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Between 1840s to 1850s , United States possessed all the states except present days Alaska, Hawaii, which it acquired later. (Page 340)

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The western regions were united as part of an American community. Some people believe America need to expand with their force, some believe America should expand peacefully or not to expand.(Page 341)

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In early 1820s, the Mexican government encouraged American emigration, the major immigrants were southerners, and they also brought slaves with them. Although in 1830, Mexicans tried to stop the immigration, but failed. (Page 342)

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Tension between US settlers and Mex govt grew between immigrants continued cultural and economic ties to US, also between desire to legalize slavery after it was outlawed in 1830.
Santa Anna led large army into TX, Americans unorganized and easily defeated.
General Sam Houston defeated Mexicans 1836 at Battle of San Jacinto, the captured Santa Anna signed treaty making TX independent.
Texans wanted to be annexed by US, delegation sent to D.C. had expansionist support, but northerners feared large new slave state and empowering the south with more Congressional and electoral votes
Andrew Jackson who feared sectional controversy, Pres Van Buren and Pres Harrison also ignored issue (Page 342)

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Both British and US claimed sovereignty over Oregon region. 1818 treaty allowed citizens equal access to area-“joint occupation” for 20 years.
US interest grew 1820s to 1830s desire to convert Indians and oppose Canadian Catholic.
Large amount of Americans began emigrating to Oregon early 1840s, soon outnumbered GB’s settlers (Page 343)

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Southerners went mainly to TX, largest numbers from Old Northwest – majority sought mainly new economic opportunity.
Some wanted riches after CA gold discovery 1848, others take advance of cheap land fed govt selling, others on religious mission. (Page 344)

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Most migrants gathered major in Iowa or MI, joined wagon trains led by hired guides. Main route Oregon Trail to CA and WA
Trip very difficult, especially in
mountain and desert terrain. Fear of conflict with Indians, trade developed with Natives. (Page 344)

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Two candidates for 1844 election Whig Henry Clay and the Democrat/former president Martin Van Buren. Clay chose, but many Southern Democrats supported TX annexation, chose stronger support James K. Polk
Polk able to win and wished to occupy Oregon and annex TX, thereby appealing to both northern and southern expansionists
Outgoing Pres John Tyler saw the election as a mandate for annexing TX, did so in 1845. Polk proposed Oregon border at the 49th parallel, GB refused, led to US cry “Fifty-four forty or fight!”. 1846 GB accepted treaty with border at 49th parallel. (Page 346)

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Oregon treaty accepted readily by Pres and tension growing in Southwest with Mex. After TX became state 1845 dispute over the border- TX, and Polk believed it to be at the Rio Grande, sent Gen Zachary Taylor to protect from invasion
Part of the disputed area was New Mexico where Mex had originally invited American settlers into. Interest in California growing as well as US fur traders gave way to merchants and farmers arriving. Settlers dreamed of annexation
Polk wanted California and New Mexico for the US. At same time ordered Gen Taylor to TX, ordered navy seize CA ports if Mexico declared war (Page 347)

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The Mexican War
Polk attempted diplomacy by sending the special minister to Mex to purchase lands. When Polk heard MX rejected offer sent Gen. Taylor’s army from Nueces R to Rio Grande R January 1846
May 1846 US declaration of war. Whig critics of war and thought Polk instigated, intensified as war cont and public awareness of casualties and expense
American forces succeeded in capturing NE Mexico, Polk ordered an offensive against New Mexico and California. Col Stephen Kearny captured Santa Fe, then aided US forces in CA’s “Bear Flag Revolution”, captured CA
When Mex refused to cede defeat Polk sent Gen Winfield Scott to capture Mexico City. After taking city new Mex govt took power that was willing to negotiate the treaty. Some in the US wanted to annex part of Mexico, but w/ election soon Polk wanted the war ended quickly. Sent envoy Nicolas Trist for settlement
Feb 1848 Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo agreed to where Mex ceded CA and NM to the US and acknowledged Rio Grande boundary of TX. The US agreed to pay Mex $15 million. Despite to Mex annexations Polk accepted the treaty. (Page 349)

