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Expansion, Division, and Reunion: 1844–1877

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Expansion, Division, and Reunion: 1844–1877

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Created by: Vanya, London, Aisha, and Trent

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The years 1844 to 1877 mark one of the most transformative and turbulent periods in United States history. This era saw the nation expand westward through Manifest Destiny, grapple with the moral and political crisis of slavery, and ultimately descend into civil war. Following the Union’s victory, the country faced the immense challenge of Reconstruction—rebuilding the South, redefining citizenship, and attempting to heal the deep wounds of division. This timeline traces the key events that shaped the path from expansion and conflict to reunification and change.

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Manifest Destiny and its impact on Native Americans 1803/1830

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Manifest Destiny and its impact on Native Americans 1803/1830

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Manifest destiny is a conceptual ideology of the United States need and almost calling for westward expansion. Some even referred to it as “God’s right” for the nation to take land and improve it from its current state. The primary source above depicts “American Progress” by John Grast illustrating America as an angel surrounded by innovation in newly acquired foreign lands, ultimately symbolizing the intense desire America had to expand its territory. An important example of this ideology’s is seen in the effects of westward expansion on Native Americans. Prior to this movement President Thomas Jefferson’s purchase of the Louisiana Territory in 1803 doubled the size of the United States opening up more land for settlers, agriculture, and commerce. However, this expansion came at the cost of the removal of the Native American populations by president Jackson in the Indian removal act 1830 which forced natives who already inhabited these lands to leave by force leading to widespread conflict, forced relocation, and loss of indigenous lives.

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Originally, the state of Texas formed a part of the Mexican territory. It was motivated to gain its independence by the disagreements regarding slavery between the state and Mexico, immigration and authority. On March 2, 1836 Texas had declared its independence from Mexico after the battle of the Almo. Led by Sam Huston Texas defeated Santa Anna the commander of the Spanish becoming its own independent state, later on joining to the United States. In 1838 Sam Huston invited the US to annex (incorporate) Texas into their territory. However, This only sparked debates over the expansion of savory in the US Despite bringing more territory and land into the United States, Southerners wanted to expand slavery while northerners wanted it to be a free state. This gain of territory reflects upon the continuous desire to expand our country while also sparking the debate of wether slavery should be supported or abolished, ultimately being on of the many causes for the division between north and south

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The Issue of Slavery: Compromise of 1850

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The Issue of Slavery: Compromise of 1850

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https://youtu.be/j_Bra5yBh6M?si=T368TfUMnYk9hK7V

The Compromise of 1850 was a series of laws aimed at easing tensions between free and slave states following the Mexican-American War. It admitted California as a free state, allowed popular sovereignty in Utah and New Mexico, strengthened the Fugitive Slave Act, and ended the slave trade in Washington, D.C. While it temporarily eased sectional conflict, it ultimately deepened divisions over slavery.

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Sound Smart: Compromise of 1850 | History

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The Issue of Slavery: Tensions in Kansas and Nebraska

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The Issue of Slavery: Tensions in Kansas and Nebraska

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The Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854 allowed settlers in the Kansas and Nebraska territories to decide for themselves whether to allow slavery, using the principle of popular sovereignty. This effectively repealed the Missouri Compromise, which had banned slavery north of the 36°30′ line, and led to violent conflict in Kansas between pro- and anti-slavery forces, a period known as "Bleeding Kansas." The act intensified sectional tensions and pushed the nation closer to civil war.

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Political divide : New political parties

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Political divide : New political parties

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The division of the Whigs party :

The Whigs party(originally founded in 1834) held beliefs contrary to the Democratic Party. They believed in an economic and westward expansion of the country, as well as opposing the expansion of slavery. The Whigs division began with Kansas Nebraska Act of 1854- A bill that repealed the Missouri Compromise and allowed the people to decide whether or not slavery should be allowed (popular sovereignty). Northern Whigs opposed the expansion of slavery and acts that worsened the state of slaves, while southern Whigs appeared to be proslavery and pro-Union. Eventually, the Whigs found themselves incapable to unite because of the debate on slavery and they split off to smaller political groups.

Creation of new political groups

Nativism American Party:

Founded in 1854, this party was in favor of native-born Americans over immigrants. They were anti-immigrant and anti-catholic, with the fear of them overthrowing the Government.

The Liberty Party:

Founded in 1840, they were strongly anti-slavery and pursued the cause abolition by passing new laws. With their help, candidate James K. Polk won the election of 1844.

The Free Soiler Party:

Founded in 1848, they opposed the extension of slavery into new Territories even if they didn’t favor abolition. They supported laws prohibiting black settlement and denied their right to vote.

The Republican Party:

Founded in 1854, Northern Whigs, anti-slavery democrats, and free soilers developed a new political party. They mainly focused on preventing the expansion of slavery.

