Chapter 14The Union in Peril.ppt

Chapter 14The Union in Peril The American People, 6th ed. Slavery in the Territories The Wilmot Proviso Amendment added to a congressional appropriations bill prohibiting slavery for ever existing in any territories acquired from Mexico Popular Sovereignty The idea that individual territories applying for statehood should decide the issue of slavery for themselves. The Compromise of 1850 California entered the Union as a free state Territorial governments were organized in New Mexico and Utah to apply the principle of popular sovereignty The slave trade was abolished in the District of Columbia A new Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 Consequences of Compromise Political alignment along party lines grew stronger Previously unheard, Americans were now discussing ideals of higher law than the Constitution: succession and disunion Abolitionists stepped up work on the Underground Railroad and several states prohibited elected officials and organizations from participation in slave hunting II. Political Disintegration The Kansas-Nebraska Act Stephen Douglas of the Whig party, introduced a bill organizing the Nebraska Territory (which included Kansas) Southerners opposed the organization of the territory unless slavery was permitted Douglas suggested the application of popular sovereignty to the issue as the entire territory fell north of the Missouri Compromise line Issue inflamed all sides of the slavery issue, dragging the country closer to war. “Young America” Americans dedicated to the ideals of a nationalistic vision that included slavery and was modeled upon the revolutions of the era in Europe Specifically interested in the expansion of America into the Latin American continent and the Caribbean The Know-Nothings Nativist political action party comprised mostly of former Whigs who were dedicated to staunching the tide of foreign immigrants to the United States If asked about their affiliation with the group, members were told to respond, “I Know Nothing.” Kansas an