1. Renewing the Sectional Struggle Chapter 18

2. Zachary Taylor 12th 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

11. Had cherries and a pitcher of milk to cool down

12. afew hours later, he complained of severe stomach pains

13. died 5 days later

17. 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

19. Blamed abolitionists for making slavery an issue - thought they were trouble makers

20. Believed the institution of slavery to be protected by the Constitution

22. Franklin Pierce 14th 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”

23. 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

25. 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”)

26. 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)

27. 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

28. Everybody Was Kung-Fu Fighting? May 22nd – 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

30. 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…

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