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Missouri Compromise
Established a boundary for slavery in the Louisiana Purchase, prohibiting it north of the 36°30' parallel. Temporarily calmed tensions between slave and free states, but also highlighted deepening divisions. Laid groundwork for future conflicts over slavery's expansion. Demonstrated early efforts to maintain the Union's fragile balance. Later repealed by the Kansas-Nebraska Act, escalating sectional strife. -
Indian Removal Act
Authorized by President Andrew Jackson, it forcibly relocated Native American tribes to lands west of the Mississippi. Led to the tragic Trail of Tears, resulting in the deaths of thousands of Native Americans. Symbolized the U.S. government's aggressive westward expansion and disregard for Indigenous rights.Established a pattern of broken promises and displacement.Highlighted the era's deeply rooted racism and expansionist fervor. -
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King Cotton
King Cotton refers to the dominance and economic significance of cotton production in the antebellum South.Its high demand fueled the South's plantation economy, heavily reliant on enslaved labor.Cotton exports were crucial to the U.S. economy, shaping international trade relations, especially with Britain.The crop's prominence intensified sectional tensions, contributing to the onset of the Civil War.Post-war, King Cotton's legacy persisted, influencing Southern economic and cultural identity. -
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Manifest Destiny
Conceptualized the U.S.'s divine right and duty to expand across the continent. Justified territorial acquisitions, wars, and displacement of Native Americans. Galvanized westward migration and nationalistic sentiment. Intensified debates over slavery's expansion into new territories.Embodied America's 19th-century spirit of expansionism. -
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Mexican American War
Fought between the U.S. and Mexico over Texas annexation and border disputes. Ended with the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, granting the U.S. vast territories, including California and New Mexico.Amplified tensions over the spread of slavery into newly acquired territories.Cemented the U.S.'s position as a continental power.Strained U.S.-Mexico relations, leaving a legacy of mistrust. -
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Free Soil Party
Proposed to prohibit slavery in territories acquired from the Mexican-American War.Galvanized the Free Soil Party, which opposed slavery's westward expansion.Reflected growing northern concerns about southern dominance and slavery's spread.Set the stage for the broader anti-slavery movement.Despite its failure, intensified sectional conflicts. -
Kansas Nebraska
Repealed the Missouri Compromise, allowing settlers in Kansas and Nebraska to decide on slavery.Sparked violent clashes in "Bleeding Kansas" between pro and anti-slavery factions.Showcased the shortcomings of popular sovereignty as a solution to slavery debates.Escalated tensions between North and South.Contributed to the unraveling of the fragile Union fabric. -
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Bleeding Kansas
Series of violent confrontations between pro-slavery and anti-slavery settlers in Kansas.Highlighted the nation's deep divisions and foreshadowed the Civil War.Showed the failure of popular sovereignty in resolving slavery disputes.Intensified northern and southern mistrust and animosity.Served as a precursor to the larger sectional conflict. -
The Anita's Act
Dispute between the U.S. and Britain over the San Juan Islands, located between Washington Territory and Vancouver Island.Although a peaceful resolution was reached, it highlighted the strained U.S.-British relations. Demonstrated the potential for international conflicts in North America.Emphasized the importance of clear border delineations.Showed diplomacy's role in preventing larger conflicts. -
Election of 1860
Abraham Lincoln, representing the anti-slavery Republican Party, won a decisive victory.Southern states viewed his election as a threat and a catalyst for secession.Marked a turning point in the U.S.'s political landscape.Precipitated the onset of the Civil War.Highlighted the irreconcilable differences between North and South.