Following the Mexican-American War, the conflict of 1846 through 1848 caused by Texas gaining its independence from Mexico, opinions and actions of the American citizens and government concerning slavery drastically changed. Beginning from the wishy-washiness of the Northwest Ordinance of 1787, American ideas and values evolved - proven through the Emancipation Proclamation of 1865. Through the seventeen different presidents coming into power during the time frame of 1787 to 1865, the judgments of slavery exceptionally differed from each man in power, having a large impact on the current situation of slavery during their time in office. Following the Mexican-American war, America acquired so much new land, sprouting the debate over slavery …show more content…
In 1820, the Missouri Compromise was passed by legislation. The compromise stated that Missouri would become an official state in America, and would come in as a slave state. To balance this, Maine was admitted as a free state. The more long term effect this compromise created was the introduction of the 36-30 line. The line essentially divided the states into north and south, and those in the North would not be permitted slavery while those in the South were. This is a perfect model of how the slavery or no slavery decision went before the Mexican-American War - the government made the decision and no exceptions could legally be made by the states. However, come about thirty years later, came a change. Popular sovereignty was introduced into the vocabulary of the American government and people. The Compromise of 1850, introduced by Henry Clay, among other points, suggested that the New Mexico and Utah territories be given a choice on whether they’d like to be a free or slave state. Four years later, in 1854, the Kansas-Nebraska Act passed. This act proposed the repealing of the 36-30 line and introducing more popular sovereignty by once again giving this power of choice to the citizens of the Kansas and Nebraska territories. Though this did bring upon some problems (such as people coming from neighboring states to illegally vote on these decisions), this freedom of choice was a huge step in the legislation of slavery. Obviously, the Emancipation Proclamation and the whole abolishment of slavery in 1863 and 1865, respectively, were both huge steps in American history concerning the legal status of
a. The War with Mexico i. Polk wants control over ALL of Mexico, between Texas and Pacific Ocean- willing to go to war ii. Texas Republic accepted statehood in 1845=1845 Mexico broke off diplomatic relations with the US iii. Polk intimated Mexican Gov- Zachary Taylor occupy all the lands in the Nucese River and Rio Grande iv. Sent John Slidell to Mexico city- to secure Mexican acceptance of the Rio Grande boundary and to buy Mexico and CA- officials did not see him v. Alternate plan was to start a CA revolution (like Texas) to get independence and join the US vi. Polk ordered naval commanders to seize CA 's coastal towns (in case of war) and sent John C Fremont 's troops into Mexico vii.
It forced them to travel all the way to Canada instead of closer free states to find freedom. Even though it was part of a compromise between the North and the South act favored the South. In 1820, the Missouri Compromise was created to help resolve the debate over the border of slave and free state. It only lasted for about thirty years before the South and North started to debate over what was a free state and slave state over the new territory on the West Coast.
Therefore, the consequence of the war for Mexico was the cession of territories like California, Nevada, New Mexico and Arizona in the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo in February of 1848. Additionally, the United States acquired the Texan border at Rio Grande and paid Mexico fifteen million dollars for all of the newly acquired land. However, a negative repercussion for the United States was the new congressional debate over which territories would be slave states and which would be ‘free’ states. The Wilmot Proviso severed as a direction for some politicians to oppose slavery but for others to contest its publicized beliefs. New political factions like the Free Soil Party, the Liberty Party and the Conscience Whigs were formed to promote their beliefs that slavery needed to cease for the benefit of the country.
LEQ #8 Following the Mexican-American War that occurred between 1846 and 1848, many issues arose. One major issue in question concerned the conflict of slavery between the states. With the United States acquiring nearly 525,000 square miles, the slave states saw this as an opportunity to acquire more territories and put the land to use via slaves. Those in the North felt they should not be slave states, as it would upset the balance of freed states and slave states. Overall, many things occurred during this time between the slavery controversy and its resistance, but one important event included the Ostend Manifesto.
The Mexican-American War was an important turning point for the institution of slavery in the U.S. due to the acquiring of the states such as California, New Mexico, and the recognition of Texas’s annexation. With the new land acquired many disputes rose up on whether the states should be slave states or not, due to the good land and weather conditions in California and New Mexico perfect for farming (Doc.1). Manifest Destiny seemed like it was the most important for the south because of the better land but many Northern Democrats believed that slavery could not further expand (Doc.1) The Mexican-American war was a complete victory for the United States but the states gained became free states out numbering the number of the Southern slave
This was also coupled with the “determination of some expansionists to bring Texas into the union as another slave state and increase the economic gains that would result from the expansion of slavery into the area” . Furthermore, as more and more people continuously began populating into Texas, they began to disregard the authority of government officials from both Mexico and Texas. As a newspaper from the time period states “It is uncertain to many living in the newly occupied Texas territory, as to the attitudes held by Mexicans of the new American presence in the area, and whether or not it is positive or negative, cannot yet be judged” . The uncertain feelings that were oblivious to settlers of this time quickly became negative as newcomers continued to break Mexican rules and laws including those against slavery. The actions committed by Americans in the new area grew in number as did the complaints by Mexican citizens of their new neighbors.
