CFHS AP US History- 5th Period Tidbits of Notes

5th period Notes

• The Mexican Cession immediately raised the question of slavery being extended.

• Wilmont proposed that neither slavery or involuntary servitude be allowed to exist in any territory obtained from Mexico.

• The Wilmont proviso proposed to the House of Representatives.

• In Senate, where the South was strong for the moment, the Wilmont proviso is defeated.

• Difficult issues split up Whigs & Democrats both South and North.

• President Polk send Nicholas Trist to agree on a settlement based on the United States paying $15million for California, New Mexico, and Texas border on the Rio Grande.

• Popular Sovereignty proposed to let the settlements of each territory decide for themselves whether to permit slavery or not.

• Campaign of 1848 appeared to favor popular sovereignty but it sparked some angry groups of both pro- and anti- slavey.

• "Conscience Whigs" left the Whig party and formed coalition with the Liberty party and anti-slavery democrats.

• Gold was discovered in California in 1848; this lead to the Gold Rush and the dispute of whether California become a slave state or free state.

• California uses popular sovereignty and decides to become a free state.

• There was a demand for a fugitive slave law after Supreme Court rule in Prigg v. Pennsulvannia. 1842 that state were not obligated to enforce the return of runaway slaves.

• Clay came up with 8 proposals to come to a compromise between anti- and pro- slave groups but tono avail.

• New Mexico and Utah organized restrictions on slavery though it is almost pointless because the desert area.

• Slave catchers would kidnap free blacks, where Northern responds with an anti-kidnapping laws where alleged fugitve slaves would stand trial in a northern court.

• Uncle Tom's Cabin written by Harriet Beecher Stowe.

• U.S. interest in Cuba, particularly the Ostend Manifesto

• William Walker