Western Expansion and Southern Secession (1830–1861)
CHAPTER 13: Western Expansion and Southern Secession 1830–1861
This chapter traces the link between the nation’s expansion westward and the South’s eventual secession. It discusses various aspects of westward movement, interactions with Native Americans, the war with Mexico, and the emergence of critical political issues leading up to the Civil War.
1. Moving West
A. The Western Frontier
The western frontier serves as a pivotal arena of American expansion.
B. Plains Indians
The chapter underscores the unique cultures and societies of Plains Indians prior to westward expansion.
C. Mexico and the Spanish-Speaking West
Discusses the impact of Mexican governance on territories prior to U.S. annexation.
D. The Rocky Mountains and Oregon Country
i. The Great Migration
Describes the influx of settlers into the Oregon territory, emphasizing motivations such as land and opportunity.
E. The Settlement of California
i. Catholic Missions
Catholic missions serve a dual role of religious conversion and colonization, critically affecting Native populations.
ii. John Sutter
A key figure in California’s development who established Sutter's Fort, a vital outpost for settlers.
iii. The Donner Party
A notorious group of settlers who faced tragic hardships during their journey to California.
F. American Settlements in Texas
Examines the American migration into Texas and the consequent tensions with Mexico.
G. The Texas War for Independence
i. The Alamo
A pivotal battle in the Texas Revolution symbolizing resistance against Mexican rule.
ii. Sam Houston
Key military leader who played a crucial role in the Texas Revolution and became the first president of the Republic of Texas.
iii. The Battle of San Jacinto
A decisive battle that secured Texas independence from Mexico.
H. The Lone Star Republic
Discussion on the formation and significance of the Republic of Texas, characterized by its struggle for recognition and statehood.
I. The Tyler Presidency and Texas
Explores President John Tyler's efforts to annex Texas, revealing the complexities of the time.
J. Efforts to Annex Texas
A focus on the political and diplomatic challenges associated with Texas annexation.
K. The Election of 1844
Highlights the role of Texas annexation as a major issue in the electoral campaign.
L. James K. Polk
Elected president on a platform heavily focused on expansion, particularly Texas and Oregon.
M. The State of Texas
Evaluates Texas's position within the political landscape before the Mexican-American War.
N. Polk’s Goals
Describes President Polk's aims for U.S. territorial expansion and Manifest Destiny.
O. Oregon
Discussion on the heated negotiations and eventual settlement of the Oregon territory.
2. The Mexican-American War
A. Opposition to the War
Discusses the ideological and moral opposition towards the Mexican-American War, including anti-slavery sentiments.
B. Preparing for Battle
Exploration of the military preparations and initial engagements leading up to formal conflict.
C. The Annexation of California
The strategic and rapid acquisition of California as a result of the war.
D. War in Northern Mexico
The key battles and maneuvers that defined military operations in Northern Mexico.
E. The Saint Patrick’s Rebellion
An uprising by Irish soldiers against American forces during the war, showcasing both dissent and the complexities of loyalty.
F. The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo (1848)
The treaty that formally ended the war, ceding significant territories to the U.S. (California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, and parts of Colorado and New Mexico).
G. The War’s Legacies
Analysis of the war's lasting impact on U.S. politics, society, and regional tensions.
3. Slavery in the Territories
A. The Wilmot Proviso
Proposed legislation aimed at prohibiting slavery in territories acquired from Mexico; it highlighted sectional tensions.
B. Popular Sovereignty
A principle allowing territories to decide for themselves on the issue of slavery, attempted as a compromise solution.
C. The Free-Soil Movement
A political movement that opposed the extension of slavery into the territories, advocating free land for settlers.
D. The California Gold Rush
A massive influx of settlers into California fueled by the discovery of gold, significantly impacting demographics and culture.
E. Decimating Native Americans and Mexican Americans
The negative consequences of expansion on indigenous peoples and the rights of Mexican-Americans during this period.
F. Mining Life
Description of the social and economic dynamics of life in mining camps.
G. California Statehood
The process and challenges involved in California achieving statehood amidst slavery debates.
H. The Compromise of 1850
A series of legislative measures aimed at diffusing sectional tensions, including the admission of California and the Fugitive Slave Act.
I. Saving the Union
The desperate attempts by political leaders to preserve the Union amidst growing divisions.
J. The Great Debate
Key discussions and debates related to sectionalism, slavery, and statehood during this period.
K. Compromise Efforts
Examination of various compromise attempts and the failure of these efforts.
L. The Fugitive Slave Act
A controversial law mandating the return of runaway slaves, further inflaming northern resistance to slavery.
M. Slavery: A Fate Worse than Death
Reflections on the extreme conditions faced by enslaved individuals, discussed in literature and advocacy.
N. Uncle Tom’s Cabin
Harriet Beecher Stowe’s influential novel that exposed the harsh realities of slavery, significantly shaping public opinion.
