Sectionalism
The Mexican American War and the Kansas‐Nebraska Act APUSH Period 5 Notes
Key Concept 5.2.II A&B
• Intensified by expansion and depending regional divisions, debates over slavery and other economic, cultural, and political issues led the nation into civil war. – II. Debates over slavery came to dominate political discussion in the 1850s, culminating in the bitter election of 1860 and the secession of Southern states Concepts (cont.)
• A) The Mexican Cession led to heated controversies over whether to allow slavery in the newly acquired territories.
• B) The courts and national leaders made a variety of attempts to resolve the issue of slavery in the territories, including the Compromise of 1850, the Kansas–Nebraska Act, and the Dred Scott decision, but these ultimately
What in the heck is Sectionalism?
• Sectionalism‐ A political division in which a nation begins to define itself by different regional lifestyles and customs rather than a country as a whole. • Example: If the Valley (Rockingham, Augusta, Shenandoah Counties) considered itself politically separate from the rest of Virginia based on living in the mountains, it would emphasize sectionalism in Virginia
Manifest Destiny • Remember that the United States was very much concerned with spreading from the Atlantic to Pacific • Best way to do this. . . – Gain some land! Don’t Mess with Texas!
• Texas had gained its independence from Mexico in 1836 and remained its own country until 1845
• The Election of 1844 – James K. Polk wins – Vows to annex Oregon and Texas James K. Polk • Ardent expansionist, with strong interest in acquiring Texas and California
• Also wanted to acquire Oregon from Britain
– “Fifty‐four forty or fight!”
Polk and the Mexican‐American War • The move to annex Texas and start revolutions within California led to the Mexican‐American War
• 1846‐48 Mexican‐American War 1846‐1848
• Zachary Taylor led 6,000 U.S. troops into Mexico
• Mexican General Santa Ana led an army of 20,000
• Both met near Monterey in 1847
– Santa Ana retreated
War (cont.)
• Americans’ military might proved too much for Mexican forces. • Mexican army made a last stand at Chapultepec Castle, Sept. 13, 1847 – Los Niño's Heroes
Battle of Vera Cruz fought in March of 1847
• Mexico surrendered February 2, 1848
Aftermath of the War
• Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo signed • Mexico cedes land to the U.S., including
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California
Nevada
Arizona
Utah
Wyoming
• With Gadsden Purchase (1853‐54), U.S. purchased land between Texas and California for $10 million. This would become New Mexico and Arizona.
• Increased size of the U.S. by approximately 25%
Oregon Territory • Britain agreed to split Oregon territory with the U.S. in 1846 along the 49th parallel
• Oregon becomes a territory in 1848
• Ends 54‐40 or fight rhetoric, prevents war with England The Compromise of 1850
• To satisfy anti‐slavery politicians, California is added as a free state. The slave trade in D.C. is also abolished.
• For slavery Democrats in the South the compromise gave them a stricter Fugitive Slave Law.
• Finally, it gave the territories of Utah and New Mexico popular sovereignty to decide whether or not to be slave or free states. Kansas‐Nebraska Act 1854
• President Franklin Pierce ‐>
• The Missouri Compromise (in 1820) had prohibited new slave states above the 36‐30 line
• The Kansas‐Nebraska Act revoked the Missouri compromise line by allowing new states to choose their status (free/slave)
Regional Feelings in Congress
• Southern leaders supported it because they assumed
Missouri farmers with slaves would move across the
border.
– President Franklin Pierce supported the bill and pushed it
through Congress.
• Northerners were unhappy with the decision.
– Said Missouri Compromise had already banned slavery in
the area and that K-N repealed the Missouri Compromise.
– Some protested by openly challenging the Fugitive Slave
Act
Hostilities in Kansas
• Once Kansas opened for settlement‐‐
– Antislavery settlers moved into the area
– Proslavery groups moved in as well • Kansas held elections in 1855
– Border ruffians (pro‐slavery gangs) voted illegally in Kansas
– Antislavery settlers refused to accept the new proslavery government – Led to “Bleeding Kansas”
“Bleeding Kansas”
• Proslavery groups destroyed homes and businesses • John Brown, an abolitionist, led uprising
– Murdered proslavery settlers – Sparked warfare from both sides – More than 200 people shot and killed
Dred Scott Case (1857)
• Scott was a slave who moved with his owner to Illinois and the Wisconsin Territory, which did not allow slavery.
• After they returned to Missouri, Scott’s owner died.
• Antislavery lawyers helped bring a lawsuit stating that because Scott had lived in a free state, he had become a free man
Dred Scott Decision • Dred Scott v. Sandford
– Supreme Court ruled that Scott could not file a
lawsuit, because as an enslaved person, he was not
a citizen.
– Court also said that Congress did not have the right
to outlaw slavery in any territory
• Made Missouri Compromise unconstitutional
• Southern slaveholders rejoiced!
• Northern antislavery and African Americans
protested the decision.