1860's Social Changes

The United States experienced political, geographic, economic, and, social changes during first half of the 1800s. Many people received new opportunities that helped open doors for them to begin their new, successful lives. Women received equality under the law for both men, and women causing political change. Also settlers were inspired to move to western land to expand their lands and settle in these new territories causing geographic change. And also the slaves were given some equality including the abolition of slavery causing social change. During this the time the nation went from only being 13 states along the Atlantic Coast to becoming a huge nation that spanned a continent. During this time women received equality for both men and

Each new territorial addition opened up new land for settlers. In 1803, Jefferson bought the Louisiana Territory from France. The Louisiana Purchase Treaty pushed the West boundary of the U.S from the Mississippi River to the Rocky Mountains. The Manifest Destiny that occurred during the 1840s was inspired by the belief that our nation was destined to expand, so Americans acquired vast Western lands and began a movement to settle into these new territories. One group that made the journey west in the 1840s were the Mormons. This was a religious group that traveled over the Oregon Tail to Utah to escape persecution. They ended up settling in the desert lands surrounding by the Great Salt Lake and made a thriving, successful community. In 1845, Texas joined as a state, after gaining independence from Mexico. The U.S and Great Britain signed a treaty in 1846, giving the U.S control of over 1/2 of Oregon

Congress banned the entry of slaves in 1808, and people who disagreed with slavery hoped that slavery would die out. In the early 1800s, free African Americans from the North, formed some antislavery societies. Preachers attacked slavery as they believed it was evil. Some antislavery reformers believed that slavery should be ended gradually, but others called for immediate abolition, or the end of slavery. Abolitionist gave speeches, wrote pamphlets, and persuaded government officials to end slavery. The abolitionist movement gained power and public acknowledgement in the 1830s through a newspaper named The Liberator, by William Lloyd Garrison. Garrison stated that slavery should be ended, and also that African Americans should have full equality. Frederick Douglass was also an another important abolitionist who was a former slave who struggled for freedom. His personal story and his dynamic stage presence made him a powerful spokesmen for the end of