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Westward Expansion Of Slavery

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Abstract Slavery provided America with a wide range of labor, and fortune. Ideals from Christianity, and Revolution forced many to grapple with the idea of ending it. Throughout the antebellum era politicians debated the merits allowing the people of territories themselves to decide whether slavery would be prohibited or permitted. This solution created a host of problems. From the establishment of the Northwest and Southwest territories, to the Louisiana Purchase, the annexation of Texas, the acquisition of the Mexican Cession, and finally the debate over Kansas and Nebraska, the extension of slavery confounded politicians. To many nineteenth century Americans, the expansion of slavery into Western territories caused a great deal …show more content…

The infamous question of whether the territory would be slave or free emerged again. At the end of the Mexican War new lands west of Texas were yielded to the United States, and the debate over the westward expansion of slavery was revived. Representative David Wilmot of Pennsylvania introduced a possible solution to the problem in 1846. Wilmot’s proviso suggested that slavery should be prohibited in any territories acquired from Mexico. Northern politicians quickly backed Wilmot’s amendment. However, southern politicians felt such an act was unconstitutional and blocked the passage of the Wilmot Proviso. Wilmot’s proviso never passed and the issue of slavery in westward territories remained a topic of heated …show more content…

He guided his country through the most devastating experience in its national history, the ultimate strife from westward expansion the Civil War. Lincoln's victory in that election thus changed the racial future of the United States. The westward expansion of slavery was one of the most dynamic economic and social processes going on in this country” (Foner, E). Political deals, such as the Missouri Compromise in 1820, Compromise of 1850, Supreme Court rulings, and the Dred Scott decision in 1857, divided the country drastically. These divisions went far beyond cotton and economics. A country continuously divided on this major issue could not have survived. The fight over the expansion of slavery into the territories is a persistent problem in antebellum history. This problem caused strife between North and South lasting decades. Progress, greed, racism, and economic gain are the causes of much bloodshed and almost the complete destruction of a nation. Liberty is the sole reason for years of debates and compromises; two sides (North and South) with a different interpretations and a way of life. For Southerners liberty meant the right to own slaves and for slaves and most Northerners liberty meant ending

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The fate of their country by Michael Holt is a book made up of 3 to 4 sections, titled  Pandora's Box, The Wilmot Proviso, The Compromise of 1850, The Kansas-Nebraska Act. Author Michael Holt examines what caused the Civil War and the Pandora’s Box of sectional dissent territorial slavery issue over slavery into all current and future western territories also the Missouri crisis debate. It wasn’t slavery per the book but the debates about the extension of slavery into new territories and states that sent the nation careening into civil war, argues writer Michael Holt. He gives his readers an analysis of the partisan political forces, on the great debate over the extension of slavery into the American West.

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During the early to mid 1800’s there was a high feeling throughout the nation of manifest destiny. It is often debated that slavery was one of the main causes of opposition, or that the other causes were just as important. Back then it was the main discussion and debate. Even though slavery played a major role in the annexation of Texas, it was not the only big idea or concern. My first point to cover is (Document B) the letter to Henry Clay, where Reverend William Channing states he believes annexing Texas would be adding another slave state to the south. "

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DBQ: Political Disputes 1820-1860 For forty-four years, the United States of America was a thriving country. We had won our independence from Great Britain and we had started to create a country that would change the world. Yet, in the year 1860, a joined country and political agreement between all states seemed utterly impossible. People fought with each other so deeply about slavery, the country was divided between slave and free states. By the time of 1820 through 1860, political disagreement grew so large, there had been only one answer.

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This issue would come to a head following the election of Abraham Lincoln, who, despite not being against slavery, believed that it should not be allowed to spread into new US states. Southern states saw Lincoln’s election as an existential crisis that would stunt their growth and development

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The first of many obvious criticisms of slavery from the North came in the form of the Wilmot Proviso, a law which called for slavery to be banned in the territory gained from the Mexican-American War, by David

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The Mexican-American War (1846-1848) ended in the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, which ceded much of the west and southwest territory of the present-day America and accepted America’s annexation of Texas. The acquisition of all this new land intensified the debate over how the spread of slavery should be handled. With the Wilmot Proviso, a failed proposal which suggested prohibiting slavery in the Mexican Cession, congressman David Wilmot proposed another economic argument, claiming that slavery posed a threat to free white labor. It was difficult for free, white, wage-demanding laborers to compete with slaves in the job market, because while it was extremely cruel, slavery was free. Wilmot, in proposing the Wilmot Proviso, wanted to ensure that slavery would remain in the South, and that the acquisition of new land would prove beneficial to free white workers.

