Manifest Destiny
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Manifest Destiny Eve of Civil War 5th Period Texas Annexation & Wilmot Proviso •Wilmot Proviso never became a law (Wilmot Proviso would have banned slavery from any territory acquired from Mexico). •This led to the creation of anti-slavery Republican Party in 1854. •Mexico war of 1845-1846 was partially caused by the desire of the U.S. to annex Texas. •There was controversy because congress approved the annexation through majority vote and most through a treaty. Texas annexation also provided opportunity for the Oregon treaty with Manifest Destiny through James K. Polk, which became the U.S. Canadian border. Mexican-American War & Mexican Cession 2 Years after the annex of Texas, war began (1846). September of 1847 Americans captured Mexico City. February 2, 1848, both sides signed Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, ending the war. Mexico ceded 55% of its land to the US for $15 million. Mexican Cession consisted of all of California, Nevada, and Utah, along with parts of Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Wyoming. Compromise of 1850 ► The Problem: . Texas… Free, Slave, or determined by the inhabitants? . California, after the 1849 Gold Rush, wanted statehood as a free state, thus upsetting the balance created by the Missouri Compromise. Texas claimed territory as far as Santa Fe. Washington D.C. not only violates Missouri Compromise by allowing slavery, but it is the hub of the slave market in North America. ► The Solution: Henry Clay, Daniel Webster, and John C. Calhoun spent eight months with Congress working on a compromise that would make everyone happy. Here is the result: To the North: . California admitted as a free state . Slave trade abolished in Washington, D.C. Texas loses Santa Fe To the South: . Utah and New Mexico territories had slavery restrictions . Slavery was still allowed in Washington D.C. Texas gets $10 million in exchange for Santa Fe . Fugitive Slave Law- A law requiring northerners to return runaway slaves to their owners under penalty of law. Compromise of 1850 California Gold Rush Uncle Tom’s Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe • Humanized and personalized slaves • Dramatized their mistreatment • Raised awareness among abolitionists and northerners who had never interacted with African Americans or experienced slavery first hand • Portrayed an outlook on black Americans that was a revolutionary • Culmination of years of social activism • Was not published as a whole book – Published as a weekly series in the newspaper – June 5th 1851 to April 1st 1852 – Published in the anti-slavery newspaper, The National Era – 1852, the serial was published as a two volume book Stephen A. Douglas “The Little Giant” Kansas Nebraska Act • It was passed by U.S. Congress May 30th, 1834. • Senator Stephen A. Douglas of Illinois was the main supporter of the Kansas Nebraska Act. • This act allowed people living in Kansas and Nebraska to determine whether or not their state was for or against slavery. It was put in place to repeal the Missouri Compromise which angered many people in the South because they still thought that the Missouri Compromise was important. • After the act was passed, many pro-slavery and anti-slavery supporters went to Kansas to try to win the state over to their side. However when the state voted, the state was divided resulting in a split legislature and violence that gave Kansas the nickname “Bleeding Kansas.” • In the end, no definite decision was made and Kansas wasn’t allowed to become a state. Eventually, on January 29, 1861, Kansas was admitted into the Union as a free state. Dred Scott Decision Dred Scott was a slave from the state of Illinois (free state) and moved to Missouri (slave state) then appealed to the Supreme Court in hopes of being granted his freedom. First appealed in 1847. Ten years later it was finally brought out in the Supreme Court. Court decided all people of African ancestry (slaves or free) could never be citizens of the U.S., therefore they couldn’t sue in federal court. Dred Scott remained a slave The decision fixed one problem but led straight to another. Greatly influenced the nomination of Abraham Lincoln as president. Lincoln Douglas Debate • 1858, Abraham Lincoln and Stephen A. Douglas the incumbent begin a series of debates for the senatorial election campaign of Illinois. ~ In 7 of 9 congressional districts. ~ Marked a significance in political rivalry. • Lincoln gave his famous speech, “ House Divided.” He emphasized the crises of the state torn apart by slavery. ~His main goal was to regain Republican unity. • Douglas countered argued , “ The rights of the people in each state and territory is to decide for themselves their domestic institutions.” ~Called Popular sovereignty • November 2,1858 Democrats were elected by majority vote giving Douglas the win and setting up Lincoln for the presidency in 1860. ~ Free and slave states conflict grew which intern would set the union in jeopardy. .