The United States fought with vigor, but they were no match for the Mexican soldiers, the shot that killed Davy Crockett was heard around the village. The Mexican-American war was from 1846-1848 but problems started to arouses before that. The Mexicans and the Americans both thought that the land was theirs. The Mexican claimed it but the Americans believed in Manifest destiny which means that the land was a gift from God. Although the United States war against Mexico resulted in the gaining of American’s most valuable land, the war itself was unjust because the Texas was wrong from the beginning, the war was based on false pretenses, and the expanding of slavery was the goal.
With a desire to achieve the ideology of manifest destiny, the United States called war on Mexico to acquire their land. However, with the United States’ victory came the inevitable debate about slavery in not only the newly acquired territories, but also in the nation as a whole. The nation began to divide on the issue of slavery due to the Missouri Compromise which legalized slavery below the 36°30’ parallel and the Kansas-Nebraska Act which decided that the issue of slavery should be solved by popular sovereignty. Controversy sparked by political decisions like those aforementioned and events about slavery, disputes over slavery status in the territories, and extremist outlooks on the solution to these issues increased sectionalism and
The Mexican-American War marked an enormous symbolic impact for both nations which changed people’s lives. There’s many similarities and differences between these two countries, the combat that began during 1846 between Mexicans and Americans has brought catastrophe and teared many families apart. The war commenced because Mexico claimed the Nueces River and its northeastern boarder while Americans demanded the Rio Grande River. Overall they had problems with land property, Mexico started the battle first and launch fire on April 25, 1846. This is when all the problems and fight’s begin and how Mexican’s and American’s became great enemies that can’t stand each other.
Slavery was another issue for territories, “the West symbolize the hopes and dreams of white American (366).” The South argued that “to exclude slavery from the western territories was to exclude white southerners from pursuing their vision of the American dream (366).” The North disagreed, “they argued that exclusion preserved equality, the equality of all white men and women to live and work without competition from slave labor or rule by despotic slaveholders (366).” In August 1846, David Wilmot offered a bill for the Mexican War, “any territory from the Republic of Mexico… neither slaver nor involuntary servitude shall ever exist in any part of said territory (366).” Wilmot explained that he “wanted only to preserve the territories for the sons of toil, of my own race, and own color (366).”
The Mexican War, commonly known as the Mexican-American War, was the war fought by the United States and Mexico from 1846 to 1848. Controversy surrounding the annexation of Texas to the United States predicted war with Mexico and swayed the votes of candidates during the Election of 1844. During the Election of 1844, James K. Polk, an advocate for expansionism, campaigned against Henry Clay, who was in opposition of adding Texas to the Union. Clay lost many of his voters when he tried to encourage the voters to rally against Texas’ annexation. Eventually, Polk assumed the role as president after defeating Clay in the rather close Election of 1844.
What started the Mexican War? There are two people from each side to fight for their argument. The two sides are those who believe Polk is to blame for the war, and those who believe there were other underlying forces that caused the war. The two people who I will talk about is Nugent and Graebner. Nugent’s thesis is that Polk is to blame for the war; Graebner’s thesis is that it isn’t Polk’s fault.
The Missouri Compromise was meant to relieve tension between the North and South. It established states above the 17th parallel to be slave free. It also said there must be an equal amount of slave and free states so they must balance out. After the Mexican-American war, American acquired large amounts of land through both the treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo and Gadsden Purchase. They received modern day: California, Arizona, New Mexico, among other territories.
According to McNamara, “The Missouri Compromise was the first of the major compromises of the 19th century intended to ease regional tensions over the issue of slavery… accomplished it immediate goal.” In the 1800s, the issues of slavery divided the nation. The North wanted no part of a nation that undertook in slavery because
Did you know that Mexico lost 320,000,000 acres of land to the United States of America. The Mexican American war was a battle were America wanted Mexico's land but Mexico didn't want to sell the land so they fought for the land and America won. Although the United States war against Mexico resulted in the gaining of America's most valuable land, the war itself was unjust because of Texas being undisputed territory, the annexation of Texas, and because Texans had slaves and it was against the law. The texans sparked the war because they did not want to follow the Mexico's law.