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The westward expansion of of the U.S. began to happen around the 1800s. during that time the social opportunities increased since many people moved to the west because the government was paying them or giving them free land. The political opportunities did not increased as much since most of the people moving westwards were poor or immigrants and only white males had the right to participate in those events. The economic opportunities increased for the people who moved westward because of the gold rush and the opportu tires that were provided.

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This expansion would not only demonstrate the ability that the United States had to control North America but also lead to a defining event in United States history, the Civil War. The westward expansion between the years 1789 and 1815 was some of the most influential expansion in American History because of what can be considered an identity crisis the United States was going through as such a young country. The expansion into these areas shed light onto the issues being faced by the people and states of the United States as they continued grow and define themselves. The impact would define a country set the United States on the path to become the world power it is

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Due to the fact that the South had more of an agricultural economy, the Southerners thought that the states should have the right to decide whether residents could own slaves, rather than the federal government. In 1846 a congressman from Pennsylvania named David Wilmot introduced a bill to the House of Representatives called the Wilmot Proviso. This said slavery would not be allowed in any western territory acquired from Mexico. Of course most of the politicians from the North loved the idea, while the politicians from the South did not. The Missouri Compromise on March 3, 1820 (also called the Compromise of 1820) was the first major legislative compromise that was passed to draw a line between slave and free territory.

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By the 1860s, Americans could no longer solve their political disputes through compromise because slavery became a deeply entrenched and uncompromisable issue in America, the compromises made beforehand were counterproductive to their peaceful efforts, and there was confusion of the legality of secession. In 1860, slavery became such a passionate and divisive issue that a compromise could no longer be reached. As the years progressed and more people began to have a more definitive stance on slavery, the issue of slavery became deeply entrenched into America. As Lincoln states in Document G, slavery is an issue in, “politics, in religion, in literature, in morals, in all manifold relations in life…”

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After years of tensions, Northern and Southern states were at a disagreement over the territory acquired during the early 1840’s. The problem was whether Southern States would be allowed to expand their labor force (Slaves) to the newly acquired land. Although the debate over slavery was hostile, many sought to put an end to the situation. For instance, abolitionist from the North proposed The Wilmot Proviso in hopes of abolishing slavery from the land gained. However, others supported this concept, by attempting to restrict the land to only white settlers.

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Westward Expansion and Slavery were the prominent reasons for the secession crisis. The North and South developed tension due to their differing economic backgrounds. The South’s economy was heavily reliant on slave labor to produce cotton, making them want to fight to protect their way of life and the pillars of their society. In contrast, industry fueled the North, allowing the region to see the evil nature of slavery and develop antislavery views. The Fugitive Slave act of 1850 forced Northerners to support the institution through returning runaway slaves, creating anger and resistance in the North and additional tension.

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The Westward Expansion all started when America made the Louisiana Purchase of 1803. There were many benefits from the purchase for the US that the French didn’t realize before they sold it. The purchase gave the US access to the Mississippi river which allowed for expansion of river trade to the North and South from the center of the US. The port city of New Orleans was bought by the US and its prosperity benefited the US greatly. The US sent Lewis and Clark west to investigate the land they purchased.

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For some, it was destiny to move west. Although there were many conflicts and disagreements between ourselves and others, it was destiny to move west because of overpopulation, new inventions of transportation methods, and new opportunities. In the 19th Century, overpopulation was one of the major reasons for Westward Expansion. Immigrants were flooding into America for new opportunities and new ways of life and there was just not enough land to suffice the needs for all of the people. These immigrants were arriving in America in the port cities on the East Coast.

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In retrospect, the history of the antebellum America is quite fascinating. During this period, the young republic faced several challenges. One of the most serious ones was the slavery issue. Reading the related materials, people might understand that the Founding Fathers had actually pondered about the solution to the issue; however, they did not pursue it because they foresaw possible turmoil in American politics. Unfortunately, the issue kept simmering until it reached the boiling point which resulted in the disastrous Civil War.

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