The Impending Crisis Chapter 13

Missouri Compromise Westward Expansion complicated the issue of slavery Missouri Compromise Line drawn across the Louisiana Purchase. North of the line was ant-slavery, South of the line had slavery The compromise failed to answer the questions of the West

Drive to go West Many factors contributed to American’s desire to move West New, fertile lands Economic opportunities—gold, minerals, agriculture, ranching Manifest Destiny—nationalism Racial Justification—”American Race” was superior to Indians Henry Clay and others felt that western expansion would divide the country on the issue of slavery—the Civil War was NO surprise!

Americans in Texas Mexico controlled Texas until 1830’s US tried to buy Texas Mexico encouraged Americans to immigrate to Texas 1826 Texas tries to secede from Mexico forming their own country called Fredonia Mexico bans American immigration but by 1835, 30,000 American’s live in Texas The Fredonian Flag

Tensions Between US and Mexico Americans in Texas wanted to legalize slavery (Mexico had outlawed slavery years earlier) 1830 General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna takes control of the Mexican government and begins to push Americans out of Texas Battle of the Alamo—Santa Anna uses force to push Americans out. Sam Houston, at the battle of San Jacinto defeated Mexican Army and captures Santa Anna Mexico sings treaty granted Texas independence Texans want to be ANNEXED by the US but Northerners don’t want another slave state and many feared Texas would split the Union Texas is its own country for a while

Oregon Territory includes Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming US and Britain fight over sovereignty of the territory Protestant Evangelists move to the territory to spread Christianity to the Native Americans and fight French Catholic expansion into the territory from Canada Thousands of white settlers head out on the Oregon Trail They bring with them measles which devastates the Indian population

The Oregon Trail

Expansion and War Democratic Party selects James K. Polk as their nominee for president because he supports the annexation of Texas Polk wins the election due to his support of allow Texas (slave) and the Oregon Territory (Free) into the Union President Tyler, before leaving office believes Polk’s election a mandate from the people and pushes through Congress a bill making Texas a state in 1845 The boundary of America and Canada is set at the 49th parallel in a treaty with Britain.

The Southwest and California When Texas was admitted into the Union Mexico broke diplomatic ties with the US Texas and Mexico argued over their borders. Polk sends a small army commanded by Zachery Taylor to Texas to defend its border from Mexico Control of Texas meant control of the area that would be one day New Mexico and California Lots of public interest in these lands, so Polk did everything in his power to take them from Mexico Polk sent order to Naval commanders in the region to seize California ports if they declared war

The Mexican War Diplomatic talks broke down and Polk ordered American troops to move towards the disputed lands May 13, 1846 the US declares war on Mexico Many Whigs argued that Polk had deliberately orchestrated war to gain lands in the region War was fought in Texas, Mexico, and parts of California Polk feared that Taylor was too hesitant to carry out his plan to take Mexico city and could become a powerful political opponent, so he ordered General Winfield Scott to march towards Mexico City Scott was so successful that the Mexican government was overthrown before he could get to the City and negotiations began. On February 1, 1848 the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo was signed giving the US control of California and New Mexico and set the Rio Grande River as the boundary between Mexico and Texas

Slavery and the Territories The Wilmot Proviso—a bill argued in Congress in years that forbade slavery in any territories gained from Mexico. Congress could not agree on the slavery issue Democrats and Whigs try to avoid the slavery issue in the election of 1848 Polk bows out of the race due to poor health, the Democrats nominate Lewis Cass of Michigan, but Zachary Taylor (Whig) of Louisiana wins the White House. Abolitionists, unsatisfied with either choice, form the Free Soil Party—and anti-slavery party that includes both Democrats and Whigs