1. The Fight for Slavery in California
An article by James M. McPherson
Themes reviewed and presented by:
Stephanie Kastner
HIST 141 (71154)

2. Wilmot’s Proviso
• Created by David Wilmot, a Congressman from
Pennsylvania.
• Explained that any land acquired from Mexico will not
become a territory that allows “slavery nor involuntary
servitude.”
• Due to a 15/15 split of the Northern (free) state
Senators and the Southern (slave) state Senators, the
Proviso was blocked.
• This would lead to the disunion of the states as part of
the Civil War.

3. Natural Limits Thesis
• Slavery could not expand past eastern Texas because it
had reached its “natural limits.”
– Slaves were used in cotton fields and the cotton fields
were only in the South.
– Thus no man would take his slaves to the west.
• The Civil War was unnecessary
– “Slave Power” did not exist, but was a political campaign
used by Northern US politicians to scare Americans.
– This fear aided in the election of Lincoln in 1860.

4. To have slaves or not to have slaves?
• PRO
• CON
– Many Gold Rushers
already had slaves and • Forty Niners would have
were bringing them to to compete for the jobs
the west. they were already doing.
– African slaves were used
to working in the hot • Change the balance of
conditions. power in the eastern US
– Slaves were ideal for the
labor of mining.
– Rice and cotton could
also be harvested in
southern California.

5. The shots that possibly started and
ended the Civil War
• David Terry challenged David • 30 years later, Terry found
Broderick to a duel in 1859. himself involved in another
– Terry was a well-known Chiv dispute, but with Stephen J.
in the “Chivalry” Democratic Field.
wing. • Terry sought revenge
– Broderick was in competition against Field after Field
for the head of the had imprisoned Terry and
Democratic Party. his wife for contempt.
– Terry one the coin toss and • When Terry located Field
opted for pistols that he had at a train station, he
brought, which provided him slapped Field to initiate
with the advantage. the duel.
– Terry survived the duel,
killing Broderick with one • This resulted in Field’s
shot after Broderick’s early bodyguard shooting Terry.
shot went array.
1859 Manhattan “Navy” Revolver