Agenda
Manifest Destiny &
Slavery and Western Expansion
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Manifest Destiny was the idea that the
nation was meant to spread to the
Pacific Ocean.
Opportunities that drew settlers to the
west included farming in fertile soil,
entering the fur trade and trading with
foreign nations
Manifest Destiny
If elected, James Polk promised to:
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Annex Texas and the Oregon Territory
Buy California from Mexico
Mexico previously owned the land that
became Texas and California
War with Mexico
The US and Mexico disputed the border
of some land along the Nueces River
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In 1846 the US sent troops to the border
and waited for Mexican troops to fire first
When news of an attack reached
Washington DC, Congress declared war
After gaining independence from Mexico,
California was known as the Bear Flag
Republic
The War with Mexico
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War continued with Mexico until US
troops marched into Mexico and
captured Mexico City
Mexican leader’s were compelled to sign
the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
The Treaty
Treaty provisions
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US Acquired over 1 mil. sq. mi. of territory
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CA, NV, UT, AZ, NM & parts of CO, WY
Rio Grande River is southern Texas border
US paid Mexico $15 million and took over
$3.25 million in debts owed to US citizens
Cost:
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$18.25 million
12,000 American lives
New arguments that will begin to surface
regarding slavery
New Territories: Slave or Free?
Popular Sovereignty – settlers in the
territories decide whether they want to
be a slave state or a free state
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Gold Rush boosted California’s population
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CA applied to enter union as free state
Current balance was 15 to 15 – CA would tip
scale
South would lose power in Senate and feared
slavery would be outlawed
South started threatening secession
Compromise of 1850
Fugitive Slave Act
Slave holder or slave catcher only had to point
out an alleged runaway
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No way to prove otherwise- couldn’t testify
An affidavit proclaiming escape or testimony by
white witnesses was enough to send prisoner south
to slavery
Federal commissioners were paid $10 rule in favor
of slave owner and $5 for ruling in favor of accused
Required federal marshals to assist slave
catchers
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Could deputize citizens
Underground Railroad
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Network of abolitionists who helped
slaves escape to the North
Harriet Tubman was an escaped slave
who led many slaves to freedom
Transcontinental Railroad
A railroad stretching from the east coast
to the west coast
Another disagreement between North
and South….
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South wanted route from New Orleans
North wanted route from Chicago and
through territory to be called Nebraska
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Another argument over slavery in the territories
South wanted Miss. Comp repealed
North wanted Popular Sovereignty to prevail in
Nebraska
Kansas- Nebraska Act
The Kansas Nebraska Act:
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Repealed the Missouri Compromise
Made popular sovereignty the way in which
slavery was determined in Kansas/Nebraska
Without this compromise the South
threatened to secede from the Union
What happens next?
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The slave crisis deepens and we are on
the verge of civil war