Unit 8: Part 1: The Impending Crisis Flashcards
I. Looking Westward
A. Aspects of Manifest Destiny
B. Background Factors of Manifest Destiny
C. Reasons for Relocating
D. Traits of the Westward Migrants
E. Life on the Trail
F. Traits of the California Gold Rush
G. Results of the Gold Rush
A. Aspects of Manifest Destiny
- Reflected Pride of American Life
- Idealistics Vision of Social Perfection
- Altruistic: Extend America’s Liberty
- Racial Justification
- Spread a Political & Racially-defined society
- Opposition Centered on Spread of Slavery
B. Background Factors of Manifest Destiny
- Transportation Revolution
- Strengthened by Reform Spirit
- Communication Revolutions
C. Reasons for Relocating
- Quick Riches: Gold, Silver
- Cheap Land at Low Prices
- Merchants saw “built-in” markets
- Escape Noise, Disease of Eastern cities
D. Traits of the Westward Migrants
- Most came from Old Northwest
- Seeking Economic Opportunities
- Relatively young, prosperous
- Miners, Trappers, and Cowboys: Young, Single Men
- Farmers: Families
E. Life on the Trail
- Travled the great Overland trails
- Traveled in Wagon Trains led by hired guides
- Encountered Hardships
- Duration of Journey: 5-6 months
- High Mortality Rates
- Positive Relations with the Native American tribes
- Recreation of conventional American society
- Highly Collective Experience
F. Traits of the California Gold Rush
- Atmosphere charged with Greed, Excitement
- 49ers left jobs, homes, families
- Majority were men
- Mining Towns Rough, Violent
G. Results of the Gold Rush
- Labor Shortage in California
- Long-term Population Growth
- Increase in Cultural Diversity
- Annexation Pressure
- Increased Sectionalism: Spread of Slavery
IV. Increasing Sectionalism
A. Slavery and the Territories
B. The Compromise of 1850s: Henry Clay
C. Election of Franklin Pierce
D. Uneasy Truce: Opposition to the Fugitive Slave Act
E. The Railroad Issue Increases Sectionalism
A. Slavery and the Territories
- Wilmot Proviso
- Two Competing Plans for Expansion
a. Polk
b. Calhoun
- