Impending Crisis

Manifest Destiny

Belief shared by many Americans that the United States was destined by God to expand westward

Stephen Austin

Led 300 families into Texas

Sam Houston

First president of the Republic of Texas

Election of 1844

Central issue was the annexation of Texas; James K. Polk won and became the 11th president

Election of 1848

Zachary Taylor won and became the 12th president

Election of 1852

Whigs party started to get fragmented; Franklin Pierce won and became the 14th president

Election of 1856

The main issue of the election was the Kansas-Nebraska Act and "Bleeding Kansas;" James Buchanan won and became the 15th president

Election of 1860

Democratic party became fully divided; Abraham Lincoln won and became the 16th president

Annexation of Texas

Texas decides to secede from Mexico and attempts to declare its independence which eventually leads to our adoption of the land as a state although it was feared that it would cause conflict with mexico leading to war. Southern states in support of this as Texas brought slaves with it meaning it would increase agricultural profits but northern states did not support it.

Treaty of 1818

Granted the United States join occupation of Oregon with Great Britain.

49th Parallel

Final compromise line that settled the Oregon boundary dispute in 1846

Oregon Trail

Trail from independence Missouri to Oregon used by many pioneers during the 1840s

Zachary Taylor

(1849-1850), Whig president who was a Southern slave holder, and war hero (Mexican-American War). Won the 1848 election. Surprisingly did not address the issue of slavery at all on his platform. He died during his term and his Vice President was Millard Fillmore.

Bear Flag Revolution

A revolt of American settlers in California against Mexican rule

Nicholas P. Trist

American diplomat who negotiated the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo in 1848, ending the Mexican-American War and acquiring a vast secession of territory from Mexico.

Mexican Cession

1848. Awarded as part of the Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo after the Mexican American War. U.S. paid $15 million for 525,000 square miles.

Consequences of Mexican-American War

Mexicans would never forget that America tore away about half of their country; American relations with Latin American worsened; issue of slavery increased and continued until the Civil War

Wilmot Proviso

Bill that would ban slavery in the territories acquired after the War with Mexico

Popular Sovereignty

A belief that ultimate power resides in the people.

Free-Soil Party

A political party dedicated to stopping the expansion of slavery

California Gold Rush

Mass migration to California following the discovery of gold in 1848

Indian Indenture Act

The legislation led to the forced labor of many Native Americans in California, in addition to regulating employment terms and redefining criminal activity and punishment

"Great Compromiser"

Henry Clay

"Great Nullifer"

John C. Calhoun

"Great Orator"

Daniel Webster

Stephen Douglas

A moderate, who introduced the Kansas-Nebraska Act in 1854 and popularized the idea of popular sovereignty.

Compromise of 1850

Agreement designed to ease tensions caused by the expansion of slavery into western territories

Kansas-Nebraska Act

a law that allowed voters in Kansas and Nebraska to choose whether to allow slavery

Republican Party

1854 - anti-slavery Whigs and Democrats, Free Soilers and reformers from the Northwest met and formed party in order to keep slavery out of the territories

Dred Scott Decision

Supreme Court ruling that declared slaves were not viewed as citizens but as property; Missouri Compromise Line was seen as unconstitutional

Abraham Lincoln

16th President of the United States

Concessions of the Compromise of 1850

North: California admitted as free state; Territory disputed between Texas and New Mexico given to New Mexico; abolition of slave trade in the District of Columbia

South: Areas of Mexican Cession formed into New Mexico and Utah; Texas receives $10 million as compensation for Texas; New strict fugitive slave laws

Republican of Texas

What is also known as the "Lone Star Republic" gained its independence from Mexico in 1836. Sam Houston was its president until the US annexed it in 1844. Its addition to the Union was opposed by southerners who did not want to add another slave state, but under Polk it became a state.

Spot Resolution

Resolution offered by Congressman Abraham Lincoln demanding to know the precise location where Mexicans had allegedly shed American blood on the "America" soil.

"Bleeding Kansas"

A sequence of violent events involving abolitionists and pro-Slavery elements that took place in Kansas-Nebraska Territory. The dispute further strained the relations of the North and South, making civil war imminent.