The FAILURE of Compromise Pre-Civil War [APUSH Review Unit 5 Topic 6] Period 5: 1844-1877

Summary

This video discusses the failed attempts at compromise over slavery in the U.S., focusing on the Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854 which allowed popular sovereignty to decide slavery's fate in new territories, leading to 'Bleeding Kansas.' It also covers the Dred Scott Decision, which declared slaves as property and unable to sue, further fueling sectional tensions. The script explores how these events contributed to the weakening of political parties and the rise of the Republican Party, setting the stage for the Civil War.

Takeaways

• 🏛️ The Compromise of 1850 temporarily eased tensions over slavery but ultimately failed to resolve the issue.
• 🌏 Westward expansion and the question of whether slavery could exist in new territories were major points of contention.
• 🔄 The Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854 allowed popular sovereignty to decide the slavery issue in new territories, leading to conflict and violence.
• 🔄 The Kansas-Nebraska Act effectively overturned the Missouri Compromise of 1820, reigniting sectional tensions.
• 🗳️ The fraudulent voting in Kansas led to the establishment of two rival state legislatures, reflecting the deep division over slavery.
• 📊 The Dred Scott Decision of 1857 ruled that slaves were not citizens and had no right to sue, further polarizing the nation.
• 🏦 The decision also stated that Congress couldn't limit the movement of slave owners' property, implying slavery could spread everywhere.
• 💔 The increasing division over slavery weakened the two-party system, leading to the demise of the Whig Party.
• 🐘 The Democratic Party gained strength as a regional, proslavery party during this period.
• 🇺🇸 The Republican Party emerged in 1854, advocating against the spread of slavery into new territories, alarming the South.

Q & A

What was the main issue that the Compromise of 1850 attempted to address?

The Compromise of 1850 attempted to address the issue of slavery and its expansion into new territories, which was causing significant regional division in America.

Why was the Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854 controversial?

The Kansas-Nebraska Act was controversial because it allowed the territories of Kansas and Nebraska to decide by popular sovereignty whether to allow slavery or not, effectively overturning the Missouri Compromise of 1820 and reigniting the debate over slavery in new territories.

What does 'popular sovereignty' mean in the context of the Kansas-Nebraska Act?

In the context of the Kansas-Nebraska Act, 'popular sovereignty' means that the residents of the territories had the power to decide for themselves whether to allow slavery within their borders.

What was 'Bleeding Kansas' and how did it relate to the Kansas-Nebraska Act?

'Bleeding Kansas' was a period of violent conflict between pro-slavery and anti-slavery factions in the Kansas Territory, which was a direct result of the Kansas-Nebraska Act allowing the question of slavery to be decided by popular vote.

How did the fraudulent voting in Kansas in 1855 affect the territorial legislature election?

The fraudulent voting in Kansas in 1855, where thousands of pro-slavery Missourians crossed the border to cast illegal votes, led to the establishment of two rival state legislatures in Kansas, one pro-slavery in Lecompton and one anti-slavery in Topeka.

What was the significance of the Dred Scott Decision of 1857?

The Dred Scott Decision of 1857 was significant because it ruled that enslaved people were not citizens and had no right to sue in federal court, and that Congress could not deprive slave owners of their property, which included enslaved people.

How did the Dred Scott Decision impact the possibility of slavery spreading into new territories?

The Dred Scott Decision effectively opened all territories and states in the Union to slavery by declaring that slave owners could take their 'property' anywhere without fear of being deprived of it.

What was the impact of the Kansas-Nebraska Act on the Whig Party?

The Kansas-Nebraska Act led to the division and eventual dissolution of the Whig Party, as it was split between pro-slavery Cotton Whigs and anti-slavery Conscience Whigs.

What was the stance of the newly formed Republican Party on slavery?

The Republican Party did not advocate for the abolition of slavery but opposed its expansion into new territories, which was seen as a threat by Southern Democrats.

How did the increasing division over slavery affect the two-party system in the United States?

The increasing division over slavery led to the weakening of the two-party system, with the Whig Party becoming the first casualty and the Democratic Party gaining strength as a regional, pro-slavery party.

What was the role of the election of 1860 in the context of the growing tensions over slavery?

The election of 1860 was a pivotal moment in the growing tensions over slavery, as the prospect of a Republican president threatened the South's way of life and the institution of slavery.