Review Answers
Mexican-American War Causes Admission of Texas to United States Mexican Government refused to recognize Treaties of Velasco Border dispute (Rio Grande vs. Nueces) Manifest Destiny (U.S. expansion to west coast) Fighting in disputed area (U.S. claimed that Mexico opened fire on U.S. soil)
Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo Secured peace between Mexico & U.S. Mexico recognized Texas as part of U.S. Mexican Cession (Mexico received $15 million for land between Texas and west coast U.S. took over claims against Mexico Respect rights of Spanish-Speaking people
Immigration Reasons: Political, Social and Economical Texas largest European immigrant group in the 1850s was German. They settled in several different towns: Gruene, Schulenburg, New Braunfels, Pflugerville, La Grange, Fredricksburg, Elgin, Brenham, Tomball/Spring/Klein New Braunfels was the largest German settlement. Reasons: Political, Social and Economical Religious and political freedom cheap land adventure opportunity
Slavery 1/3 of total population Largest growing population in 1860’s, growing faster than free citizens Many Texans still supported slavery Germans and Tejanos opposed slavery
Compromise of 1850 Texas gave up land for $10 million (giving Texas the borders, shape it has today) California was admitted as free state New Mexico & Utah Territory admitted through popular sovereignty Slave trade was outlawed in D.C. Fugitive Slave Act (required citizens to help in the return of escaped slaves)
What did the Fugitive Slave Act mean? Of all the bills that made up the Compromise of 1850, the Fugitive Slave Act was the most controversial. It required citizens to assist in the recovery of fugitive slaves. It denied a fugitive's right to a jury trial. Also, there would be more federal officials responsible for enforcing the law. For slaves attempting to build lives in the North, the new law was disaster. Many left their homes and fled to Canada. During the next ten years, an estimated 20,000 blacks moved to the neighboring country.