1. The Fight for Slavery in CaliforniaBy James M. McPherson Kristina Underwood History 141

2. Mexican-American War (1846-1848) Debate on the expansion of slave territory Supposedly settled by Missouri Compromise in 1820 Outcome of war increased the U.S. by 1/3 Penn. Congressman David Wilmot- proposed “Proviso”: no slavery or involuntary servitude should exist in any land obtained from the war Passed in congress, but blocked by Southerners (both Democrats and Whigs) in the Senate President James K. Polk found expansion to be evil Senator Daniel Webster said weather wouldn’t permit slaves Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo 1848- gave California from Mexico to United States

3. California Gold was found in California 1849 thousands of men went the new territory House of Representatives organized California as free territory, Southern in the Senate, once again, blocked this proposal President Zachary Taylor (1848) thought statehood would solve the issue of slavery The South feared that admission of California would make the Senate unbalanced when it came to North vs. South 1850- Congress accepted Henry Clay’s compromise of admitting California as a free state, stopping slavery in D.C., and admitting New Mexico and Utah with no slavery restrictions

4. “Chivalry” Southern-born politicians, proslavery William Gwin- Mississippi planter, went to California 1849 and served as a senator Gwin’s challenger was David Broderick from New York, moved to California and got into the 1857 Senate David Terry, a Chiv, came to California from Texas in 1849, became chief justice Terry challenged Broderick to a duel, Terry chose the weapon, Terry killed Broderick and won 1850s- Chiv Democrats killed three anti-Chivs in duels Chivs pressed a bill that split California in two- slavery allowed in Southern California, passed in legislature 1859, died in Congress

5. Filibustering Efforts Started in the 1850s, derived from the Spanish word filibustero, another word for pirate Leaders of Polk administration wanted Cuba to offset California Narciso Lopez led American filibusterers and invaded Cuba in 1850 and 1851 1850- Spanish pushed Americans back to their ships 1851- Spanish killed 200 Americans and captured the rest of the army Henry Crabb, Chivalry Democratic, led a filibustering to Mexico 1857 Mexican troops overcame the American troops William Walker failed at leading troops to Baja California 1853 1855- Walker took two thousand filibusterers to Nicaragua and took over the government 1856 Central America overthrew Walker and executed him in 1860