Politics of Division

THE POLITICS OF DIVISION

WHAT WERE THE POLITICLA PARTIES BEFORE THE CHANGE?

As compromise after compromise failed over the expansion of slavery and the debate between pro-slave and abolitionists heated up, the country experienced a political realignment.

INRODUCTION

• DEMOCRATS
• THE PARTY OF JACKSON
• ORGANIZED BY MARTIN VAN BUREN FOR ANDREW JACKSON (REMEMBER THE CORRUPT BARGAIN AND THE ELECTION OF 1828?)
• TOLERATED SLAVERY
• COMPACT THEORY OF GOVERNMENT/STATES' RIGHTS - STATES ARE MORE POWERFUL THAN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT (THIS IDEA COJMES FROM JEFFERSON - REMEMBER THE VA AND KY RESOLUTIONS?)
• REPRESENTED THE "COMMON MAN" - WAS THE MOST POWERFUL PARTY UNTIL 1854 (THEY WON ALL BUT 2 ELECTIONS FROM 1828 TO 1854)
• WHIGS
• FORMED AFTER JACKSON KILLED THE 2ND BANK OF THE UNITED STATES (REMEMBER THE BANK WAR)
• BELIEVED IN A STRONG FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
• ALSO TOLERATED SLAVERY WHERE IT EXISTED BUT DID NOT WANT IT TO SPREAD INTO THE TERRITORIES

WHAT WERE THE POLITICAL PARTIES BEFORE THE CHANGE?

KNOW NOTHING PARTY

DEMOCRAT PARTY

REPUBLICAN PARTY

FREE SOIL PARTY

POLITICAL PARTIES OF THE 1850S

GO TO PRIMARY SOURCE

• FORMED IN 1848
• BASED ON THE WILMOT PROVISO
• AN ACT INTRODUCED TO CONGRESS THAT WOULD KEEP SLAVERY OUT OF THE TERRITORIES WON BY THE US IN THE TREATY OF GUADALUPE HIDALGO
• FORMED BY WHIGS WHO WERE DISAPPOINTED IN THEIR PARTY AND ANTI-SLAVERY DEMOCRATS
• PREDOMINANTLY A NORTHERN PARTY

THE FREESOIL PARTY

FROM THE FREESOIL PARTY PLATFORM

Whereas, We have assembled in Convention, as a union of freemen, for the sake of freedom, forgetting all past political differences in a common resolve to maintain the rights of free labor against the aggressions of the Slave Power, and to secure free soil to a free people.Resolved, That Slavery in the several States of this Union which recognize its existence, depends upon State laws alone, which cannot be repealed or modified by the Federal Government, and for which laws that government is not responsible. We therefore propose no interference by Congress with Slavery within the limits of any State.

GO TO PRIMARY SOURCE

• CREATED AFTER THE KANSAS-NEBRASKA ACT (1854)
• MADE UP OF WHIGS , FREE SOILERS AND SOME NORTHERN DEMOCRATS
• ABOLITIONISTS JOINED THE REPUBLICAN PARTY
• THE REPUBLICAN PARTY WAS AGAINST THE SPREAD OF SLAVERY INTO THE TERRITORIES

THE REPUBLICAN PARTY

1856 ELECTION

REPUBLICAN SONG

Around our glorious chieftain rally, For Kansas and for liberty! Let him who first her wilds exploring, Her virgin beauty gave to fame, Now save her from the curse and shame Which slavery o'er her soil is pouring. Our standard bearer then, The brave path finder be! FREE SPEECH, FREE PRESS, FREE SOIL, FREE MEN, FRE-MONT AND LIBERTY.

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• SPLIT OVER THE ISSUE OF SLAVERY IN THE 1860 ELECTION
• THE SOUTHERN DEMOCRATS WANTED A FEDERAL LAW PROTECTING SLAVERY WHERE IT EXISTED AND ALLOWING IT TO SPREAD INTO NEW TERRITORY
• THE NOURTHERN DEMOCRATS WANTED THE TERRITORIES TO VOTE ON WHETHER THEY WERE SLAVE OR FREE USING POPULAR SOVEREIGNTY

THE DEMOCRATS

DEMOCRAT PARTY PLATFORM

- That the Federal Government is one of limited power, derived solely from the Constitution; and the grants of power made therein ought to be strictly construed by all the departments and agents of the government; and that it is inexpedient and dangerous to exercise doubtful constitutional powers. - That Congress has no power under the Constitution, to interfere with or control the domestic institutions of the several States, and that such States are the sole and proper judges of everything appertaining to their own affairs, not prohibited by the Constitution; that all efforts of the abolitionists, or others, made to induce Congress to interfere with questions of slavery, or to take incipient steps in relation thereto, are calculated to lead to the most alarming and dangerous consequences; and that all such efforts have an inevitable tendency to diminish the happiness of the people and endanger the stability and permanency of the Union, and ought not to be countenanced by any friend of our political institutions.

GO TO PRIMARY SOURCE

• OFFICIAL NAME: THE AMERICAN PARTY
• FORMED OUT OF THE SUPER SECRET ORDER OF THE STAR SPANGLED BANNER
• GOT IT'S NICKNAME BECAUSE WHEN MEMBERS WERE ASKED ABOUT THE ORDER THEY RESPONDED "I KNOW NOTHING"
• WAS A NATIVIST PARTY - WANTED TO END/SLOW DOWN IMMIGRATION
• BELIEVED IMMIGRANTS FROM GERMANY AND IRELAND WERE THREATENING THE JOBS OF THE NATIVES
• ALSO FELT THREATENED BECAUSE MOST NEW IMMIGRANTS WERE CATHOLIC

THE KNOW NOTHING PARTY

KNOW NOTHING PLATFORM

3. Americans must rule America; and to this end native-born citizens should be selected for all State, Federal and municipal offices of government employment, in preference to all others. Nevertheless, 4. Persons born of American parents residing temporarily abroad, should be entitled to all the rights of native-born citizens. 5. No person should be selected for political station (whether of native or foreign birth), who recognizes any allegiance or obligation of any description to any foreign prince, potentate or power, or who refuses to recognize the Federal and State Constitutions (each within its sphere) as paramount to all other laws, as rules of political action. 9. A change in the laws of naturalization, making a continued residence of twenty-one years, of all not heretofore provided for, an indispensable requisite for citizenship hereafter, and excluding all paupers, and persons convicted of crime, from landing upon our shores; but no interference with the vested rights of foreigners