Manifest Destiny

Western Pioneers New opportunities lured farmers Believed in idea of Manifest

Destiny Movement of white settlers

provoked Native Americans’ hostilityOregon

Great Britain and United States dispute claims over Oregon

Polk ran on issue of “54’40 or Fight!” After elected, settled with Great Britain

on 49th parallel

Manifest Destiny

Texas Empresarios encouraged Americans to settle

Texas once they settled, Mexico enforced their laws and

ways of life People of Texas fought for independence

Held off Mexican army at Alamo, still lost, but rallied the troops

Defeated Mexico, attempted to join United States• Slavery issue slowed down admittance of Texas

Polk promised to admit Texas in his campaign

Manifest Destiny

War with Mexico Polk tried to buy California, Mexico wanted nothing to

do with US 1846 – Polk ordered Gen. Zachary Taylor to cross in to

territory claimed by both US and Mexico Mexico fired shots, war began

Sent attacks in three directions US defeated Mexicans

Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo US gained territory Made the Gadsen Purchase Mexico accepted Rio Grande as

southern border of Texas

Slavery and Westward Expansion

New territories forced Congress to find a new compromise on slavery Election of 1848, candidates were vague on issue

Zachary Taylor won Compromise of 1850

Gold was discovered in California, people rushed out Californians sought statehood CA would be admitted as a free state Tougher Fugitive Slave laws were passed

Underground Railroad Escape route for Slaves Harriet Tubman led many

Slavery and Westward Expansion

The Crisis Over Kansas Need for a transcontinental railroad Needed to organize territory west of MO, first MO

Compromise had to be repealed Region was divided in to Kansas and Nebraska Kansas-Nebraska Act passed in 1854

Issue of slavery would be decided by popular sovereignty

Missourians crossed to vote illegally Kansas had two governments,

slavery and antislavery “Bleeding Kansas” became

the scene of a civil war

Slavery and Westward Expansion

Politics and Sectional Divisions Repeal of the Missouri Compromise spit the Whig

party Formation of the Free-Soil Party

Recognized as the Republican Party in 1856Keep slavery out of the territories

Election of 1856 Democrat Buchanan won by promising to save the

Union Dred Scott v. Sandford

Dred Scott could not sue because he was not a citizen

Called the Missouri Compromise unconstitutional Led to intensification of “Bleeding Kansas”

The Union Dissolves

1859 – John Brown hanged for attempt to begin a rebellion Abolitionists – martyr Pro-slavery – just punishment

Election of 1860 Democratic party was split Republicans nominated Abraham Lincoln

Not an abolitionist, opposed spread of slavery

The South Secedes Southerners viewed Lincoln as a threat South Carolina seceded on December 20, 1860

Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, and Texas all soon followed Later Arkansas, Tennessee,

North Carolina, and Virginia