Free Labor Ideology and the Politics of the Mexican War

The Long March to Civil War Begins

Previous Conflict Over Territory: Missouri Compromise, 1821

The major issues of the Second Party System were …

A. Economic (Bank War)

B. Social (Temperance & Reform)

C. Slavery (Abolitionism, Cycle of Distrust)

Lessons Learned from Missouri Compromise Debates

Keep slavery out of national politics (“Conspiracy of Silence”).

Make sure that each region has enough land for future expansion.

Needed both northern and southern support to win national elections.

Defining Free Labor Ideology

Definition: Set of ideals that celebrated the North’s economic progress and the ability of ordinary men to become financially independent. These ideals include the belief that slavery invariably degraded free labor.

Glorification of Hard Work and Economic Progress

Hard Work Always Led to Economic Mobility

Both Manual and Mental Labor Good

Failure = Laziness, Personal Failing

Yet Free Labor Reflected Fears of Economic Change

Growth of Cities with Large Working Class: Can These Workers Acquire Independence?

Solution: WESTERN LAND Tied to Manifest Destiny

Western Land Provided Opportunity for All

“The public lands [in the West] are the safety valve of our industrial and social engine.”

Horace Greeley, Editor, New York Times

Free Labor’s Economic Critique of Slavery

Slavery degraded free labor and bred laziness.

South lacked economic vitality.

“Slave Power Conspiracy”

Recipe for Political Disaster: South Wanted West as Well

Southerners needed fresh land for cotton.

Southerners worried about declining political and economic influence.

Southern honor: insult to exclude slavery from western territories.

James K. Polk and the Election of 1844

Slaveholder from Tennessee; Rabid Expansionist

Elected in 1844 on Expansionist Agenda

Polk Wanted to Annex Texas and Goad Mexico into War

“Mexico Will Poison Us”

Popular War, but Undercurrent of Opposition

U. S. Acquired Huge Territory

Northerners Feared Spread of Slavery

Northerners Supported the Wilmot Proviso

David Wilmot, PA Democrat: No Slavery in Newly Acquired Territory

Huge Debate that Deadlocks Nation

Nashville Convention of 1850

Compromise of 1850 and Mexican War Controversy

California entered into the Union as a free state.

Utah and New Mexico: Open to slavery via popular vote.

Slave TRADE ended in Washington, D.C.

Stronger Fugitive Slave Act

New Fugitive Slave Act Created More Controversy

New Law Established Federal Commissioners

Northerners MUST Return Fugitive Slaves

Northern Interpretation of Fugitive Slave Act of 1850

Single Biggest Event that Led to New Republican Party and

War:

The Kansas Nebraska Act

of 1854

The Kansas-Nebraska ActRepealed the MO Compromise

The Kansas-Neb Act Unleashes “One Helluva Storm”

Mass public meetings led to the Republican party.

Northern Whigs become Republicans.

Southern Whigs join Democrats.