us civil war - westward expansion and crisis of 1850s Flashcards
what is manifest destiny
policy of territorial expansion and they thought God had blessed them - but northerners thought they were just spreading slavery
desire to expand west was shared in north and south, but rules regarding expansion of slavery was highly divisive
what was the missouri compromise
as new states applied to join the union, there was a debate whether they would join as a free state or slave state
Missouri applied to join as a slave state which would tilt the balance against them, and so the free states opposed their admittance
a compromise would be reached in 1820, a new free state of maine would be created, and there would be no slavery in Louisanna Purchase Territory
what was the role of the mexican-american war
president polk, who was influenced by manifest destiny, wanted california and new mexico, and offered 30m, but mexico refused.
he then sent troops to the border and declared war in may 1846-1848
impact: resulted in largest territorial expansion
what was the controversy surrounding slavery and mexico-american war
northern democrats proposed that no land taken from Mexico should be open to slavery
south was outraged and congress had jurisdiction regarding slavery in the territories or any state
polk said he never envisioned slavery in new territories as climate would make it unsuitable for slavery
what was the treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo 1848
california, new mexico, utah, arizona etc were ceded to US, and the US paid Mexico 15m
what caused the compromise of 1850
increased setional tension following the mexican-american war
should california be a free or slave state???
who was involved in the compromise of 1850?
Henry Clay, who was also responsible for 1820 Missouri Compromise and Nullification Crisis 1832
‘great compromiser’
what were the main provisions of the compromise of 1850
- permitted slavery in washington but outlawed slave trade
- CALIFORNIA was FREE state
- Utah and New Mexico had to decide on slavery with popular soverigenty
what was bleeding sumner
Senator Charles Sumner said there was a southern conspriacy to make kansas a slave state and said that ANDREW BUTLER was behind it. anti slavery speeches
BUTLER’s newphew Preston Brooks (democrat) entered his senate chambers and began striking him with a cane. Brooks was seen as a hero.
impact: south saw themselves as chivalrous, but are choosing violence in comparison to the north using speeches and education.
what was the Dred Scott Case
he was a slave who had accompanied his owner to different state before returning to Missouri
1840s - went to missouri courts to claim his freedom on the grounds that he was resided in a free state in a free territory
courts said that us citizens had the right to take their ‘property’ into territories.
what was the lincoln douglas debate in 1858?
lincoln
- republican and the republican party was rapidly growing
- ‘house divided’ speech
douglas
- democrat
- known politician from the 1850 compromise, 1854 kansas-nebraska act and one of the favourities to become president
- ‘freeport doctrine’ speech
what was the impact of the lincoln-douglas debate
- national press was captivated and the speeches were heavily reported
- media presented Lincoln as an abolitionist and douglas as pro-expansion of slavery
- lincoln lost election but was well known throughout America
what was the fugitive slave act of 1850
required citizens to assist in apprehending runaway slaves and denied enslaved people a right to trial by jury
required slaves to be returned to their owner, even if in a free state
what was the impact of the fugitive slave act?
south: saw the act as key to their victory in the 1850 compromise. but believed their way of life was under threat
north: many did accept this law, but significant numbers who didnt
nine states passed ‘personal liberty’ laws which mandadted a jury trual before sending fugitive slaves back into slavery
what was the kansas nebraska act 1854
Douglas wanted to open new land to create transport and they needed to be sates and not territories.
two new states were formed and they had the oppportunity to be a slave state
each state could vote using popular soverignty
- slavery continued to divide
- northerners or southerners entered the states to try and sway votes for pro or anti slave state which caused violence
