Agenda

Manifest Destiny & Slavery and Western Expansion 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: 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 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 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 Cost: US Acquired over 1 mil. sq. mi. of territory 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: $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 Gold Rush boosted California’s population 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 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 Could deputize citizens

Underground Railroad 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…. South wanted route from New Orleans North wanted route from Chicago and through territory to be called Nebraska 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: 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? The slave crisis deepens and we are on the verge of civil war