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Dred Scott Decison:

Dred Scott, a slave from Missouri had sued the country for his freedom after his slave owner died. The Supreme Court ruled that slaves did not have the rights of citizens, and that Scott had no claim to freedom. Finally, the court ruled the Missouri compromise to be unconstitutional and could not forbid slavery in any territories. Southerners were very content with this final rule however Northerners felt betrayed, causing further division in the states. This ultimately sought republican supporters to confide and side with republican leaders.

The 1860 Election

Abraham Lincoln’s greatest opponent in this election was Stephen Douglass who during the time was quite popular with the people however it greatly worked against him. Lincoln had less than half the popular vote but won against his opponent greatly in the electoral vote. He had the support of every free state, and didn’t appear on the ballot for most slave states. His victory convinced southerners they had lost their political voice and even caused the succession of North Carolina. Lincoln’s proposal against the expansion of slavery in tree territories, his strategic campaigning towards southern states, and his honesty and denunciation of extreme abolitionists all contributed to his winning election and benefit for the country as he would abolish slavery.

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The Emancipation Proclamation was issued by President Abraham Lincoln on January 1, 1863. It declared that enslaved people in confederate controlled areas were free. Though it didn’t free all enslaved people right away, it changed the purpose of the war. The Civil War now became a fight to end slavery, in addition to saving the Union. It also allowed Black men to join the Union army, strengthening the North’s forces. The Proclamation weakened the South by encouraging escapes and kept foreign countries from supporting the Confederacy.

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National Museum of African American History and Culture

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On September 22, 1862, Abraham Lincoln issued the preliminary Emancipation Proclamation. Under his wartime authority as commander-in-chief, he ordered that as of January 1, 1863, enslaved individuals in all areas still in rebellion against the United States “henceforward shall be free.”

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The Battle of Gettysburg, fought in Pennsylvania in July 1863, was a major turning point in the Civil War. Confederate General Robert E. Lee tried to invade the North, but Union forces under General George Meade stopped him after three days of intense fighting. There were many causalities along the way and therefore it became the bloodiest battle of the war. When the union won, it signified an end to Lee’s attempt to bring the war into Northern territory giving the North a much needed boost in morale. It marked the beginning of the South’s downfall. A few months later, president Lincoln gave the Gettysburg Address, reminding Americans that the war was also about equality and freedom, not just preserving the Union.

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Reconstruction: The Reconstruction Act of 1867

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Reconstruction: The Reconstruction Act of 1867

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The Reconstruction Act of 1867 was a law passed after the Civil War to help rebuild the South and protect the rights of newly freed African Americans. It divided the South into five military districts and required states to rewrite their constitutions, approve the 14th Amendment, and allow Black men to vote. This act was a positive step because it gave African Americans more political rights and led to progress in education and public services. However, it also caused backlash from many white Southerners, leading to violence and the rise of groups like the Ku Klux Klan. After federal troops left in 1877, many of the rights gained during Reconstruction were taken away.

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Reconstruction: The Collapse of Reconstruction 

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Reconstruction: The Collapse of Reconstruction 

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The Panic of 1873 was a major economic crisis that caused many banks to fail, businesses to close, and led to increased rate of unemployment. As the economy struggled, many Americans, especially in the North, lost interest in reconstruction and became more focused on fixing their own financial problems. This shift in focus ultimately weakened the support to help new freed African Americans in the South. Most federal funding for Reconstruction programs was cut, and fewer Northern leaders pushed to protect the Black rights. As a result, white Southern democrats regained power, and many of the rights African Americans had gained were slowly taken away, leading to the collapse of Reconstruction.

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The immediate consequences of this period were dramatic and far-reaching. The expansion of U.S. territory reignited fierce debates over slavery, ultimately leading to the secession of Southern states and the outbreak of the Civil War (1861–1865). The war caused over 600,000 deaths, devastated the Southern economy, and left deep political and social divisions. In the wake of Union victory, slavery was abolished by the 13th Amendment, and the federal government launched Reconstruction efforts to rebuild the South and integrate newly freed African Americans into society, sparking both hope and fierce resistance.

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The legacy of this period profoundly shaped the trajectory of the United States. The Civil War confirmed the supremacy of the federal government over the states and redefined the meaning of citizenship and civil rights through the 14th and 15th Amendments. Though Reconstruction's promises were cut short by systemic racism and the rise of Jim Crow laws, its legal framework laid the groundwork for future civil rights movements. Moreover, the national debates over race, power, and identity that began in this era continue to influence American society and politics to this day.

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To conclude, our country experienced immense changes throughout the years 1844–1877. From the rise of Manifest Destiny, a national desire to expand and improve forging land to the conflicts and debates that led to the Civil War, which ultimately reshaped our federal government and reinforced our strength as a nation. America has continued to evolve and grow stronger through each battle, and our history reflects our identity and shapes our beliefs as Americans. This period is especially significant for the way it helped define who we are as a nation and what our morals as United States citizens are.