By Eric Bonardi

Manifest destiny Manifest Destiny was the 19th century American belief that the United States was destined to expand across the continent. It was used by Democrats in the 1840s to justify the war with Mexico; the concept was denounced by Whigs, and fell into disuse after the mid-19th century.

Slave or Non slave Many constitutional issues arouse during Americas journey of western expansion due to deciding what new found land and places would become slave or non slave states.

Missouri Compromise The Missouri Compromise was an agreement passed in 1820 between the pro-slavery and anti-slavery factions in the United States Congress, involving primarily the regulation of slavery in the western territories. It prohibited slavery in the former Louisiana Territory north of the parallel 36°30′ north except within the boundaries of the proposed state of Missouri. Prior to the agreement, the House of Representatives had refused to accept this compromise, and a conference committee was appointed.

Kansas Nebraska Act The Kansas–Nebraska Act of 1854 created the territories of Kansas and Nebraska, opening new lands for settlement, and had the effect of repealing the Missouri Compromise of 1820 by allowing settlers in those territories to determine through Popular Sovereignty whether they would allow slavery within each territory. The act was designed by Democratic Senator Stephen A. Douglas of Illinois. The initial purpose of the Kansas–Nebraska Act was to open up many thousands of new farms and make feasible a Midwestern Transcontinental Railroad. It became problematic when popular sovereignty was written into the proposal so that the voters of the moment would decide whether slavery would be allowed. The result was that pro- and anti-slavery elements flooded into Kansas with the goal of voting slavery up or down, leading to a bloody civil war there.

Gold rush In 1849 gold was found in California causing many Americans to travel there in hopes that they would find large amounts of gold and make it big.

Mexican American war

The Mexican–American War, was an armed conflict between the United States of America and Mexico from 1846 to 1848 Combat operations lasted a year and a half, from spring 1846 to fall American forces quickly occupied New Mexico and California, then invaded parts of Northeastern Mexico and Northwest Mexico; meanwhile, the Pacific Squadron conducted a blockade, and took control of several garrisons on the Pacific coast further south in Baja California. After Mexico would still not agree to the cession of its northern territories, another American army captured Mexico City, and the war ended in victory of the U.S.

Multiple choice How was territorial expansion related to the issue of slavery ? A) Because slaves wanted it to be. B) It wasn’t C) The North wanted states to be free and the South wanted new states to be slave states to help maintain a balance in Congress. There was always the question of whether these new territories would become states that were for or against slavery.

What was the Missouri Compromise ? A) The Missouri Compromise is an agreement made in 1820 that called for the admission of Missouri as a slave state and Maine as a free state. B) A compromise giving Russia missouri. C) An agreement making missouri a free state.

Why did the United States go to war with Mexico ? A) Mexico attacked the U.S. B) The Mexican War started because Mexico was upset with Texan annexing to the US. There was a border dispute between Texas and Mexico. C) The U.S wanted to steal their tobacco.

What was the Kansas-Nebraska Act? A) The Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854 overturned the Missouri by allowing those territories to decide the question of slavery by popular sovereignty. B) Slaves were used on the farms or plantations and were considered property. C) US acquired territory by treaty. Florida was acquired from Spain.