History of American Expansion, Reform, and Sectional Conflict

The Mexican-American War and Texas Independence

• Background of Texas Settlers

  • American settlers began to move slowly into Texas.
  • At this time, Texas was a province belonging to Mexico.

• Conflict and Rebellion

  • The Mexican government wanted the American settlers to assimilate, which is defined as adapting to the other culture.
  • American settlers refused to assimilate and chose to rebel against the Mexican government.

• Key Battles of the Conflict

  • The Battle of the ALAMO: General Santa Anna won this battle for Mexico.
  • The Battle of San Jacinto: Sam Houston defeated Santa Anna in this engagement, which resulted in Texas gaining its independence.

• The Republic of Texas

  • Following the war, Texas existed as an independent Republic for a duration of $10$ years.
  • Due to significant financial problems, the Republic of Texas eventually asked the United States to annex them.

• United States Annexation and War

  • In $1845$, President Polk annexed Texas into the United States.
  • A war with Mexico occurred following this annexation due to a disputed boundary at the Rio Grande.
  • The United States defeated Mexico in a short war ending in $1847$.

• Key Terminology

  • Assimilate: to adapt into the other culture.
  • Annex: to add on (specifically referring to Texas).
  • Cede: to give up land (such as Florida).
  • Mexican Cession: The specific land that Mexico will give to the United States as a result of losing the Mexican-American War.

Manifest Destiny and Expansionism

• Manifest Destiny

  • This is the belief that God wants Americans to expand their territory from ocean to ocean.

• Expansionism

  • The act of obtaining more land for the United States.

• Chronology

  • The Mexican-American War began in $1845$ and concluded with a U.S. victory in $1847$.

Social Reform Movements

• Temperance Movement

  • The specific movement dedicated to the banning of alcohol.

• Education Reform

  • Initially, belief was held that only "worthy" children could get into schools.
  • Horace Mann: An influential figure who made education available to all children, not just the wealthy or "worthy."

• Suffragist Movement

  • This movement consisted of women fighting for the right to vote.
  • Susan B. Anthony: A prominent activist who called for woman's rights and temperance. She advocated for equal pay and a "Wonder collage" (woman's college).
  • Elizabeth Cady Stanton: A female abolitionist and women's rights activist who was instrumental in helping found the Seneca Falls Convention.

The Missouri Compromise of 1820

• State Statuses

  • Missouri was admitted to the Union as a slave state.
  • Maine was admitted to the Union as a free state.

• The Boundary Line

  • Congress drew an imaginary line across the Louisiana territory located at $36^\circ 30'$.
  • North of the line: Slavery was strictly banned in all areas except for Missouri.
  • South of the line: Slavery was permitted in these territories.

• Impact

  • This compromise succeeded in keeping the Union together, though it was noted that "nobody really like it."

• Definition of Abolitionist

  • Abolitionists are defined as people who want to ban slavery.

The Compromise of 1850 and the Kansas-Nebraska Act

• Provisions of the Compromise of 1850

  • California was admitted as a free state.
  • The territories of New Mexico and Utah became open to the possibility of slavery.
  • The slave trade was abolished specifically in Washington, D.C., though the practice of slavery itself was not abolished there.
  • A strong Fugitive Slave Law was established and was supposed to be enforced in both the North and the South.

• Uncle Tom's Cabin

  • Written by Harriet Beecher Stowe in $1852$.
  • This best-selling book described the horrors of slavery to its readers.

• Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854

  • This act of Congress effectively overturned the Missouri Compromise.
  • It addressed the issue of slavery in territories wanting to come into the United States.