The Impending Crisis Chapter 4 Power Point

Looking Westward Manifest Destiny* The idea that it was America’s God-given right to expand west. 1840s was the greatest wave of US expansion since the Louisiana Purchase Driven by nationalist pride Nationalism- belief that the interests of a nation are more important than interests of a particular region or of other countries Westward expansion would force the U.S. to decide which states would allow slavery and which would be free.

Manifest Destiny (Am. West)

Expansion and War The Democrats and Expansion Election of 1844 was expected to be between Clay and Van Buren. James K. Polk “darkhorse” Democrat from Tennessee won the election He was adamantly pro-expansionist and a great song was written about him

The Southwest and California Mexicans end diplomatic relations with US in 1845 after Texas annexation Texas Border dispute Texas believed the border was the Rio Grande Mexico believed it was the Nueces River Polk sends a small army under General Zachary Taylor to the Nueces line to “protect” Texas California only 7,000 Mexicans... most are Spanish descendents by 1845, 700 Americans in California, mostly centered near Sacramento River “Annexationists” cited racial differences between white Americans and Mexican rivals claimed Mexicans had the same right to land that Indians had: none Polk commits himself to “annexationist ideal” and commits to acquiring both New Mexico and California and issues silent orders

The Mexican War Polk tries again to buy off the Mexicans and Mexico refuses Polk responds by ordering General Taylor to cross the Nueces for months Mexicans refuse to fight finally, Mexican troops cross the Rio Grande and attacked a unit of American soldiers “War exists by the act of Mexico herself.” in request for Declaration of War Mexico City captured by Gen. Zachary Taylor* Sept. 1847 Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo and Nicholas Trist

The Sectional Debate Slavery and the Territories Missouri Compromise – (1820) agreement by Congress to allow Missouri to enter the Union as a slave state and Maine to enter as a free state and outlawed slavery in any states north of 36’30 latitude Southern militants: believed new territories belonged to anyone While still President, Polk supported extension of Missouri Compromise line west squatter sovereignty = popular sovereignty, each territory decides the status of slavery within it

“Slavery, Railroads, and the West Jefferson Davis is President Pierce’s Secretary of War, wants railroad industry’s center to be in the South but there is several natural obstacles… sends James Gadsden to buy what is today southern New Mexico and Arizona. Northerners wanted the railway center to be in Chicago Gadsden Purchase ($10 million) intensified sectional debate Dred Scott Case (1957) – thought by many to be the worst Supreme Court Decision in U.S. History Ruling stated that slaves were property, had no rights, and a slave living on free soil was still the property of the slaveholder.

“Bleeding Kansas” Kansas Nebraska Act – (1854) law that allowed voters in Kansas and Nebraska to choose whether to allow slavery This was known as “popular sovereignty” This lead to mass chaos and 2 separate governments formed in Kansas John Brown considered himself an instrument of God’s will to get rid of slavery he and his followers mutilated five pro-slavery supporters to discourage pro-slavery groups from entering the country (Pottawatomie Massacre) Symbols of sectional hostility “Bleeding Sumner”

South Carolina representative Preston Brooks attacked Massachusetts Senator Charles Sumner over an anti-slaver speech he made. It took Sumner 3 years to recover and Brooks supporters sent him new canes to replace the one he broke on Sumner’s head.