Read the sources and then answer both parts of the question. Source A The speeches of Mr Clay may have calmed the passions of the South but it is doubtful whether any of his speeches changed a single vote. Their real service was to gain time for others to work out the details of the Compromise in secret. Mr Clay will still go down in history as the great compromiser, but with this Compromise he did not provide the leadership he has done in the past. His proposals to settle the territorial question and to place all the questions in one comprehensive measure were rejected. The Administration hated him as did some Democrats as they feared the success of his bill would make him president. However, he fought a glorious and patriotic battle. No man was ever governed by higher or purer motives. This Compromise is the work of Mr Douglas. He convinced many Whigs of the need to co-operate. The initial idea was his suggestion. He drew up the California, Utah, and New Mexico bills and collaborated with Pierce and the Whigs in drawing up the Texas bill. All were carried under his leadership. His ability to persuade many to forget their partisan divisions was remarkable. I echo the remark of Mr Jefferson Davis, 'If any man has a right to be proud of the success of these measures, it is the Senator from Illinois'. From a speech by the Democrat Senator for Virginia in the Senate, 16 September 1850. Source B This Compromise has finally passed because Congress responded to the great popular feeling that the Union needed to be protected. The public demanded that the extreme views of the secessionists and the abolitionists be rejected. Mindful of the coming autumn elections, members of Congress voted accordingly. Those who desired compromise were also fortunate that President Taylor died when he did, as President Fillmore was prepared to sign the bills which his predecessor may well have vetoed. From the 'New-York Daily Tribune', 19 October 1850. Source C In 1850 Mr Clay left the peace and quiet of his home to restore peace to our troubled Union. We Democrats all welcomed him as did the whole nation. He was regarded as having been preserved by God for this moment. He became our leader in the great fight, and we rallied round him. His great, and many say his finest, speeches led many away from the road to disunion. While some of the measures he advocated did not pass, the presence of such a man of principle, with his wish for compromise rather than conflict, was vital to the final outcome. We Democrats joined with the Whigs and forgot our old fights as the Union was in danger. We managed to oppose the Abolitionists successfully and united together over the Compromise measures. These measures passed because of the joint actions of our two parties. Stephen Douglas, speaking in one of the Lincoln-Douglas debates, 15 October 1858. Source D The driving force behind the Compromise, pushed through Congress against the original convictions of the majority of its members, was revealed in the bill dealing with Texas. This specified that largely worthless bonds which formed the public debt of Texas would be repaid and thus greatly increase in value. Many of those holding the bonds were members of Congress and their supporters. This was probably the first time in our history when a vital measure was passed in Congress because of the financial benefit to members. Congress also knew that the people wanted peace and prosperity. They were reluctant to lose those in a quarrel (as they saw it) over slavery. From 'The American Conflict', a history written by a Northern newspaper publisher and journalist, published in 1864. Answer both parts of the question with reference to the sources.

Mark scheme

Marking points from the official mark scheme (Feb/Mar 2025). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.

1. [15] Indicative content
2. Similarities include:
3. Both sources stress the fact that Clay's presence was important and helped bring the spirit of compromise to the whole process. He had been a vital part in earlier compromises. Source A mentions he 'calmed the passions of the South' and fought a 'glorious and patriotic battle' to get the Compromise done. Source C also stresses the important role that Clay played in the Compromise and mentions that ‘his wish for compromise and not conflict was vital to the final outcome.'
4. Both sources mention that the actual measures he proposed in the early stages of the process were unsuccessful. The work of Douglas was needed. Source A mentions ‘his proposals' over both individual aspects and for a single overall measure 'were rejected'. Source C is perhaps being a little kind when it says, 'some of the measure he advocated did not pass', in reality none did.
5. Differences include:
6. Source A mentions that 'it is doubtful whether any of his speeches changed a single vote' while Source C says, 'his great, and many say his finest, speeches led many away from the road to disunion.' There was and still is a debate on Clay's contribution to 1850.
7. Source A, while mentioning the overall part that Clay played, says 'with this Compromise he did not provide the leadership he has done in the past' while Source C says, 'he became our leader in the great fight, and we rallied round him,' Quite a contrast in views.
8. Explanation
9. Candidates should consider the very different purpose of the two sources.
10. Source A is by a Democratic Senator from a Southern Slave State in an election year, speaking just after the passage of a series of measures which might well influence his electorate. Naturally he would show support for Jefferson Davis, but motives for ensuring that criticism could be directed against the Northern Democrat, Douglas, should be considered. There was a growing split between the two sections of the party, and the Whigs waiting in the background to try and benefit. Source C was part of an election speech when Douglas was not only out for re-election but also trying to defend his role in the Compromise. By 1858 the tension over the issue of slavery was growing, the Compromise was clearly not working, and elements of the Compromise, such as the disaster in Kansas and the Fugitive Slave Act were causing problems in the North and inspiring the growth of the abolitionist movement there.
11. Accept any other valid responses.
12. [25] Indicative content
13. Support
14. Source A does support the hypothesis. There is the reference to Douglas 'convincing the Whigs of the need to co-operate' and 'collaborating with Pearce and the Whigs' over the Texas Bill. Also, there is the reference to his 'remarkable' ability to 'persuade many to forget their partisan divisions.'
15. Source C also strongly supports the hypothesis with the reference to ‘We Democrats joined with the Whigs and forgot our old fights'. Douglas also uses the word 'we' when ‘we managed to oppose the Abolitionists successfully' and 'united together', and there is the final reference about the measures passing 'because of the joint actions of our two parties.'
16. Challenge
17. Source A can also be used to challenge the hypothesis. It mentions the work of Douglas as it was 'his suggestion', and there is also the endorsement from Jefferson Davis.
18. Source B makes several points which challenge. There was considerable pressure from the electorate for compromise and this had an impact with the mid-term elections looming. The replacement by Fillmore after the death of Taylor could also have been significant, as a President could always veto Bills landing on his desk from Congress,
19. Source D does make a valid point. Cash certainly did play a part, but it would be unlikely that any Senator or Representative would admit to being influenced in such a way! The source is correct however. A large number of members of both Houses were involved, especially in the South, and the introduction of that part of the Texas Bill proved to be a great lubricant to the whole process.
20. Evaluation.
21. Source A is a speech by a Democrat from the South, and this needs to be borne in mind. Virginia of course was a 'slave' state, and it could be argued that in praising Douglas (from a Northern State, Illinois) he could be ensuring that any fallout from the 'slave' states could be placed on Douglas. There was also some dislike in the South towards Clay. Even though he was from the South, he was not always liked because of his tendency to advocate compromise. This was not appreciated by many slave owners.
22. Source B, from a Northern newspaper does give an important point about the role of public opinion at the time, which was a restraining factor on some of the more extreme members of Congress. It is balanced and objective.
23. Source C is by Douglas himself, in an election campaign for his own seat in Congress. He might be anxious to downplay his own role in some respects as there were elements of the Compromise, such as the Fugitive Slave Act, which were not popular in parts of the North, and place responsibility on Clay. The growing split between the Northern and Southern Democrats needs also to be borne in mind at the time of the speech.
24. Source D does make a valid point, but it was written at a critical stage of the Civil War, when of course compromise had failed, and the Congress at the time (1850), dominated by opponents of the now ruling Republican Party, perhaps warranted this sort of criticism.
25. Accept any other valid responses.