Effects of Territorial Expansion Chapter 9 Section 3

America Achieves Manifest Destiny February 1848 – Mexicans made peace with Americans Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo – forced Mexico to give up the northern third of their country Added 1.2 million sq. miles to U.S. Treaty disgusted and humiliated Mexico Gadsden Purchase – 1853 – U.S. obtained from Mexico southern Arizona and New Mexico – needed it for Railroad.

The Wilmot Proviso Divides America 1846 – David Wilmot – Congressman from PA – proposed Wilmot Proviso Wilmot Proviso – would ban slavery in any new territory gained from Mexico Heavily divided Congress Northern Dem and Whigs v. Southern Dem and Whigs Proviso passed in the House but failed in the Senate This pattern would continue for the next 15 years

The California Gold Rush 1848 – workers at John Sutter’s sawmill found flecks of gold in the American River News traveled fast California Gold Rush – 80,000 people headed for CA Many came from South America and China Life for a miner was harsh New methods change mining – expensive and damaging to environment Wealthy investors, rather than workers, enjoyed most of profits

Effects of the Gold Rush New people to CA quickly tried to assert their dominance over the region To discourage the Chinese, they levied heavy taxes on foreign miners Indians and Mexicans face discrimination Killed Native Americans by the thousands Many became workers on farms and ranches Violence drove most Mexican Americans away from mines – even though many had been in CA long before the Rush

California Seeks Statehood October 1849 - held convention, wrote constitution Excluded African Americans – slave and free At the time, there were 15 free and 15 slave states Became a state in 1850 – free Debate would continue on topic of free v. slave for next decade