APUSH - Time period 5

Why did manifest destiny increase sectional tensions?

Because it raised the question of whether the new territories would allow slavery. This would cause political imbalance between the number the of free and slave states, thus increasing the tensions between the North and the South.

Why did the Annexation of Texas cause conflict?

Due to Texas entering as a slave state, It increased sectional tensions between the north and the south because adding in Texas threw off the balance of free and slave states

How did the Mexican-American War change the slavery debate?

It made slavery the central national issue. The huge amount of land acquired from the war caused Americans to argue whether slavery would be allowed in those territories. More sectional tension.

How did the failure of Mexico’s plan to settle the dispute regarding Texas lead to the Mexican-American war?

Because the US claimed that Rio Grande was Texas’ boarder while Mexico claimed the Nueces River. This led to military conflicts which later Polk used to justify the reason for war.

Why did the Wilmot Proviso fail?

Because the in the senate the southerners had greater influence and the south wanted to spread slavery so they disliked the Wilmot Proviso and maintain the balance of power in senate, preventing congress from limiting slavery.

Why did the compromise of 1850 only delay the war?

Because although it temporarily reduced conflict, it strengthened the Fugitive Slave Act and failed to settle whether slavery would be allowed in new territories, causing sectional tensions to continue growing.