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The Free Soil Party was a short-lived political party in the United States active in the 1848 and 1852 presidential elections, and in some state elections. It was a third party that largely appealed to and drew its greatest strength from New York State. The party leadership consisted of former anti-slavery members of the Whig Party and the Democratic Party. Its main purpose was opposing the expansion of slavery into the western territories, arguing that free men on free soil comprised a morally and economically superior system to slavery. They opposed slavery in the new territories and worked to remove existing laws discriminating against freed blacks in states such as Ohio.

The party membership was largely absorbed by the Republican Party in 1854.

Positions

Free Soil candidates ran on the platform that declared: "...we inscribe on our banner, 'Free Soil, Free Speech, Free Labor and Free Men,' and under it we will fight on and fight ever, until a triumphant victory shall reward our exertions."

The party also called for a homestead act and a tariff for revenue only. The Free Soil Party's main support came from areas of upstate New York, western Massachusetts, and Ohio, although other northern states also had representatives.

The Free Soil Party contended that slavery undermined the dignity of labor and inhibited social mobility, and was therefore fundamentally un-Democratic. Viewing slavery as an economically inefficient, obsolete institution, Free Soilers argued that slavery should be contained, and that if contained it would ultimately disappear.^{[citation needed]}

History

In 1847 the New York State Democratic convention did not endorse the Wilmot Proviso, an act that would have banned slavery in any territory won in the Mexican War. Almost half the members, known as Barnburners, walked out after denouncing the national platform.

In 1848, the first party convention was held in Buffalo, New York, where the Free Soilers nominated former Democratic President Martin Van Buren for president with Charles Francis Adams for vice president at Lafayette Square then known as Court House Park.^[1] The main party leaders were Salmon P. Chase of Ohio and John P. Hale of New Hampshire. The Free Soil candidates won no electoral votes, in part because the nomination of Van Buren discouraged many anti-slavery Whigs from joining the Free Soil Party.

Compromise of 1850

The Compromise of 1850 undercut the party's no-compromise position, and its vote fell off.

Legacy

The Free Soil Party was a notable third party. More successful than most, it sent two Senators and fourteen Representatives to the thirty-first Congress. Its presidential nominee in 1848, Martin Van Buren, received 291,616 votes against Zachary Taylor of the Whigs and Lewis Cass of the Democrats but Van Buren received no electoral votes. The Party's "spoiler" effect in 1848 may have put Zachary Taylor into office in a narrowly-contested election.

The strength of the party, however, was its representation in Congress. The sixteen elected officials' influence far exceeded its numbers^{[citation needed]}. The party's most important legacy was as a route for anti-slavery Democrats to join the new Republican coalition.

In Ottawa, Illinois, in August, 1854, an alliance was brokered between the Free Soil Party and the Whigs (in part based on the efforts of local newspaper publisher Jonathan F. Linton) that gave rise to the Republican Party ^[2]

Presidential candidates

Year	Presidential candidate	Vice Presidential candidates	Won/Lost
1848	Martin Van Buren	Charles Francis Adams	Lost
1852	John P. Hale	George W. Julian	Lost

Other Noted Free Soilers

Charles Francis Adams, Sr., Party's vice presidential candidate in 1848
Salmon P. Chase, U.S. Senator from Ohio
Charles Sumner, U.S. Senator from Massachusetts
David C. Broderick, U.S. Senator from California
Oren B. Cheney, legislator from Maine, founder of Bates College
William Cullen Bryant
Walt Whitman
Joshua Reed Giddings, congressman from Ohio
Henry Wilson
George W. Julian
Horace Mann

References

^ "Old Court House". History of Buffalo. Chuck LaChiusa. Retrieved 2008-03-08.
^ Taylor, William Alexander. CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF COLUMBUS http://www.heritagepursuit.com/Franklin/Franklin%20Vol%20II%20Bio%2006%20P100.htm 1909.

@@ Line 24: / Line 24: @@
 The Free Soil Party contended that slavery undermined the dignity of labor and inhibited social mobility, and was therefore fundamentally un-Democratic.  Viewing slavery as an economically inefficient, obsolete institution, Free Soilers argued that slavery should be contained, and that if contained it would ultimately disappear.{{Fact|date=May 2009}}
+==History==
-==First convention==
 [[Image:Free Soil campaign banner.jpg|thumb|Van Buren / Adams campaign banner]]
+In 1847 the New York State Democratic convention did not endorse the Wilmot Proviso, an act that would have banned slavery in any territory won in the Mexican War. Almost half the members, known as Barnburners, walked out after denouncing the national platform.
 In 1848, the first party convention was held in [[Buffalo, New York]], where the Free Soilers nominated former Democratic President [[Martin Van Buren]] for president with [[Charles Francis Adams, Sr.|Charles Francis Adams]] for vice president at [[Lafayette Square, Buffalo|Lafayette Square]] then known as Court House Park.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://lucky.phpwebhosting.com/~ah/h/lafsq/courthse/index.html|title=Old Court House|accessdate=2008-03-08|publisher=Chuck LaChiusa|work=History of Buffalo}}</ref> The main party leaders were [[Salmon P. Chase]] of Ohio and [[John P. Hale]] of New Hampshire. The Free Soil candidates won no electoral votes, in part because the nomination of Van Buren discouraged many anti-slavery Whigs from joining the Free Soil Party.