and Expansionism the Issue of Slavery
I. The Expansionist Impulse
A. Motives
1. 1831: Southerners convinced that Northerners were wanting to abolish slavery in the USl Northerners convinced that law should protect slavery 2. the West: represented a challenge to the abundance of free workers to improve their lives 3. 1840s: most Americans favored the idea of expanding the borders of the US a) population growth made it necessary to move into sparsely settled land and exploit the land for hunting and farming b) 1845: expansionist conviction dubbed Manifest Destiny by John OSullivan (NY Dem.) -- divinely sanctioned mission
B. Texas
1. Acquired a large number of American settlers, however Texas still a apart of Mexico -- dissatisfied with Mexican rule (abolished slavery and attempted to keep entering American settlers from holding slaves) 2. March 1836: Teas declared its independence from Mexico a) September 1836: after a short war with Mexico, Texas became an independent republic b) the independent republic entered into negotiations with US for recognition and annexation c) continued to draw US settlers -- Texas government chose to offer to an head of family a free grant of 1280 acres of land 3. Southerners favored annexation because they viewed Texas as another realm of slavery; anti-slavery advocates denounced annexation of slavery because they did not want to extend slavery -- also believed annexation would lead to war with Mexico 4. 1844: rejected annexation of Texas a) Democrats made the annexation of Texas and idea of Manifest Destiny the major issues in the election of 1844 (James Polk elected)
b) joint resolution made to allow Texas into the Union before Polk was actually inaugurated as President
C. War with Mexico
1. Mexico broke off relations with US -- need for both to go through negotiations a) Texas unhappy with the borders given to them while under Mexican rule (division should be the Rio Grande) b) Polk administration that it was determined to obtain the provinces of New Mexico and California from Mexico -- willing to do it with money, but willing to use force as well 2. Mexican troops crossed the Rio Grande and scuffled with US -- 16 American soldier wounded/dead a) Polk already trying to start war with Mexico -- got resolution passed by Congress after this event 3. Northerners believed Polk did not try hard enough to avoid war with -- Mexico only went to war for more land and this land would be used to extend slavery a)
II.
The Debate Over the Extension of Slavery
A. Mexican War Acquisitions
1. Wilmot Proviso - amendment called for slavery to be prohibited in any area that the US might get from Mexico a) democrats in the North convinced that Pol had been guilty in making concessions to the Southern wing of the democratic party b) white supremacists interested in promoting the rights of white freeman in the western territories - wanted to keep all blacks out of those territories c) abolitionists anxious to stop spread of slavery wherever they could d) despite large appeal of North, failed to pass both houses of Congress 2. John Calhouns platform in a series of resolutions presented to Senate: a) common property of all the states - neither North of South
b) Congress had no right to prevent the citizens of any state from moving to these new territories and bringing their property (included slaves) c) only when a territory was ready for statehood could outlaw slavery d) Calhouns supporters insisted it was Congresss duty to allow and protect slavery in territories 3. Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo: ended war, gave US -- Utah, New Mexico, parts of Colorado and Wyoming, Rio Grande border of Texas, etc a) US paid $15 million dollars and assume claims of citizens against Mexican government 4. Popular sovereignty - gave them the right of citizens in the territory to choose whether or not they wanted slavery
B. Sectional Controversy
1. California attempted to apply for statehood as a free state and avoid the whole controversy of free/slave states but instead created the bitterest debate 2. Free Soil Party: demanded slavery be gone from all territories -- failed to carry a single state, but 12 free soilers were nominated to Congress
C. Compromise of 1850
1. Created by Senator Henry Clay to alleviate some of the tension a) California entered as a free state b) inhabitants of Utah and New Mexico are to decide their status by the popular sovereignty doctrine c) district of Columbia is to cease being a depot for the interstate slave trade d) a new tougher fugitive slave law was passed e) all provisions passed through Congress one by one 2. Both sections denounced the compromise because it ceded too much to their opposition -- embraced it anyway to alleviate some of the controversy