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Westward Expansion

The movement of settlers into the American West, motivated by economic opportunities and the quest for land.

Southern Secession

The withdrawal of Southern states from the Union, primarily due to conflicts over slavery.

Manifest Destiny

The belief that American expansion across the continent was divinely ordained, popularized in the 1840s.

Economic Opportunities

The potential for financial gain, which attracted many settlers to migrate westward.

California Gold Rush

The mass migration of fortune-seekers to California beginning in 1848, spurred by the discovery of gold.

1840 Presidential Election

The election that resulted in William Henry Harrison's presidency, marking a pivotal moment for the Whig Party.

John Tyler

Vice President who assumed the presidency after Harrison's death and faced significant conflicts over policy.

Native American Tribes

Distinct groups of Indigenous people residing in the Western territories, each with unique cultures and histories.

Lone Star Republic

The independent Texas republic formed after the Texas Revolution, which heightened annexation calls.

Mexican-American War

The conflict between the U.S. and Mexico from 1846 to 1848, rooted in territorial disputes.

Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo

The agreement that ended the Mexican-American War, leading to significant territorial gains for the U.S.

Popular Sovereignty

The principle allowing territories to decide for themselves whether to permit slavery,

Dred Scott Decision

The 1857 Supreme Court ruling stating that African Americans could not be citizens.

John Brown's Raid

An 1859 attempt by abolitionist John Brown to incite a slave uprising, which alarmed both North and South.

Whig Party Collapse

The disintegration of the Whig Party in the 1850s due to divisions over slavery.

Republican Party Formation

The emergence of a new political faction in the 1850s opposing the expansion of slavery.

Compromise of 1850

A series of legislative acts intended to resolve tensions between the North and South over slavery.

Fugitive Slave Act

A law passed as part of the Compromise of 1850 that required citizens to assist in the capture of escaped slaves.

Bleeding Kansas

A series of violent confrontations in the 1850s between pro-slavery and anti-slavery settlers.

Brooks-Sumner Incident

A violent clash in Congress highlighting the breakdown of civil discourse over slavery issues.

Election of 1860

The election in which Abraham Lincoln won the presidency, prompting immediate secession by Southern states.