Quiz for AICE U.S. Western Expansion

Manifest Destiny

the idea that USA is destined by God to expand democracy and Christianity

Homestead Act of 1862

gave people who were planning on becoming citizens 160 acres of land

Wilmot Proviso (David Wilmot)

A possible solution for slavery in the Mexican cession, wanted to limit slavery to protect paid labor

Importance of Wilmot Proviso

It was the first time people voted based on where they were from (North and South) instead of their political parties

Calhoun Doctrine (John C. Calhoun)

The idea that people should be able to take their property anywhere

Popular Sovereignty (Stephen Douglas)

people in the territory should decide

Why was Stephen Douglas’s proposal for popular sovereignty good?

It allowed for the South to be happy because it kept the Federal government away from the decision. It allowed for the North to be happy because the people in the Mexican cession wouldn’t want slavery anyway.

Millard Filmore

LAST WHIG president, term was 1850-1853

Zachary Taylor (1848-1850)

Whig, didn’t want to expand slavery, he would’ve vetoed the compromise but he died

Annexation of Texas

1945, inevitably starts the war against MexicohW

James Polk: Annex Texas

In 1945, James Polk signed off for a certain state to officially be a slave state north of the 36 30 line. This only fueled the fire between North and South.

Battle of Alamo

1836, When Texans held down a monstary for 13 days before being defeated by Santa Ana

Independent Republic of Texas is Born

In 1836, after the Battle of Alamo, Texans surprise the Mexican Army and capture Santa Ana, creating a republic.

1846-1848

The Mexican American war was started because of the Annexation of Texas. It was very controversial, because at first most people believed Americans had the right to. However, after a while, most people became Anti-war. 

Treaty of Guadelupe Hidalgo

This increased U.S. by 1/3 due to the Mexican Cession. The U.S. payed 15 million dollars for this land.

Reason for Pro-Mexican War

Some believed Mexico had invaded the U.S. and shed American blood on American soil. However, this was found out to have been instigated by James K. Polk.

Reason for Anti-Mexican War

It was causing a lot of bloodshed against innocent people, and even Americans saw it unjust to be slaughtering people who couldn’t fight back. It was very against Christian morals, even though that was one of the main motivators for doing it. 

1845 Election

James K. Polk is elected, and he is intent on expanding slavery. He also wants to connect the U.S. from the Atlantic to the Pacific.

1837 Election

Martin Van Buren is elected and he is OPPOSED to Western Expansion.

1841 Election

William Henry Harrison is elected, and he is a Southern Whig opposed to the expansion of slavery.

Compromise of 1850: Law 1

California is added as a FREE state.

Compromise of 1850: Law 2

Slave trade in Washington D.C. would end, but not slavery just trade.

Compromise of 1850: Law 3, The Fugitive Slave Act of 1850

Slaveholders could find and take back slaves no matter where they were in the U.S. and anyone who tried to help would be jailed.

Compromise of 1850: Law 4

The Mexican Cession is split into Utah and New Mexico. Slavery was allowed in both states under popular sovereignty.

Reason for the Compromise of 1850

This was done to avoid war and tensions between the North and the South.

Henry Clay

The ultimate compromiser, he helped created the compromise of 1850 with Stephen Douglas.

The Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854

Allowed settlers to decide on slavery through popular sovereignty, the problem was that it directly opposed the balance set by the Missouri Compromise. This directly caused the “Bleeding Kansas” when pro and anti slavery forces ran to the region and fought.