Chapter 13: The Impending Crisis
Key Terms
Manifest Destiny (p. 340) – The idea that the western lands were destined for White Americans. It caused
rapid territorial growth. This expansionism caused problems, such as the legal status of slavery in the new
territories and ultimately the sectional problems that tore apart the Union.
Intermediaries (p. 341) – The Republic of Mexico wanted to stimulate their economy by inviting American
immigrants. They granted funding to the intermediaries to attract settlers. Soon, the Americans
outnumbered the Mexican population and conflict broke out, which led to the Texas Revolution.
Texas Revolution (p. 342) – Mexicans began to distrust Americans when a revolt by an intermediary broke
out. When Santa Anna took power, things only got worse. War broke out, with the Texans under the lead of
Sam Houston. The Republic of Texas later won its independence and hoped for annexation. Expansionists
welcomed the territory but northerners didn’t because it could potentially become slave territory.
Compromise over Oregon (p. 343) – Oregon was a disputed territory between the British and Americans.
The “joint occupation” allowed residents equal rights to the land and for them to peacefully coexist, but
overtime, manifest destiny caused the Americans to grow more interested in Oregon. Thousands of
emigrants went to Oregon and the government was placed under pressure to take the territory. James K.
Polk resolved it with the 49th parallel as a compromise.
Motives for Migrating (p. 344) – Migrants heading west were in search of a new life. People had varied
visions on what the new life would bring. People who were too poor to afford migrating usually tagged along
with more established families.
James K. Polk (p. 346) – Winner in the Election of 1844, a supporter of expansion. During his presidency,
expansion prevailed but at the cost of sectional divisions. Probably the most significant problem Polk
caused was when he acquired the territory from the Mexican-American War.
Slidell’s Mission (p. 347) – John Slidell tried to negotiate with the Mexicans to buy Texas. Instead, it only
increased tensions and fighting eventually broke out over the disputed boundary. The war was opposed by
many Americans, but it still occurred and it was a success for expansion.
Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo (p. 348) – Nicholas Trist negotiated a settlement with the Mexicans. Mexico
agreed to cede California and New Mexico to the US and also established the Rio Grande as the boundary
of Texas. These negotiations didn’t satisfy the expansionists’ demands of acquiring Mexican territory.
Competing Plans (p. 351) – There were many plans as to how to deal with slavery in the new territory.
David Wilmot wanted to ban slavery in the acquired territory. This failed to be passed, but it saw
reoccurrence in Congress. Other plans involved extending the 36°30° line across the nation or popular
sovereignty.
The Forty-Niners – People who went to California during the Gold Rush of 1849. It attracted people from
all over the nation and world, which created a diverse community. It created tensions in the territory and it
became unstable. The gold rush was another factory that put the US under pressure to resolve the status of
the territories and slavery.
Compromise of 1850 (p. 353) – Henry Clay proposed the “omnibus bill”, which outlined a bunch of
compromises to resolve the issue of slavery in the territories. Congress turned down his proposal but
Stephen Douglas supported it. He divided up the bill into several parts and sent each part for individual
approval. It allowed California to join the Union as a free state and left the other territories to be dealt with
using the concept of popular sovereignty.
Ostend Manifesto (p. 355) A diplomatic attempt to buy Cuba from Spain by Franklin Pierce, who wanted to
redirect attention from slavery. This attempt actually caused sectional debate when it was leaked out to the
public. Northerners condemned it as an attempt to create a new slave state, while the south refused to
acquire territory that doesn’t allow slavery.
Transcontinental Railroad – There was debate as to where the eastern terminus of the railroad should be.
This railroad was becoming necessary for improved communication between the east and west. The
Gadsden Purchase acquired a strip of land in modern day Arizona and New Mexico for $10 million, which
only elevated the sectionalist feelings.
The Kansas-Nebraska Act (p. 356) Created the Nebraska and Kansas (likely to become a slave state)
territory and repealed the Missouri Compromise. The Kansas-Nebraska Act destroyed the Whig party and
divided northern democrats, but most importantly it created the new Republican Party.
“Bleeding Kansas” (p. 357) – Kansas had many conflicts between the pro-slavery and anti-slavery
supporters there. Since they legalized slavery, and Pierce was a pro-slavery supporter, they sacked
Lawrence, the main headquarters of antislavery in Kansas. John Brown, in revenge, massacred five proslavery supporters. Violence and guerilla warfare ensued for years as a result. This violence only made the
Union more divided.
Pro-Slavery Argument (p. 359) – Argued that slavery was good for the nation as a whole and that it was
the only way the two races could peacefully coexist.
Election of 1856 – James Buchanan, the democrat from Pennsylvania, won over Fremont and Fillmore. He
was an indecisive president at a very important time period in history. During his time in office, the country
fell into a depression that lasted many years.
The Dred Scott Decision (p. 361) – Dred Scott, a Missouri slave, was taken to Illinois and Wisconsin,
where slavery was banned. He sued his master’s widow for freedom after his master died, and so he
became free. But the widow’s brother claimed ownership of Scott. The court repealed their previous ruling
and ruled that as a slave, he had no right to sue and had no citizenship. Congress had no authority to pass
a law depriving people of their (slave) property, so this decision ruled the Missouri Compromise as
unconstitutional.
Lincoln-Douglas Debates (p. 362) – Lincoln and Douglas ran for the senate seats. They held great
debates in the process, which Lincoln received national recognition from. Lincoln was against slavery but
was not an abolitionist.
John Brown’s Raid (p. 363) – John Brown wanted to lead an armed revolt, so he successfully captured an
arsenal at Harper Ferry. However, he was captured and executed. His raid convinced white southerners
that they could no longer live safely in the Union.
Election of 1860 – The Election of 1860 was when President Lincoln was elected. Lincoln was the
unanimous choice for the Republicans while the Democrats nominated Breckinridge and Douglas. The
conditions in which Lincoln won led to disunion, since the southerners now thought the Union was a lost
cause.