-
Missouri compromise
The Missouri compromise came in 1820 when Missouri was to be added to the union. There was dispute over this between northern and southern politicians over whether it would be a slave or free state and how they would keep the balance. This dispute was settled when Missouri was added as slave state and Maine was added as a free state to keep balance. From then on new territories from the Louisiana purchase added south of the 36º 60’ would be a slave state and everything north would be free. -
Oregon Trail
In April 1843 1,000 men and women gathered in Independence MO to travel together 2,000 miles west to Oregon along the Oregon Trail. By 1860 more than 250,000 people had braved the Oregon trail and settled west. -
Texas added to the US
In December of 1845 Texas was added to the United States. The addition of Texas caused many problems between northern and southern politicians debating whether it would be a free or slave state. -
Manifest Destiny
Manifest destiny was a key part of westward expansion. This idea was coined by John O’Sullivan in 1845. The idea was that it was destiny for the United States to spread from sea to sea. -
Wilmot Proviso
The Wilmot proviso was a proposed bill that would ban the expansion of slavery into the states acquired in the Mexican War. The bill was blocked in the senate but it added to the growing controversy between the north and south -
Compromise of 1850
In 1850 to try and settle the dispute over slavery in new states Henry Clay proposed a deal with 4 parts. First California would be added to the union as a free state, second newly acquired Mexican territory would be allowed popular sovereignty, third slave trace would be banned in Washington D.C., last the south would be allowed the fugitive slave act to enforce stronger punishment of runaway slaves. -
Gadsden purchase
The Gadsden purchase of 1853 added almost 30,000 square miles to the United States. The purchase was a part of a treaty with Mexico to receive the land in exchange for 10 million dollars. This purchase was important for the south for a southern transcontinental railroad. -
Kansas and Nebraska Act
In 1854 Kansas and Nebraska were proposed to the Union by Stephen Douglas. The states were proposed as neither being a free state or a slave state but as having “popular sovereignty” to appeal to both southern and northern congressmen. This team meant that the states would be allowed to choose whether they were a free or slave state -
Bleeding Kansas
With the Kansas and Nebraska act came a rush of emigrants to Kansas from Missouri in order to claim the state in the next vote as a southern state. Settlers from the north came to set up a rival government to claim it as a free state. Soon Kansas spiraled into civil war. -
Oregon joins the US
In February of 1859 Oregon was added to the United States after settling with Britain over what territory belongs to the US. Oregon was added as a free slave to help settle the dispute about Texas being added as a slave state
