Manifest Destiny, Kansas-American War, And The Compromise Of 1850

As the 1800s began, the belief of Manifest Destiny rose throughout the United States. Previously, because of Thomas Jefferson, the United States gained land from the Louisiana Purchase. This doubled the size of the United States, allowing America to grow westward. This westward land provided food for America, whereas the North provided manufactured goods and the South provided cash crops, such as cotton. The West and North soon became very interconnected through similar economies and views. This interdependence between the North and West was another cause of increased sectionalism in America. However, western expansion greatly increased sectional tensions in America. Westward expansion issues, such as the Kansas-Nebraska Act, Mexican- American War, and the Compromise of 1850, led to increase sectional tensions between the North and South. The Kansas-Nebraska Act most impacted sectional tensions, whereas the Mexican-American War and the Compromise of 1850 did not have as big of an impact.

The Kansas- Nebraska Act allowed divided western land into the territories of Kansas and Nebraska to choose the issue of slavery by popular sovereignty. This increased sectional tensions because the South wanted to build a southern railroad, as it would increase economic growth. Also, the North was upset because of the possibility of the expansion of slavery into western territories. Also, on the day of voting, border ruffians came from Missouri to vote in support of slavery. This greatly upset the North, especially the free-soilers. The Kansas-Nebraska Act greatly increased sectional tensions, which is shown by the fact that a civil war started in Kansas between the proslavery and antislavery