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Rep David Wilmot’s “Wilmot Proviso”: prohibit slavery from territories acquired by Mex- failed Senate. Polk extended Missouri Compromise line to territory on West coast. Alternative- “popular sovereignty”- states decided
1848 election Polk didn’t run again. Dem candidate Lewis Cass, Whig General Zachary Taylor. Slavery opponents formed “Free-Soil” Party w/ Van Buren for pres. Showed inability of existing parties to contain slavery passions
(Page 351)

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Taylor won 1848 election, a pressure to resolve slavery in territories urgent b/c of events in CA- 1848 Gold Rush lead to dramatic increase in CA’s population, migrants known as “Forty-niners” mainly men
Gold Rush led to many Chinese migrants to the Western US. The labor shortage in CA created opportunities for ppl who needed work. Also led to exploitation of Natives, “Indian hunters”
Most didn’t find gold, but many sated in CA and swelled agricultural + urban populations. Population diverse- white Americans, Europeans, Chinese, Mexicans, free blacks, slaves of southern migrants—tension led territory to be a turbulent place, therefore pressure to create a stable and effective govt to bring order.
(Page 351)

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Taylor believed statehood solution to territory issue and territories controlled by the federal government, but states govt could settle slave issue w/in own state
Taylor 1849 proposed CA (which had constitution banning slavery) and New Mexico apply for statehood, decide slavery within the state. Congress refused and  at time 15 free and 15 slave states existed, South feared admission of New states would upset the balance, make South minority in Sen.
(Page 353)

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The Compromise of 1850
Henry Clay proposed a compromise to Congress in 1850- admitted CA as a free state, new territorial governments without slave restrictions, new tough fugitive slave law
The first phase of debating comp led by older voices of Clay, Calhoun, Webster and broad ideal of settling slave issue once and for all
After Clay proposal defeated, the second phase of debate led by younger group: William Seward of NY opposed compromise, Jefferson Davis of MI saw slavery in terms of South’s economic self-interest, Stephen Douglas of IL
With the death of Taylor in 1850 (who refused compromise until CA admitted), new Pres Millard Fillmore supported the compromise, rallied N Whig support
Douglas proposed Clay compromise split into smaller measured and voted on, used govt bonds and railroad construction to gain support. Comp passed in September- less widespread agreement on ideas then the victory of self-interest
(Page 353)

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1852 pres election candidates very sectional. Dem Franklin Pierce, Whig Gen Winfield Scott, Free-Soil John Hale. Whigs suffered from massive defection from antislavery members, Democrats won
Pres Pierce tried to ignore divisive issues, but N opposition to Fugitive Slave Act after 1850 as mobs prevented slave catchers in cities.
(Page 354)

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Pierce supported Democrat’s “Young America”- saw the expansion of US democracy throughout the world as a way of diverting attention from slavery
Efforts to expand entangled in sectionalism- attempts to capture Cuba opposed by antislavery northerners who feared administration trying to bring new slave state to Union, south opposed acquiring Hawaii b/c prohibited slavery.
(Page 355)

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1850s settlers began moving into plains to areas suitable for farming, dislodge Indians from reservations there. Settlement led to the issue of railroad and slavery
The railroad used to solve communication problems between old states and areas west of Mississippi river, the movement for transcontinental railroad Disagreement over whether eastern terminus should be in North’s Chicago or in the South. Jefferson Davis organized Gadsden Purchase 1853 from Mex to make S route possible.
(Page 355)

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Stephen Douglas 1854 proposed opening Nebraska Territory for white settlement
Nebraska North of Missouri Compromise line, therefore had to be free
To gain passage Douglas proposed dividing Nebraska in two, Nebraska and Kansas and each would decide slavery by “popular sovereignty” repealed Missouri Compromise entirely
Kansas-Nebraska Act passed 1854 with Pres Pierce support. Had immediate, sweeping consequences: divided and destroyed Whig Party, divided northern Democrats
Both parties opposed to bill formed Republican Party 1854
(Page 356)

