Expansionism &
Sectionalism
1840s - 1850s
Manifest Destiny
● Definition - Cultural viewpoint that emphasized the right of U.S. “citizens” to
settle the North American continent from the Atlantic to Pacific Ocean
● Contextualize: A product of…
○ Democratic Revolution (spread democracy/egalitarianism)
○ War of 1812 (Nationalism)
○ Market Revolution (Class mobility)
○ Slavery (Racial consciousness)
○ Second Great Awakening (Morality/Righteousness)
● Focal points - Oregon, California, and Texas
● Election of 1844 and the question of expansion: James K. Polk (Democrat)
○ Threat of the British in the Pacific Northwest
○ Demands for Oregon
○ Texas...?
○ Whigs’ failure
Manifest Destiny
The Mexican-American War (1846 - 1848)
● Key Factors: ● Post-War Divisions: Sectionalism
○ Provocation - Deliberate stationing of
troops designed to instigate war & Conspiracy
○ Declining Mexican government made for a ● Sectionalism
better situation for the US Army
○ Increasing popularity of abolitionism
○ With a two front war being too costly, the
Polk administration negotiated a peaceful
○ Southerners’ increasing dependence
settlement of the Northwestern borders on cotton industry
with Britain ○ Unavoidable issues with expansion
● California & Texas → Independent ● Conspiracy
republics that won freedom by defeating
○ Conscience Whigs
the declining Mexican government.
○ Wilmot Proviso
○ Free Soil Party
○ More influential abolitionist
voice in politics
Slavery: The Policy Debate (1787 - 1861)
● Pre-1787: “Necessary Evil” (economic measure)
● Constitutional Convention (1787-1788 - political & economic measures)
○ ⅗ Compromise (representation in Congress)
○ 1808 Compromise (slave trade)
● 1820 - The Missouri Compromise (political measure)
○ Jefferson’s foreboding - “wolf by the ears”
○ Compromise Line
○ Balance between “slave” and “free” states: Maine and Missouri
● 1830s - The Abolition Movement (social measure)
○ Second Great Awakening - Slavery as a moral evil
○ Southern defenses of slavery - “positive good,” wage slaves, racial theories
● 1840s - Expansionism (social, political, economic measures)
○ Maintain balance of free and slave states
○ Manifest Destiny
○ Economic expansion
○ Destruction of the Whig Party - End of Second Party System
The Compromise of 1850
1850 Slavery & Expansion Positions: Terms of the Compromise:
● Pro-Slavery (Radical) - No regulation of ● Fugitive Slave Act to be strictly enforced
slavery in the territories, dual presidency by the Northern states
to represent the sections ● Slave trade outlawed in Washington D.C.
● Pro-Slavery (Moderate) - Extend Missouri ● California enters the Union as a free state
Compromise line to Pacific Ocean ● New Mexico & Utah will determine slavery
● Anti-Slavery (Moderate) - Utilize Popular through popular sovereignty
Sovereignty in the new territories ● New Mexico/Texas border settled
● Anti-Slavery (Radical) - Complete ● Legacy/Reactions? Neither side was truly
restriction of slavery in any new territory satisfied. Last great act of older generation
The Dissolution of the Political System
● 1852 - Uncle Tom’s Cabin
● 1854 - Formation of the Republican Party
● 1854 - Kansas Nebraska Act
● 1855 - “Bleeding Kansas”
● 1856 - Caning of Senator Sumner
● 1857 - Dred Scott Decision
● 1858 - Lincoln-Douglas Debates
● 1859 - John Brown’s Raid on Harpers Ferry
● 1860 - Lincoln wins the Presidential Election (November)
● 1860 - South Carolina Secedes (December)
● 1861 - Attack on Ft. Sumter
The Rise of Sectionalism - 1850s
● End of Second Party System - Increasing influence of uncompromising
political positions (North - Abolitionism, South - States’ Rights)
● Kansas-Nebraska/“Bleeding Kansas” (1855) → Failure of Popular
Sovereignty
● By 1856, Democrats were the one remaining national party
● Dred Scott (1857)
○ Scott could not sue for freedom because he was not a citizen
○ Slaves were property and prohibition of property was unconstitutional
○ Constitution/ Statehood were the only things that could prohibit slavery
● Lincoln - Political Profile
○ Traditional Whig (Federalist tradition)
○ Belief in capitalist enterprise
○ slaves/freedmen: equal opportunities, not political rights
Caning of Senator Sumner (1856)
Terms, People, Concepts
● Manifest Destiny ● John Brown
● James K. Polk ● Harper’s Ferry
● Compromise of 1850 ● The Caning of Senator Sumner
● Wilmot Proviso ● Lincoln-Douglas Debates
● Free Soilers ● Election of 1860
● Know Nothings/Nativism ● Popular Sovereignty
● Dred Scott decision ● Mexican-American War
● Stephen Douglas ● Bear Flag Republic
● Kansas-Nebraska Act ● Lone Star Republic
● “Bleeding Kansas” ● Abraham Lincoln
● Harriet Beecher Stowe ● Fire-Eaters
● Uncle Tom’s Cabin
● Roger Taney
