APUSH Chapter 18

1. Renewing the Sectional Struggle Chapter 18

2. Zachary Taylor 12 th President (1849-1850) Party/Age/State: Whig, 64, Louisiana Wife: Margaret, 4 children Traits: slovenly appearance, poor speaker, relaxed manager Nom de guerre: “Old Rough & Ready”

3. Fun Facts never registered to vote - didn’t even vote in his own election cousin of Robert E. Lee his son-in-law was Jefferson Davis

4. Background Celebrity - hero of Mexican War - he didn’t seek the presidency; both parties approached him & wanted him as their candidate Appealed to North (war hero) AND appealed to South (southern landowner) Didn’t view presidency as a powerful office - said he’d never use the veto

5. Slavery felt the issue should be decided by Congress & he’d go along with whatever they proposed

6. Compromise of 1850 By Henry Clay bundle of bills designed to admit CA as a free state with some slavery measures favorable to the South

7. Fugitive Slave Act (1850) Part of 1850 Compromise Law enforcement officials mandated by law to arrest anyone suspected of being a runaway slave, based solely on a claimant’s sworn testimony of ownership

8. Fugitive Slave Act, cont. Suspected slave could not testify on his/her behalf, nor could he/she ask for a jury trial Officials who did not comply - $1,000 fine BUT those who did got compensation Person caught aiding a slave - $1,000 fine AND 6 months in prison Most controversial piece of the 1850 Compromise

9. Taylor & the Compromise of 1850 Taylor surprised many and was not pleased - said there was nothing to compromise - CA should be free and that’s it… T hreatened to veto South threatened to secede - Taylor’s solution: “I’ll hang them, starting with my son in law Jefferson Davis!” Barely a year into his presidency, Taylor was evolving into an ardent unionist

10. The End of Taylor July 4, 1850 - Taylor went to a groundbreaking ceremony for the Washington Monument w as very hot Had cherries and a pitcher of milk to cool down a few hours later, he complained of severe stomach pains died 5 days later c ause of death: severe gastroenteritis (inflammation of lining of intestines)

11. Conspiracy Theories Abound Arsenic Poisoning? Truth revealed in 1991 No traces of arsenic Actual cause: a form of cholera

12. Millard Fillmore 13 th President (1850-1853) Party/Age/State: Whig, 50, New York Wife: Abigail, 2 children Traits: amiable, modest, avid reader, delegated authority - aimed to please and appease rather than lead Fun Fact: never met Taylor until AFTER they were elected

13. His Way Fired all of Taylor’s cabinet (felt they overlooked him) Signed Compromise of 1850 into law - thought it would permanently put to rest the issue by preserving the status quo

14. Slavery Fillmore supported slavery B elieved its abolition would lead to a collapse of the Southern economy B lamed abolitionists for making slavery an issue - thought they were trouble makers Believed the institution of slavery to be protected by the Constitution Did not grasp the moral consequences

15. The End of Fillmore Whigs angry – do not nominate him in the Election of 1852 Considered one of the most forgettable presidencies in American history

16. Franklin Pierce 14 th President (1853-1857) Party/State: Democrat, 48, New Hampshire Wife: Jane, 3 children (all died in youth) Traits: charming, outgoing, charismatic, courteous, heavy drinker (sober during presidency), indecisive manager Nickname: “Handsome Frank”

17. Background Entered office loved by everyone, left office reviled by all Considered mentally unstable by many due to a personal tragedy mere weeks prior to entering office January 1853 – 11 year old son Benny died

18. Things Can Only Get Better, Right? No…more tragedy struck VP William Rufus King died a month after taking office (TB)

19. Now They’ll Get Better? Again, no, thanks to Stephen Douglas…

20. Kansas-Nebraska Act (1854) Sponsored by Douglas Meant to repeal the Missouri Compromise of 1820 which banned slavery above the southern border of Missouri Intent - to let new states of KS & NB decide for themselves re: slavery (“popular sovereignty”)

21. Kansas-Nebraska Act Douglas – swears to make Pierce’s life a living hell (as if it wasn’t already) if he doesn’t back the bill Pierce – caves to bullying Antislavery faction – very angry…esp. Abe Lincoln (who will form the Republican Party in response)

22. Bleeding Kansas Border Wars (1854-1858) In KS territory, anti & pro slavery groups were literally fighting out the debate Antislavery group led by John Brown May 21, 1856 - pro-slavery forces burned down abolitionist stronghold of Lawrence, KS

23. Everybody Was Kung-Fu Fighting? May 22 nd – Rep. Preston Smith Brooks (SC) attacked Sen. Charles Sumner (MA) with a cane Sumner collapsed Brooks continued to beat the unconscious Sumner until his cane broke! Sumner not able to return to Senate for 3 years as a result of injuries

24. Downward Spiral The US was clearly on a downward spiral Pierce could not secure his party’s nomination & left office shamed and loathed Could Buchanan do better? Tune in next time…

25. Closure The US was clearly spiraling downward – discuss with your partner 2 ways this was evident