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Mexican-American War
This war was a major conflict that took place from 1846-1848, involving the United States and Mexico. It was created due to the dispute over the annexation of Texas by the U.S.. "Manifest Destiny" which was the expansion of westward territory, ended in claiming Texas as it was still considered territory of Mexico. This resulted in the U.S. gaining much of Mexico's territory after the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. This event merits inclusion because this war was important in the growth of America. -
Mormon Hegira
The migration of Mormons from Missouri to Illinois and later Alta California which is present-day Utah. They migrated along the Mormon Trail which was very important to Mormon folklore. Mormonism was the 1st indigenous American religion and grew due to the 2nd Great Awakening. "By all odds the most remarkable westward migration before the California Gold Rush of 1849 was the Mormon Hegira to the Great Salt Lake basin"(Mcpherson, 43). This was important for new religion to advance throughout U.S. -
Battle of Buena Vista
A battle during the Mexican-American War taking place in 1847 in Buena Vista, a village in Coahuila, Mexico. It began when U.S. Army General Santa Anna demanded Mexican Army General Taylor to surrender but Taylor refused. Santa Anna then sent 15,000 troops to fight against the 5,000 troops under Taylor. It resulted in the U.S. defeating Mexico due to their military advances. This event merits inclusion because it showed how the U.S. used artillery to defend themselves against the larger enemy. -
Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
This treaty ended the Mexican-American War and handed 55% of Mexico territory to the U.S. which are now major present day states. It ended debate over the Texas border being the Nueces River or Rio Grande River, resulting in Rio Grande to become the Southern border. It also protected Mexican rights allowing them to decide to stay in U.S. territory that was ceded or move to Mexico. This event merits inclusion because it shows the major expansion of U.S which made the country the way it is today. -
Compromise of 1850
Five laws that were passed in 1850 including admitting California as a free state, the U.S assuming Texas's debts, slave trade being abolished in Washington, D.C., Fugitive Slave Act being passed, and allowing states to decide between free or slave state. These laws passed by Congress were to relieve tensions between slave and free states leading up to the American Civil War. This was important because it gave rights to popular sovereignty and temporary peace within states with differences -
Fugitive Slave Act
"The Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 legitimized and lent immediacy to an argument that abolitionists had long been making-that Northerners were complicit in the slave system"(Varon, 235). This act allowed the capture and return of runaway slaves to their owners. They were required to be sent back even if they were in a free state. Only 330 runaway slaves were caught. This was an important event in history because it brought more awareness to abolitionists and increased the fight to abolish slavery. -
Treaty of 1851
The treaty of 1851 was signed between U.S Government and representatives of many indigenous nations, in Fort Laramie (aka, Horse Creek Treaty). This treaty created peace and set boundaries between each nation and tribe. It also created many rights and boundaries for American Indians and U.S Government. This treaty was important and merits inclusion because it provided a safe passage for emigrants to travel through this territory and allowed the government to build roads throughout it as well. -
Uncle Tom's Cabin
This was an anti-slavery novel written by Harriet Beecher Stowe in 1852. This novel greatly contributed to the abolitionist movement as it exposed many jarring details about slave treatment and the poor life they live. Stowe's novel influenced several others to speak out which resulted in the Civil War due to the previous conflicts within Northern and Southern States. By publishing this novel, the approach to abolition grew faster and much stronger which was extremely beneficial for the U.S. -
Treaty of Kanagawa
This was the first treaty signed between the U.S. and Japan in 1854. This treaty ended Japan's two-century policy of isolation, and opened Japan to visitors for the first time as well as opened foreign trade. It established the opening of Japan ports to U.S. ships for refueling, the protection of shipwrecked sailors, and the U.S. gaining "most favored nation" status throughout Japan. It was known as a very unequal treaty because it limited sovereignty in Japan in relations to Western nations. -
Kansas-Nebraska Act
This was a law that divided the Louisiana Purchase into Kansas and Nebraska territories. This law was a mandate for popular sovereignty and allowed settlers of a territory to decide if slavery should be allowed in the states new borders. This act also allowed a possibility for Kansas and Nebraska to open slavery which has been prevented since 1820 with the Missouri Compromise. This resulted in reopened debates over slavery, realigning of political parties, and violence known as "Bleeding Kansas" -
Dred Scott Decision
This decision stated that enslaved people were not citizens of the U.S. and they were stripped of any rights regarding their protection and safety from the Federal Government. It also stated that Congress had no authority to end or limit slavery from spreading into more U.S. territories. It declared the Missouri Compromise unconstitutional and slaves were unable to sue in federal court. This resulted in greater tensions between the North and South and grew the country closer to the Civil War. -
King Cotton Speech
A speech given by James Henry Hammond, a Southern senator and plantation owner in 1858. His speech recognized the importance of cotton throughout the American economy and that it would essentially collapse without production of it. In his speech he said, "'England would topple headlong and carry the whole civilized world with her, save the South'" (McPherson, 383). "Cotton is King" was a phrase used to describe the growth of the economy due to cotton and showed the slavery used for this growth. -
Election of 1860
This election was a four-way race involving Lincoln, Breckinridge, Bell, and Douglas. Republican Abraham Lincoln defeated all other parties and won the election by most electoral votes even after winning less than 40% popular vote. He won the entirety of North but did not win South which results in the South breaking away to save slavery. This was the first time that a republican was elected president. The results of this election were significant as Lincoln went on to abolish slavery in the U.S