The Debate over Slavery

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The Debate over Slavery

• Chp 14.1, pgs 438-443

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The Abolitionists dug deep to create a new
Political Party called the Free Soil Party. A
member of that Party, named David Wilmot,
proposed something to Congress that created a ton
of controversy Lets make all territory we
gained from the Mexican-American War Free
Territory!
Wilmot Proviso
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"Compromise of 1850"

• STARRING

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Henry Clay
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He Supported popular sovereigntythe idea that
political power should be up to the citizens of
that area.
Stephen Douglass
Under the Compromise of 1850, California entered
the U.S. as a free state. It also said that the
UT NM territories would decide on slavery
later.

• Henry Clay

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Popular Sovereignty
Popular Sovereignty the idea that political
authority belongs to the people
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1850 C.A. BECOMES A STATE
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No More Slave Trade!
The Fugitive Slave Act (1850) made it helping a
slave escape punishable you could be arrested
for trying to do the right thing ?
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James Calhoun thought the Fugitive Slave Law was
fair to southerners whose slaves had ran awaybut
he still felt it would be ridiculous to
compromise anything with the North!!
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Escape wasnt easy- and now slaves still had to
worry, even if they did reach the North safely.
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Anthony Burns was one of the first victims of the
Fugitive Slave Law. He was hiding out in Boston
when the law was created.

• People who hid or helped runaway slaves would be
  fined and/or arrested
• Fugitive slaves could not testify in court.
• Slaves were returned to their Masters down south
• Slaves were charged with robbery
• Sadly, judges could actually earn extra money if
  they returned slaves to their masters rather than
  siding with the slaves.

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Harriet Beecher Stowe
Was an abolitionist who, during the 1800s, spoke
out against the cruelty of slavery through her
eloquently written Uncle Toms Cabin.
Southerners didnt much appreciate Stowes novel
and thought her portrayals of how slaves were
treated was outrageous and made the slave owners
look unnecessarily demonic.