The 1850 Sectional Crisis

Causes and compromise

Problems causing the crisis

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New territories

• Heated debate about whether slavery should be extended to the newly acquired western territories;
• California
• New Mexico
• (Nevada and Utah also)
• “free soilers” opposed slavery’s advocates
• Wanted land available for free whites.

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The Wilmot Proviso

• David Wilmot is a “free soiler” who wanted northern whites to benefit from new terrirtories.
• His proviso was part of a finance bill for the Mexican- American war.
• House of Representatives passed this bill- 83 YES 64 NO.
• The Senate prevent this becoming law;
• To preserve slavery
• To preserve the Union

Southern politicians

• Robert Toombs
• objected to halting the spread of slavery into the territories of California and New Mexico
• Influential in the South

John Calhoun

• Calhoun supported states' rights and nullification, under which states could declare null and void federal laws which they deemed to be unconstitutional.
• He famously defended slavery as a "positive good" rather than as a "necessary evil".

The Nashville Convention

• slaveholding states agreed to send delegates to Nashville to define a resistance strategy to the Wilmot Proviso.
• It appeared as if, with Calhoun at their head, secession was a possibility.
• Calhoun accused the north of upsetting the equilibrium established by the Missouri Compromise.

Northern “free soilers”

• David Wilmot
• William Seward- an abolitionist influenced the President (Taylor)
• Northerners represented a coalition of free soilers and abolitionists against slavery’s spread.

Result- sectional tension

• Increased threats of secession from the South.
• Actual violence between politicians.
• An atmosphere of mutual distrust.
• An increasing polarisation, especially among Democrats, on sectional lines.

How was a Compromise found?

A few issues to consider

New territories

• Henry Clay’s proposals;
• California to be a free state- appeased northerners upset about the Mexican War having a pro south agenda.
• Decisions on other new territories effectively delayed (Clay believed new territories weren’t suitable for slavery), but New Mexico/Utah to have no restrictions.
• Territorial dispute between Texas and New Mexico settled

Southern Politicians

• Calhoun attacked the Compromise, predicting "the balance between the two sections" was destroyed would be a day not far removed from disunion, anarchy, and civil war.
• Calhoun died in Washington, D.C. in March 1850 of tuberculosis, at the age of 67.
• "The Union; second to our liberty most dear!", "Liberty and Union, now and for ever, one and inseparable!" JCC

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Daniel Webster

• Daniel Webster was a respected, elder politician who wanted to preserve the Union
• On March 7, 1850, Webster gave one of his most famous speeches, characterizing himself "not as a Massachusetts man, nor as a Northern man but as an American..." In it he gave his support to the 1850 compromise.

Northern Free Soilers

• Effectively appeased by the admission of California.
• Backed off from precipitating secession.
• Hoped that new territories would not be fruitful for slavery- turned out to be a false hope.
• Zachary Taylor died; his successor Millard Fillmore advocated compromise.

Stephen Douglas

• The “Little Giant” broke down the proposals.
• He passed the proposals as a part of separate bills.
• Therefore, Douglas, an ambitious businessman and politician, was instrumental.

Why was Compromise found in 1850?

• Southern State Conventions, e.g. at Nashville were guided by moderates. Some States didn’t even send members.
• Experienced and loyal politicians; Webster, Clay and even Calhoun were at heart Unionists.
• Douglas skilfully got the proposals passed.
• Free Soilers hoped new territories were unsuitable for plantation/slave labour.

There is a debate about 1850

• The 1850 Compromise saved the Union;
• It appeased the “fire eaters”.
• It solved the problem of the new territories.
• It appealed to Union sentiment.
• It satisfied free soilers.

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• The 1850 Compromise was the beginning of the end for the Union;
• It created resentment about the strict Fugitive Slave Law, in the north.
• It did not satisfy southern slaveholders.
• It diluted the Missouri Compromise of 1820. (no slavery above 36° 30.)

Footnote

• A likely essay title might be something like;
• “Why was there a compromise found in 1850, but not in 1860?”
• You need to be able to compare events around 1850, with those surrounding 1860.
• You need to understand how the crisis deepened 1850-1860.