O. The Election of 1852
An election that revealed deep divisions within political parties over slavery and territorial issues.
P. The Kansas-Nebraska Crisis
Referencing the conflict that arose from the Kansas-Nebraska Act, with violent confrontations known as “Bleeding Kansas.”
4. The Emergence of the Republican Party
A. “Bleeding Kansas”
A series of violent confrontations in Kansas between pro-slavery and anti-slavery factions, highlighting sectional conflicts.
B. Violence in the Senate
A famous incident involving Senator Charles Sumner, who was attacked on the Senate floor due to his anti-slavery stance.
C. Sectional Squabbles
Ongoing disputes between northern and southern factions within the American political system.
D. President James Buchanan
His presidency was marked by increasing sectional tension and the failure to address the growing divides.
E. The Panic of 1857
A significant economic downturn that exacerbated regional tensions, revealing the dependence of the South on slavery.
F. The Dred Scott Case
A Supreme Court ruling that denied citizenship and rights to African Americans, declaring the Missouri Compromise unconstitutional.
G. The Lecompton Constitution (1857)
A proposed Kansas constitution to create a slave state; it faced opposition and was rejected.
H. Douglas versus Lincoln (1858)
The series of debates between Stephen A. Douglas and Abraham Lincoln, centered on the issue of slavery and its expansion.
I. An Outnumbered South
Discusses the demographic and political realities facing the South as tensions escalated.
J. John Brown’s Raid (1859)
The abolitionist's raid on Harpers Ferry, aiming to incite a slave revolt, stirring national outrage.
K. The Democrats Divide (1860)
The split of the Democratic Party reflects severe sectional rifts and sets the stage for the upcoming election.
L. Lincoln’s Election (1860)
Abraham Lincoln’s victory as a pivotal moment that directly led to southern states' secession.
5. The Southern Response
A. Carolina Secedes
The first state to secede from the Union following Lincoln’s election, marking the start of widespread secession.
B. President Buchanan’s Waiting Game
A review of former President Buchanan's response—or lack thereof—to the secession crisis.
C. Secession of the Lower South (1861)
An overview of the states that followed South Carolina in secession, establishing the Confederate States of America.
D. Compromise Efforts Fail
A discussion on the multiple attempts to resolve tensions and stave off secession that ultimately failed.
E. Lincoln’s Inauguration
The newly elected President Lincoln's inauguration occurs against a backdrop of secession and crisis.
F. The End of the Waiting Game
The transition from political maneuvering to outright conflict as southern states prepared for war.
Here are example answers for the Political Cartoon SAQs provided earlier, based on the historical context of Chapter 13:
Example 1: The Mexican-American War and Territorial Expansion
A. The point of view expressed is that American expansionism was an aggressive, predatory act. By depicting the stripping of the "Mexican Eagle," the artist suggests that the United States was exploitatively taking land from a weakened neighbor rather than engaging in a mutually beneficial or just acquisition.
B. This sentiment was fueled by Manifest Destiny, the widely held belief that the United States was divinely ordained to expand its democratic institutions across the North American continent. This ideology was a cornerstone of James K. Polk’s 1844 campaign, which specifically called for the annexation of Texas and the acquisition of California.
C. The acquisition led to sectional tension through the Wilmot Proviso, a proposal to ban slavery in any territory won from Mexico. This sparked a fierce debate between the North and South over whether the new territories would be "free" or "slave," ultimately necessitating the Compromise of 1850.
Example 2: Sectional Violence and "Bleeding Kansas"
A. The cartoon reacts to the Kansas-Nebraska Act (1854), which repealed the Missouri Compromise and introduced the concept of popular sovereignty to the West.
B. It illustrates the failure of Popular Sovereignty by showing that instead of a peaceful democratic process, the policy resulted in "forcing" ideologies on others. In practice, this led to "Bleeding Kansas," where outside agitators from both sides flooded the territory to influence the vote through violence and fraud.
C. A major political consequence was the rise of the Republican Party, which formed as a direct response to the Kansas-Nebraska Act with a primary platform of stopping the expansion of slavery into the territories.
Example 3: The Election of 1860
A. The Democratic Party divided because of a disagreement over the protection of slavery in the territories. Northern Democrats supported Stephen Douglas and "popular sovereignty," while Southern Democrats demanded a federal slave code to protect slavery, leading them to nominate John C. Breckinridge.
B. The election of Abraham Lincoln served as a tipping point because he won the presidency without carrying a single Southern state. To Southern leaders, this signaled that the South had lost its political voice and influence within the Union, making secession feel like the only way to protect their interests.
C. One attempt to prevent this was the Crittenden Compromise, which proposed extending the Missouri Compromise line of 36^\circ 30' all the way to the Pacific. It failed because Lincoln and the Republican Party refused to abandon their core principle that slavery should not be allowed to expand into any new territories.