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Settlers from the north and south settling Kansas, but for 1855 elections southerners from Missouri traveled to Kansas to vote. The pro-slavery legislature elected, legalized slavery. Free-state supporters in the state formed own Const, applied statehood
Pro-slave forces burned down anti-slave govt, abolitionist John Brown then killed 5 pro-slave settlers. Led to armed warfare by armed bands, “Bleeding Kansas” became a symbol of sectional controversy
1856 anti-slavery Charles Sumner of MA gave a speech entitled “The Crime Against Kansas” critical of slavery defender Sen Butler of SC. Butler’s nephew Preston Brooks came to Sen, beat Sumner w/ cane- both became a hero.
(Page 356)

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Tension from economic, territorial interest, but also a sectional vision of US
North believed in “free soil” and “free labor”. Slavery not so much immoral but wrong and threatened whites- every citizen had the right to own property, control labor, access to opportunity. To them, South closed, a static society where slavery preserved entrenched aristocracy and common white had no opportunity
North growing and prospering, south stagnant and rejecting individualism, progress. Believed south conspiring to extend slavery thru the whole nation and thus destroy north capitalism, replace it with the closed aristocracy of the south- “slave power conspiracy”
This ideology at heart of Republic Party. Committed to Union and growth and prosperity central to free-labor vision, breakup= smaller size and less econ power
(Page 357)

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Incompatible Southern ideology result of a desire for security after Nat Turner 1831 uprising, the lucrative nature of the cotton economy into Deep South and expansion there, the growth of Garrisonian abolition movement against south society
The intellectual defense of slavery begun by Professor Thomas Dew, others later gave ideology name The Pro-Slavery Argument- said that south should not apologize for slavery and was a good thing, slaved enjoyed better conditions than industrial workers in the north, allowing for peace between races, helped the national economy
Also argued slavery good and basis of way southern way of life, which was superior to any other. North greedy, destructive, factories horrific, cities crowded and immigrant-filled- but south stable, orderly, protected worker welfare
The defense also on the biological inferiority of blacks, inherently unfit to care for themselves and be citizens. Clergy also gave religious and biblical justification
(Page 358)

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In 1858 Congressional elections Republic Abraham Lincoln ran against famed Dem Stephen Douglas. Lincoln-Douglas debates attracted attention
Lincoln’s attacks on slavery prominent- argued if the nation didn’t accept blacks had human rights then it could accept other groups such as immigrant laborers could be deprived of rights too. Also, the extension of slavery in territories would lead to a lost opportunity for betterment by poor white laborers
Lincoln opposed slavery but not abolitionist b/c did not see the easy alternative to slavery in areas where it existed. Prevent the spread of slavery to territories, trust institution would gradually die out in areas where it existed
Douglas won but Lincoln gained following.
(Page 358)

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In Preselection of 1860 Dems torn between southerners  and westerners
After popular sovereignty endorsed by convention southern states walked out, eventually nominated John Breckinridge of KY, rest chose Stephen Douglas
Still, others formed the Constitutional Union Party with John Bell as a candidate- endorsed Union but remained silent regarding slavery
Republicans tried to broaden appeal to earn a majority in North who feared S blocking its economic interests. Platform endorsed high tariff, internal improvements, homestead bill, Pacific railroad, popular sovereignty but Congress nor territory legislatures could legalize slavery in territories
Repubs chose Abraham Lincoln as nominee b/c moderate positions on slavery, relative obscurity, and western origins to attract votes from the region
Lincoln won the presidency with a majority of electoral votes but only 2/5 of the popular vote but failed to win a majority in Congress
Election of Lincoln final signal for many southerners that their position in Union hopeless, within weeks process of disunion, began
(Page 359)