The Tensions Leading to the Compromise of 1850

The Southern Position and Calls for Secession

• The inability of Southern states to pass laws favoring slavery, combined with the concentration of free soilers in the North, heightened tensions that could threaten the existence of slavery.

• This escalating tension contributed to increasing calls for secession among Southern states as they sought to protect their interests.

Henry Clay's Role and the Compromise of 1850

• Henry Clay emerged as a key figure proposing a solution through the metaphorical "horse named Compromise," aiming to address sectional conflicts.

• The Compromise of 1850 included several critical measures:

• Division of the Mexican Cession into Utah and New Mexico territories, allowing them to decide on slavery via popular sovereignty.

• Admission of California as a free state.

• Ban on slave trade in Washington D.C.

• Implementation of a stricter Fugitive Slave Law.

Impact and Consequences of the Compromise

• While the compromise temporarily eased tensions surrounding slavery, it was ultimately superficial—like applying a band-aid over a deep wound.

• The enforcement of the Fugitive Slave Law would later exacerbate divisions, particularly given Northern opposition to slavery and growing abolitionist sentiments.