mexican-american war and compromise of 1850 (period 5)

election of 1844

put democrats (james k polk) agaisnt whigs (henry clay), resulting in polks win and presidency

james k. polk

u.s. president during 1840s and 50s; radical expansionist and democrat that annexed the state of texas and led the mexian american war

causes of mexian-american war

boundary dispute:

\-america: claimed rio grande river as western and southern border

\-mexicans: claijmed the nueces (more north and east) was border

how did polk start the mexican american war?

in april 1846 he sent troops under zachary taylor to rio grande river to protect border from invasion; some americans were killed; he declared war because they were killed on “american soil”

who opposed the mexican american war and why?

northerners: feared that new territory would be acquired and lead to the expansion of slavery

others: felt polk had misled congress about the outbreak of war and that the u.s. was the aggressor

how did america win the mexican ameircan war?

they gained control of mexico city in september 1847 and pushed for a treaty

treaty of guadlupe hidalgo (1848)

\-mexico accepted rio grande river at border

\-mexico ceded new mexico and upper california to the u.s. for $15 million

\-southern new meixco and arizona were bought for $10 million in 1853 with gadsden purchase

what were the effects of the mexican american war?

\-increased nationalism and manifest destiny feelings

\-debate over slavery in new territory intensified

\-conflict with native americans continued and increased as americans moved west

wilmot proviso

rep. david wilmot of pennsylvania (antislavery democrat) introduced an amendment prohibiting “slavery nor involuntary servitude” in “any part of said territory”

why did the wilmot proviso fail

it passed in the house but failed in senate where southerners held balance

how did polk feel towards the proposal of the extension of the missouri compromise line through new territories?

he supported it; it would ban slavery north of the line and permit slavery south of the line all across america

popular sovereignty

allow the people of each territory to decide the status of slavery in that territory; appeared democratic but really just allowed congress to escape the responsibility of deciding slavery in newly acquired territories

election of 1848

whigs won with president zachary taylor; extended the debates over slavery

introduction free-soil party and its affect on politics

\-created by former president van buren

\-10 free soilers were elected to congress

\-signaled the growing issue of slavery and collapse of the 2nd party system in 1850s

what did the 1849 california state constitution declare for slavery? why was this an issue?

that it was prohibited; it would upset the balance of slave and free states if california was admitted as a free state

who created the compromise of 1850?

henry clay

what did the compromise of 1850 declare?

\-california was admitted as a free state

\-abolition of the slave trade—but not slavery itself—in washington, d.c.

\-formation of territorial governments in the rest of the lands acquired from mexico without restrictions on slavery

\-new and more strict fugitive slave law