AgendaAgenda

Manifest Destiny & Manifest Destiny & Slavery and Western Slavery and Western

ExpansionExpansion• Manifest DestinyManifest Destiny was the idea that was the idea that

the nation was meant to spread to the nation was meant to spread to the Pacific Ocean.the Pacific Ocean.

• Opportunities that drew settlers to Opportunities that drew settlers to the west included the west included farmingfarming in fertile in fertile soil, entering the soil, entering the fur tradefur trade and and tradingtrading with foreign nations with foreign nations

Manifest DestinyManifest Destiny• If elected, James Polk promised to:If elected, James Polk promised to:

• Annex Texas and the Oregon TerritoryAnnex Texas and the Oregon Territory• Buy California from Buy California from MexicoMexico

• Mexico previously owned the land Mexico previously owned the land that became that became Texas and CaliforniaTexas and California

War with MexicoWar with Mexico• The US and Mexico disputed the border The US and Mexico disputed the border

of some land along the of some land along the Nueces RiverNueces River• In 1846 the US sent troops to the border In 1846 the US sent troops to the border

and waited for Mexican troops to fire firstand waited for Mexican troops to fire first• When news of an attack reached When news of an attack reached

Washington DC, Congress Washington DC, Congress declared wardeclared war• After gaining independence from After gaining independence from

Mexico, California was known as the Mexico, California was known as the Bear Flag RepublicBear Flag Republic

The War with MexicoThe War with Mexico• War continued with Mexico until US War continued with Mexico until US

troops marched into Mexico and troops marched into Mexico and captured captured Mexico CityMexico City

• Mexican leader’s were compelled to Mexican leader’s were compelled to sign the Treaty of Guadalupe sign the Treaty of Guadalupe HidalgoHidalgo

The Treaty The Treaty • Treaty provisionsTreaty provisions

• US Acquired over US Acquired over 1 mil. sq. mi1 mil. sq. mi. of territory. of territory• CA, NV, UT, AZ, NM & parts of CO, WYCA, NV, UT, AZ, NM & parts of CO, WY

• Rio Grande RiverRio Grande River is southern Texas border is southern Texas border• US paid Mexico $15 million and took over US paid Mexico $15 million and took over

$3.25 million in debts owed to US citizens$3.25 million in debts owed to US citizens• Cost:Cost:

• $18.25 million$18.25 million• 12,00012,000 American lives American lives• New arguments that will begin to surface New arguments that will begin to surface

regarding slaveryregarding slavery

New Territories: Slave or New Territories: Slave or Free?Free?• Popular SovereigntyPopular Sovereignty – settlers in the – settlers in the

territories decide whether they want territories decide whether they want to be a slave state or a free stateto be a slave state or a free state

• Gold Rush boosted California’s Gold Rush boosted California’s populationpopulation

• CA applied to enter union as CA applied to enter union as free statefree state• Current balance was 15 to 15 – CA would Current balance was 15 to 15 – CA would

tip scaletip scale• South would lose power in Senate and South would lose power in Senate and

feared slavery would be outlawedfeared slavery would be outlawed• South started threatening South started threatening secession secession

Compromise of 1850Compromise of 1850

Fugitive Slave ActFugitive Slave Act• Slave holder or slave catcher only had to Slave holder or slave catcher only had to

point out an point out an allegedalleged runaway runaway• No way to prove otherwise- couldn’t testifyNo way to prove otherwise- couldn’t testify• An affidavit proclaiming escape or testimony An affidavit proclaiming escape or testimony

by white witnesses was enough to send by white witnesses was enough to send prisoner south to slaveryprisoner south to slavery

• Federal commissioners were paid Federal commissioners were paid $10$10 rule in rule in favor of slave owner and favor of slave owner and $5$5 for ruling in favor for ruling in favor of accusedof accused

• Required Required federal marshalsfederal marshals to assist slave to assist slave catcherscatchers

• Could deputize citizensCould deputize citizens

Underground RailroadUnderground Railroad• Network of abolitionists who helped Network of abolitionists who helped

slaves escape to the Northslaves escape to the North• Harriet TubmanHarriet Tubman was an escaped was an escaped

slave who led many slaves to slave who led many slaves to freedomfreedom

Transcontinental RailroadTranscontinental Railroad• A railroad stretching from the east A railroad stretching from the east

coast to the west coastcoast to the west coast• Another disagreement between North Another disagreement between North

and South….and South….• South wanted route from South wanted route from New OrleansNew Orleans• North wanted route from North wanted route from ChicagoChicago and and

through territory to be called Nebraskathrough territory to be called Nebraska• Another argument over slavery in the Another argument over slavery in the

territoriesterritories• South wanted Miss. Comp repealedSouth wanted Miss. Comp repealed• North wanted Popular Sovereignty to prevail in North wanted Popular Sovereignty to prevail in

NebraskaNebraska

Kansas- Nebraska ActKansas- Nebraska Act• The Kansas Nebraska Act:The Kansas Nebraska Act:

• Repealed the Missouri CompromiseRepealed the Missouri Compromise• Brought Nebraska in as a Brought Nebraska in as a freefree state state• Brought Kansas in as a Brought Kansas in as a slaveslave state state

• Without this compromise the South Without this compromise the South threatened to secede from the threatened to secede from the UnionUnion

What happens next? The slave crisis deepens and we are

in the verge of civil war