2. Expansion & Conflict: The Road to the Civil War
Manifest Destiny
& the Contentious Politics
of the 1840s-1850s

3. Territorial Expansion What were the arguments for and against expansion? How did these acquisitions cause political tension?
Texas
Oregon Territory
Mexican Territory
Mexican War
California Gold Rush
Wilmot Proviso

4. Main Issues Leading to Sectionalism & Conflict:
States Rights vs. Federal Power
Slavery & Expansion of Slavery
Differences in North/South Economy & Social Values Create Distinct Political Ideologies

5. Differences in Political Ideology
Northern Politics
Southern Politics
Republican party emerged
Values of individualism
Political identity=economic autonomy
Free labor=prosperity
Free soil=access to land and economic independence
Democrats split over slavery
Values of communal identity, code of honor
Politics seen as local, not national
Proslavery argument a critique of North

6. Background of Fed. vs. State & Expansion of Slavery
Decl. of Ind. (1776)—omitted slave trade clause
Federalists/Anti-Feds (1780’s)
3/5th & Slave Trade clauses of Constitution
VA & KY Resolutions (1798) & “Compact Theory”
Contentious Supreme Court Cases (Fed. vs. State)
Missouri Compromise (1820)
S.C. Nullification Crisis (1828)
Growing abolitionism/ Turner’s Rebellion (1830’s)
“Gag Resolution” for slave petitions in Congress (1836)
Acquisitions of Texas & CA (1840’s)

7. Escalation of Conflict in the 1850s
Wilmot Proviso (late 1840s)
Compromise of 1850
Kansas-Nebraska Act (1854)
“Bleeding Kansas” (1856)
Buchanan’s presidency (1856)
Dred Scott Supreme Court Decision (1857)
John Brown’s Raid on Harper’s Ferry (1859)
Lincoln’s Election (1860)

8. The Compromise of 1850 Parts of Compromise of 1850: 1) CA enters union
as a free state
2) NM & Utah territories
will choose status by
“popular sovereignty”
3) No slave trade in DC

9. Most controversial
part of compromise:
4) A new, stronger fugitive slave law passed

10. Create a chart or diagram that demonstrates the significant events leading to both compromise and escalation of conflict between 1820 and 1861.
How effective were the compromises?
What are the most significant factors that led to Civil War?