Antebellum Politics, Expansion, and Debate over Slavery Flashcards
American or Know Nothing Party:
Emerged in 1850s in response to increased immigration, especially from Ireland and Germany.
American or Know Nothing Party:
Anti-immigrant and anti-Catholic.
American or Know Nothing Party:
Beliefs centered on preserving American culture and institutions from perceived negative immigrant influence.
American or Know Nothing Party:
Impact: Won seats in Congress and state legislatures, reflecting nativist sentiments.
Division over Free Labor vs. Slavery:
Intensified in early 1800s due to economic changes, westward expansion, and moral considerations.
Division over Free Labor vs. Slavery:
Free Soil free labor ideology emerged, advocating for moral and economic superiority of free labor over slave labor.
Division over Free Labor vs. Slavery:
Impact: Formation of political parties like Free Soil Party, shifts in political alliances, eventual outbreak of Civil War.
Increase in Debate about Slavery:
Caused by westward expansion and acquisition of new territories.
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Increase in Debate about Slavery:
Main arguments revolved around morality, economics, and states’ rights.
Increase in Debate about Slavery:
Proponents defended slavery as economically necessary and morally justifiable, while opponents condemned it as morally wrong
Increase in Debate about Slavery:
Intensified as country grew, leading to political polarization and sectionalism.
Growth of Pro-Slavery Arguments:
Reflects slavery’s entrenchment in South’s economy and culture.
Growth of Pro-Slavery Arguments:
Justified as fundamental to Southern society and expansion necessary to preserve Southern way of life.
Tension from Addition of New States:
Raised questions about slavery’s expansion into new territories.
Tension from Addition of New States:
Missouri’s statehood application sparked debate over balance of power between free and slave states.
Tension from Addition of New States:
Missouri Compromise attempted to address this by admitting Missouri as slave state and Maine as free, with slavery prohibited north of 36°30’ parallel.
Settlement and Annexation of Texas:
Ignited tensions over expansion of slavery into new territories.
Settlement and Annexation of Texas:
Raised questions about balance of power between North and South.
Mexican-American War:
Resulted from annexation of Texas and disputes over Texas-Mexico border.
Mexican-American War:
Acquired territories in Southwest.
Mexican-American War:
Intensified debates over expansion of slavery and future of newly acquired territories.
Debate over Admission of California and Fugitive Slaves:
Highlighted sectional tensions, especially with passage of Fugitive Slave Law.
Debate over Admission of California and Fugitive Slaves:
Demonstrated deepening divide between North and South over slavery and states’ rights.
Kansas-Nebraska Act:
Introduced popular sovereignty to determine slavery’s status in new territories.
Kansas-Nebraska Act:
Led to violence in Kansas (Bleeding Kansas), demonstrating extremism and polarization over slavery.
Kansas-Nebraska Act:
Contributed to growing sectional tensions.
Events Increasing Debate over Slavery:
Annexation of Texas, Mexican-American War, Oregon Territory, Compromise of 1850, and Kansas-Nebraska Act.
Events Increasing Debate over Slavery:
Raised questions about expansion of slavery and balance of power between free and slave states.
Slave-Power Conspiracy:
Northern fears of Southern power and vice versa.
Slave-Power Conspiracy:
Shaped politics by exacerbating sectional tensions and contributing to perception of conspiracy.
Slave-Power Conspiracy:
Deepened after Dred Scott decision, which ruled Congress had no authority to prohibit slavery in territories.
Overall Impact:
Events and expansion fueled debates over slavery, exacerbating sectional tensions.
Overall Impact:
Challenged nation’s founding ideals of liberty and equality.
