General Background Information (written by bloc leaders)

The dissension between the North and South in 1800s America was something that happened gradually; a tension that developed over time through westward expansion, the idea of “manifest destiny,” and the Mexican War. Through these events the issue of slavery arose and steadily grew more urgent, revealing the North and South’s strongly differing views on the issue. From these views debates and dissension increased leading to the Compromise of 1850, which attempted to appease both sides, and satisfy their needs. However, as all students who have learned of the Civil War know, in the end the compromise did not achieve its goal of stopping a possible secession. The HSC simulation begins shortly before the Compromise of 1850, before the secession takes place. In order for one to understand all that is happening at the time, they must first understand the issues taking place during the time period, and what caused them to arise.

Westward expansion began in the early 1800’s as many Americans moved westward, leaving their old lives behind in hope of new opportunity and prosperity. The US had gained much new land including the Louisiana Purchase. People seized the opportunity to settle in these new lands and through this settlement new states were created. As these states joined the Union the issue arose of whether they should be admitted as free or slave states. The North wanted the new states to be free of slavery, while the South wanted slavery to not only be allowed in the new western states, but made legal in all states. As more people expanded west and more states formed this issue became more and more of a problem, and disagreement grew more intense. This argument worsened through the idea of “manifest destiny,” a feeling of freedom and opportunity to have a better life. “Manifest destiny” promoted the expansion west, promising a new, better beginning for those that moved there. However it also indirectly promoted a North antislavery philosophy because through “manifest destiny” their new, better beginning included one without slavery. Therefore, as the fervor of “manifest destiny” spread throughout the country causing people to spread west, it also empowered some into the idea of abolishing slavery.

The Mexican-American War began during this westward expansion time period right in the fervor of “manifest destiny.” The US was eager to continue its seemingly endless expansion and continued prosperity. The US continued to expand into Mexican areas, and border disputes arose. There was also the issue of Texas who wanted to become part of the Union but was officially owned by Mexico. These issues led to the Mexican-American War, which lasted from 1846-1848. The US won the war and gained even more territory through the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. From this treaty the US gained new territory all the way to Oregon. This new territory caused the already dire issue of slavery versus non-slavery to arise again, stirring another spur of debates and dissension. There were also new measures of disagreement even while the war was taking place. Early into the war David Wilmot, Pennsylvania Representative in Congress proposed a bill, named the Wilmot Proviso, to ban slavery in any land won during the war. All Northern states except for one agreed with this proviso, while the Southern states strongly disagreed and denunciated the proviso. This proviso stirred up the already existing fiery debates that continued to rage through the Compromise of 1850 until after the Civil War.

In 1850 Henry Clay proposed a compromise in order alleviate the fiery disagreement and debate between North and South. He wanted to stop secession before it began as well as solve the issue of slave versus free states that the North and South had been arguing over for decades. This compromise was supposed to finally make both sides happy one and for all. However, that never happened, and both North and South continued to quarrel.

The Compromise of 1850 did however achieve some things. It temporarily settled the argument between North and South by making concessions to both sides. To appease the North it admitted California as a free state and abolished slave trade in Washington D.C. To appease to the South, it divided the Mexican Cession land into New Mexico and Texas and gave both states popular sovereignty which is the right to choose whether they wanted to be free or slave states. It also made the fugitive slave law stricter, so now any slave that escaped would have to be given back to the owner whether they lived in a free state or not.

Description of Political Parties

In the mid 1800s two political parties existed: the Democrats and the Whigs. However in the period from 1848 on mass political party turmoil began with old parties ending, new parties being created, and multiple parties joining together to form other parties. Following is a description of a few major parties: the Whigs, Democrats, Republicans, and Know-nothings.

The Whig party lasted from 1834-1856. It was originally formed in opposition to Andrew Jackson and the Democratic Party. The Whigs developed directly from the National Republicans. There was much variation within the Whig party because it contained representatives from both the Northern and Southern states. This variation of views became a problem as the issues of slavery and national expansion began to arise. Southern Whigs had much different views on the issues than the Northern Whigs did which led to high tension within the party. In the time span between 1848-1852 the Whig party suffered high tension and confusion because two very influential party members, Henry Clay and Daniel Webster, both died, some Northern Whigs joined the antislavery Free Soil party, and Southern Whigs began to join the Democratic Party which they believed to better serve their interests. Henry Clay and Daniel Webster were both Whigs who really emphasized the party’s beliefs, which were based on union and compromise. After their death these beliefs were not as strongly supported, and as the party split and tension between states grew, compromise and union became increasingly less important to the people. Instead, both Southerners and Northerners cared more about getting their way, than working everything out.

The Democratic Party was one of the oldest and longest existing parties in the United States. Many Southern Whigs converted to this party, feeling that their views were better expressed through the Democratic party then their previous Whig party. The Democratic Party during the time period of 1848 through the Civil War was the party that represented the South’s views. They were composed of Southerners and were for slavery and slave states. They aimed to protect the right of slave property, or right to own slaves. This party struggled much to have its views represented and accepted, and eventually party members grew frustrated, leading to secession from the Union.

The Republican Party originated in 1854 as a response to the Kansas-Nebraska act which gave both the states of Kansas and Nebraska the right to popular sovereignty (to choose whether they wanted to be free or slave states). It was made up of former Northern Whigs, the Free Soil Party, and the American party. Abraham Lincoln was the first president from the Republican Party, and he was an abolitionist. The party itself emphasized abolishing slavery and changing for the better. However, it did not try to rid of slavery in states that already possessed it, it only tried to stop slavery in new states and territories. It was a very radical and forward pushing party for the time period, and its views severely angered the Southerners.