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Annexation of Texas
In the 1820s mexico encouraged American settlers to move to Texas to help fight Spain but in 1835. At that point, Mexico had already abolished slavery but settlers kept slaves so in 1835 the Texians declare independence (electing Steven Austin as their president) causing tension b/w the US and Mexico cause Mexico suspected that the US was involved. In 1845 the US annexed Texas starting the Mexican American War. The Whigs opposed it, viewing it as a war to expand slavery. -
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Polk Presidency
James K. Polk
11th President of US -
Annexation of Oregon/Oregon Treaty
President Polk believed that Americans were entitled to Oregon (Manifest Destiny) but the land was claimed by Britain so Polk threatened war if they were not given the land, coining the phrase "54"40' or fight".
Eventually in 1846, the Oregon Treaty was made so that the US would have the territory west of the Rocky mountains and south 49° north latitude but Britain had the rights ti navigate the Columbia River. -
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Mexican-American War
After the annexation of Texas, a war starts between the US and Mexico. US armies invade Mexico, occupying the capital and forcing Mexico to surrender. The US claimed the lands of the Mexican Cession. -
California Gold Rush
After the Mexican-American war, Californians discovered gold causing major changes in California's population. 300,000 settlers moved to California including many Chinese immigrants creating hostile race relations. The immigration also caused the decline of in Native American populations due to disease and massacre. The peak year of immigration was 1849 (Fourty-Niners). The new Californian government also abolished slavery because most American settlers came from the northern states. -
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Taylor Presidency
Zachary Taylor
12th President of the US -
Fugitive Slave Act of 1850
The Fugitive Slave Act of 1793 ordered free states to return escaped slaves but in the 1800s free states passed laws to limit the effectiveness of the Fugitive Slave law. They also purposefully didn't investigate the underground railroad. The slaves states demanded more enforcement so the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 forced the free states to cooperate in recapture efforts. This offends Northerners, increasing abolitionists. -
Compromise of 1850
After the population increases in California, they apply for statehood. Most of the population were from free states and the President Taylor supports California as a free state but southern democrats refuse California after 3 other states become free states (gives more power to free states in congress). Henry Clay devises a compromise that allows California to be a free state but the free states must comply the fugitive slave laws. Slavery is abolished within DC. -
Free Soil Party
Minor political party in the 1850s that opposed the spread of slavery for economic reasons rather than moral (white framers do not want to compete with slave plantations). This party began after the Mexican-American War but was eventually replaced the Republican Party. -
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Underground Railroad Peak
The Underground (secret) Railroad (referring to codes used) was a secret network of paths that helped slaves escape to either a free state (not completely safe due to fugitive slave laws) or Canada. Harriet Tubman (code name: Moses) was a famous escaped slave and a conductor of the underground railroad that helped 70 slaves escaped and was later a union army spy during the civil war. Around 50k-100k (out of 4 mil) slaves escaped (actual number unknown) through the underground railroad. -
Irish Immigration
Around 2 million Irish immigrants came to the US due to the Potato famine from 1845-1852. Most were poor and lacked special abilities and worked as unskilled laborers. Most settled in the Northeast. -
Chinese Immigration
increase in Chinese immigrants due to California Gold Rush and Taiping Rebellion. Become a cheap labor force, working mostly as domestics (laundry workers, farmhands) and built the transcontinental railroad after civil war. Racial tensions rise during economic slowdown in the 1870s as jobs become scarce leading to the Chinese exclusion act in 1882 which stopped immigration from china. -
German Immigration
Around 1 million Germans immigrated to the US mostly to the mid-west as farmers due to the violence in Europe during the revolutions of 1848. -
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Pierce Presidency
Franklin Pierce
14th president of the US
believed abolitionists were enemies of the nation (supported slavery ig) -
Kansas-Nebraska Act
An act that nullifies the Missouri compromise and allows a territory's settlers to determine if it allows slavery (popular sovereignty). This causes pro and anti-slavery settlers to move to the newly establishes state, Kansas, to change the outcome of if Kansas will become a slave or free state. This becomes violent (e.g.John Brown) and is referred to as "Bleeding Kansas" -
American/Know Nothing Party
Minor political party that opposed immigration which led to Nativism which created hostile feelings toward immigrants coinciding with anti-catholic beliefs that targeted Irish immigrants (most Irish were catholic). they implemented laws to ban immigrants from elected office. Called the Know Nothing Party because it had a secret membership. Members were divided on slavery and kind of disappeared by the 1860s.