SSUSH8 The student will explain the
relationship between growing northsouth divisions and westward expansion.
• a. Explain how slavery became a significant issue in
American politics; include the slave rebellion of Nat
Turner and the rise of abolitionism (William Lloyd
Garrison, Frederick Douglass, and the Grimke sisters).
• b. Explain the Missouri Compromise and the issue of
slavery in western states and territories.
• c. Describe the Nullification Crisis and the emergence of
states’ rights ideology; include the role of John C.
Calhoun and development of sectionalism.
• d. Describe the war with Mexico and the Wilmot Proviso.
• e. Explain how the Compromise of 1850 arose out of
territorial expansion and population growth.
Nat Turner’s Rebellion
• Nat Turner was a slave in
Southampton County, Virginia.
• Believed that God had chosen him
to free the slaves.
• In 1831, he led an uprising in which
he killed his owner and 60 other
whites before being captured.
• In pursuit of Nat, the white bounty
hunters killed 100 slaves trying to
capture Nat and his followers
• Significance: following this slave
uprising some southern states
passed stricter slave “codes” or
laws. This was looked down upon
by Abolitionists in the North.
Widening the difference between
the North and South regions.
Missouri Compromise
• An agreement passed in 1820
between the pro-slavery and
anti-slavery factions in the
Congress, involving the
regulation of slavery in the
western territories. It prohibited
slavery in the former Louisiana
Territory north of the parallel
36°30' north except within the
boundaries of the proposed
state of Missouri. To keep the
balance, Maine was admitted as
a free state in response to
Missouri entering as a slave
state.
Nullification Crisis
• The Nullification Crisis was a sectional crisis
during the presidency of Andrew Jackson
created by South Carolina's 1832 Ordinance of
Nullification.
• This ordinance declared by the power of the
State that the federal Tariff of 1828 and 1832
were unconstitutional and therefore null and
void within the sovereign boundaries of South
Carolina.
• The controversial and highly protective Tariff of
1828 (known as the "Tariff of Abominations")
was enacted into law during the presidency of
John Quincy Adams. The tariff was opposed in
the South. Its opponents expected that the
election of Jackson as President would result in
the tariff being significantly reduced.
John C. Calhoun on Nullification Crisis
• South Carolina
representative who wrote
and spoke of the
Nullification Crisis between
States and the National
Government.
• Significance: This is the
first time that State’s Rights
had been brought to the
forefront (which later is used
as justification in the Civil
War). Differences between
one region of the United
States and another are
becoming apparent.
(Sectionalism)
Development of Sectionalism
• Sectionalism is defined as loyalty to the
interests of one's own region or section of
the country, rather than to the country as a
whole.
• Sectionalism in the U.S. increased steadily
1800–1860.
– The North, without slavery, industrialized,
urbanized and built prosperous farms.
– The South concentrated on plantation
agriculture based on slave labor, together with
subsistence farming for the poor whites.
Resolving Territorial
Disputes
• Five Countries Claimed the
Oregon Territory
–Britain
–France
–Russia
–Spain
–United States
Resolving Territorial Disputes
• Eventually everyone but Britain and the U.S.
gave up their claims on the Oregon Territory
• Webster Ashburton Treaty gave both the U.S.
and Britain joint occupation of the territory
• IN 1844 Democratic Presidential Candidate
James Polk called for the entire Oregon
Territory using his motto:
– “54 40 or fight”
– Gave up at 49 degrees, because land north of 49
was not suitable for agriculture.
Expansion into Texas
• Mexico encouraged Americans to settle in
Texas region
• Native American and Mexican government
had had disputes over the area. Having
American citizens in the area was a
security attempt by Mexico
• Stephen F. Austin established the first
colony in Texas.
Texas Fights for Independence
• Anglo Settlers in Texas rebel against Santa Anna’s
oppressive government and declare their
independence from Mexico.
• Anglo troops are massacred at the Alamo
• “Remember the Alamo” was the battle cry after this
loss.
• After the victory at San Jacinto River under the
leadership of Sam Houston, Texas became the
Republic of Texas. “The Lone Star” Republic
• It remained its own country for 7 years when it was
annexed into the U.S.
• The annexation process was part of the reason the
U.S. goes to war with Mexico.
The battle of the Alamo
Mexican War 1846-1848
• Three Reasons that the U.S. and
Mexico went to war*
– Boundary Disputes in the Texas Area
• Mexico believed the boundary should be north
of the Rio Grande
• U.S. believed the boundary was at the Rio
Grande
– Texas joining the United States (being
Annexed)
– Bad relations between governments
Mexican War
• President of the
U.S. was James
K. Polk
• After this war, he
was the one
president
responsible for
adding more
territory to the U.S.
than any other
president.*
Mexican War
• General Winfield
Scott*
• “Old Fuss and
Feathers”*
• Captured the city
of Vera Cruz and
Mexico City
• His leadership
during the Mexican
War brought the
war to an end
General Winfield Scott enters Mexico City September 14, 1847
Mexican War
•
•
•
•
•
General Zachary Taylor*
“Old Rough and Ready”*
Fought in battles in North Mexico
Captured Monterey
Defeated Santa Anna in the battle
of Buena Vista
• Later became President of the
U.S.
Zachary Taylor at the battle of Monterey
California*
• Stephen Kearny
• “The Long Marcher”
• Marched through
New Mexico and to
California
• California became
the “Bear Flag
Republic”
America Claims the Spoils
of War*
• Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
• This was an agreement with Mexico that
– The boarder of Texas was the Rio Grande
– They also Ceded (gave up) the areas of New
Mexico and California to the U.S.
– U.S. agreed to pay $15 Million for the
Mexican cession which included present day
California, Nevada, New Mexico , Utah and
most of Arizona, parts of Colorado and
Wyoming.
Gasden Purchase
•
•
•
•
President Franklin Pierce
1853
$10 Million to Mexico
This area was at lower elevation
that could be used for the
Transcontinental Railroad*
• This established the present day
boarders of the Continental U.S.
Zachary Taylor
• Became
president in
1848 (after
Mexican
War)
• Whig party
California Gold Rush*
• Sutter’s Mill
• Discovered in 1848, which caused many people
to Rush to California in 1849
• Nicknamed “49ers” because of the year
• People would travel in the following ways:
– either across the country on land
– sail to the southern tip of south America and upward
to the coast of California
– By the Atlantic Ocean to the isthmus of Panama
and cross then continue up by boat on the Pacific
Ocean to California
Wilmot Proviso
An 1846 proposal brought
forward by Pennsylvania
Congressman David
Wilmot that stipulated that
none of the Mexican
Cession territory would be
allowed to permit slavery.
Out of the arguments for
this proviso came the
Compromise of 1850.
Compromise of 1850 (Henry Clay)
• Abolished the slave trade in the District of
Columbia, but slavery is still permitted.
• Obligated Congress to create became the
Fugitive Slave Law.
• Admitted California as a free state
• Separately organized the territories of Utah and
New Mexico without restrictions on slavery. The
inhabitants of these places would decide upon
slavery when they applied to be admitted as
states.
• Texas would relinquish the land in dispute to
Mexico. They would be given 10 million dollars in
return as compensation that could be used to pay
off its debt to Mexico.