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"Manifest Destiny"
The term Manifest Destiny was coined by John O'Sullivan in 1845. He was referring to the pressing issue of the annexation of Texas and that it is "Our Manifest Destiny to overspread the continent" and establish a sense of American cultural and racial superiority. -
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Conflicts leading up to the Civil War
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Annexation of Texas
Texas broke away from Mexico in the Texas Revolution, because Mexico didn't recognize independence of Texas so Texas went to the U.S., but they were rejected annexation, because the U.S. feared a war with Mexico. When James K. Polk took office for the U.S., Texas was immediately inducted into the U.S. -
Mexican-American War
When Texas was officaially annexed into the United States, Mexico cut off diplomatic relations with the U.S. When the U.S. tried to offer a deal with border disputes with Texas and Mexico, the U.S. became angered when Mexico wouldn't cooperate due to their feelings of the annexation of Texas. The U.S. officially declared war on Mexico on May 13 and Mexico declared war June 7. The war ended with the Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo on February 2, 1848. -
Declaration of War
After the declaration of war on May 13, 1846, U.S. forces invaded Mexican territory on two main fronts. The U.S. sent a cavalry force commanded by Stephen W. Kearny to invade western Mexico. This was done, because of concerns that Britain might also try to take over the area. Two more forces were also ordered to occupy Mexico. -
Annexation of California
John C. Frémont led an expedition to California in 1844. In 1846, he encouraged the American ranchers in the north to revolt against Mexican rule. These actions occured during the start of the Mexian-American war. Mexico gave California to the United States under the terms of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. -
California Gold Rush
Gold was discovered by James Marshall at Sutter's Mill in 1848 in El Dorado County. By 1849, people from all over rushed over to California to take part. These people became known as “Forty-niners” as they arrived with exaggerated expectations of gaining easy wealth, but the reality was that few miners became rich. The poplulation still continued to grow as people became interested in the fertile soil and mild climate. -
Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo was the treaty between the United States and Mexixo in 1848 which ended the Mexian-American War.The treaty called for the US to pay $15 million to Mexico and to pay off the claims of American citizens. It also gave the United States the Rio Grande as a boundary for Texas, and gave the US ownership of California and a large area of New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, Utah, and parts of Wyoming and Colorado. -
Compromise of 1850
The Compromise was set to settle disputes between slave and free states. There were five laws . One of them was the Fugitive Slave Act which helped with runaway slaves. California was admitted as a free state. It settled a border dispute between New Mexico and Texas. It abolished the Slave Trade in Washington D.C. finally the Compromise. It also organized the remaining territories of New Mexico into New Mexico and Utah and let those states decide if they allowed slavery or not. -
Gadsden Purchase
The Gadsden Purchase accuired the regions of present-day southern Arizona and New Mexico for the United States on Dec. 30, 1853 and was by James Gadsden. It was later changed by the U.S. Senate on april 25, 1854 and was signed by Franklin Pierce. This treaty was the last major land acquistition by the U.S. -
Start of Secession
South Carolina was the first to seceed and officially seceeded from the union on Dec. 20, 1860. Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Texas, Virginia, Arkansas, North Carolina, and Tennessee soon followed South Carolina. These states joined together to create the Confederate States. The secession of states angered the union and ultimatley led to the Civil War.
