Alberto Alonso December 8, 2012

A.P. American History DBQ Essay #2

1. “The opponents of the annexation of Texas and the Mexican War attacked slavery as the root cause of expansion, but in fact it was no more important than other causes.” Assess the validity of this statement, using the documents and your knowledge of U.S. history from 1820-1860 to support your answer.

During the early-mid part of the 19th century (mainly 1820-1860) Americans objected

many things they didn’t like. Taxes, the government, even presidents were some of the

rejections of the people. But the one thing the people did not like during this time period was the

annexation of Texas and the Mexican War. “The opponents of the annexation of Texas and the

Mexican War attacked slavery as the root cause for expansion.” However, slavery was not the

only reason America sought for expansion. Other than slavery, people wanted to expand

America because they believed in Manifest Destiny (an idea during the 19th century in which

people believed that America should expand over the entirety of North America) or because

they feared that Texas was an independent state, even the Gold Rush in California (1848-1855)

contributed to the expansion of America. Even though “the opponents of the annexation of

Texas and the Mexican War attacked slavery as the root cause of expansion” the idea of

Manifest Destiny, fear, and the Gold Rush were other important causes for expansion.

As you may know, slavery was the key reason as to why people wanted to expand

America, especially southerners. Abolitionists (people who were against slavery) did not like the

idea that the expansion of America was based on slavery, but it was. In Document B it states,

“Texas…will strengthen ‘the peculiar institution’ of the South, and open a new and vast field for

slavery.” Many southerners wanted Texas to be annexed to America because it would allow the

south to have more slave states (states that allowed slavery). However, people feared that if

Texas was annexed, slavery would expand everywhere in America, and they did not want that.

Document C also talks about slavery. It states that, “The slave population of America…must be

increased.” Texas is annexed; it will benefit the South in moving some slaves out of the

“superabundant slave population” and will ultimately improve the living conditions of slaves

because they wouldn’t be as crowded. You see, slavery was an important cause for expansion,

but the idea of manifest destiny was just as important.

The idea of manifest destiny came about the early part of the 19th century. People who

believed in manifest destiny believed that America should be able to expand to the entirety of

North America. In Document A, Thomas Hart Benson says, “…the American population has

begun to extend itself to the Oregon [Territory]…I say to them all, Go on!” People like Mr.

Benson want America to expand because they want the world to show the world how

prosperous America is. In Document D, John L. O’Sullivan said, “A population will soon be in

actual occupation of California.” In this document, Sullivan was talking about the California Gold

Rush (1848- 1855). Since many people on the eastern side of America have been hearing

about the sightings of gold in California, many people decided to venture out to California to

collect some of it. Thousands of people rushed to California that it was given the term “gold

rush”. The gold rush allowed America to expand itself into California, which was supported by

the manifest destiny believers. Document E also talks about the ideas of manifest destiny. It

states, “We ought to have the Bay of San Francisco! Why? Because…I think…our people

[should move there]!” The author of Document E obviously believed in the idea of manifest

destiny because he wants to see people in San Francisco, which is in California. The manifest

destiny idea helped encourage people to have more pride in their nation, which allowed them to

expand from the East coast of America to the West.

However, not every idea of expansionism was happy. Others people wanted to expand

America because of fear. In Document F it states, “None can fail to see the danger to our safety

and future peace if Texas remains an independent state, or becomes an ally or dependency of

some foreign nation more powerful than herself.” After Texas won its independence from

Mexico in 1835, Texas could not cede the American Union because it needed to enter America

with a free state (a state with no slavery) because of the Missouri Compromise (the Missouri

Compromise was passed in 1820 in which stated that there would be no slavery in the

Louisiana Territory above the 36th parallel). Since there were no other states to enter with

Texas, Texas had to remain as an independent state for about ten years (1835- 1845). During

that time, people urged for a state to enter as a free state with Texas because, since Texas was

not a part of America, it could do whatever it wanted. Things like joining a different nation or

starting a war with America were options that were available for Texas. That is why many

people wanted Texas to join as quickly as possible. Thankfully, Texas joined with Iowa in 1845.

You see, slavery was not the only cause for expansion in America. The idea of Manifest

Destiny and fear allowed the expansion of America, even the Gold Rush encouraged people to

settle in California, allowing America to expand from the east coast to the west.