Causes of the Civil War and their Relationship to Westward Expansion (Part 2) Related to Chapter 13

Mexican American War ( ) President James K. Polk orders army (2,000 soldiers) into ‘Nueces Strip’ to provoke Mexican Army into attacking U.S. soldiers to convince Congress that the U.S. was attacked and that they needed to declare war against Mexico Why?  fear that Britain could take California from Mexico and desire to have ports on the Pacific Ocean

Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo 1848 Ends war Santa Anna agrees to sell California and the ‘Mexican Acquisition’ for $15 million Mistake in surveying compels U.S. to negotiate Gadsden Purchase of 1853 b/c southern states wanted railroad to San Diego and Los Angeles California Gold Rush 1849 –Significance: led to ‘Compromise of 1850’

Compromise of 1850 Definition: agreement to help maintain balance of power in Congress Southern Concessions –California enters as free state –Texas relinquishes territorial claims in New Mexico –Slave Trade abolished in Washington D.C. Northern Concessions –Territories in Mexican Acquisition formed without mention of slavery (implied ‘popular sovereignty) –Texas received $10 million –Enforcement of revised Fugitive Slave Law Why California statehood? –Discovery of gold led to “the 49ers’” and rapid immigration within one year

Kansas and Nebraska Act 1854 Illinois Senator Stephen Douglas proposed Act Passed into law, which created two territories which could become states under the doctrine of ‘popular sovereignty’ Popular sovereignty gave right of citizens to vote whether their territory could become a free or slave state Overturned Missouri Compromise of 1820 by abandoning the 36* 30’ line and divided north and south

Bleeding Kansas Pro Slavery and Anti-Slavery settlers flooded into Kansas and fought each other –They were attempting to create majorities so that when the population of Kansas territory reach 60,000, it would enter the union as Free or Slave John Brown’s Massacre at Potawatomie Creek of Pro Slavery settlers

Conclusion Missouri Compromise of 1820 Texas Independence Mexican-American War Compromise of 1850 Kansas and Nebraska Act Bleeding Kansas Popular Sovereignty