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1836
Mexico considered Texas one of their territories that was in revolt. Mexico refused to recognize Texas's independence. Mexico threatened war if America protected Texas. Because of this, Texas made treaties with France, Holland, and Belgium. The British were interested in having Texas as a trading partner who was more friendly than the Americans. -
1840s-1850s
the idea of Manifest Destiny spread across America. Many Americans felt that God had destined them to spread their democratic institutions over the entire continent and over South America as well. Democrats strongly supported this. -
1848
Nicholas P. Trist signed the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo on February 2, 1848. This ceded Texas and the area that included California to America for $15 million. This area was about half of Mexico. The antislavery Whigs in Congress ("Conscience Whigs") did not like the treaty because they had originally disliked the war. Expansionists also opposed the treaty because they wanted all of Mexico, not just part of it. -
1848
gold was discovered in California. The people associated with the California gold rush brought violence and disease that overwhelmed the small Californian government. Needing protection, the Californians bypassed the territorial stage of a state, drafted their own Constitution (excluding slavery) in 1849, and applied to Congress for admission into the Union. -
1850
The Fugitive-Slave Law of 1850, the Bloodhound Bill, said that fleeing slaves could not testify on their own behalf and they were denied a jury trial. Northerners who helped slaves trying to escape were subject to fines and jail time. -
1850
President Fillmore signed a series of compromises contained within the Compromise of 1850. California was admitted as a free state, but the territories of New Mexico and Utah were open to popular sovereignty. slave trade was outlawed in the District of Columbia, but a stricter fugitive-slave law was enacted. During this time period, a second Era of Good Feelings came.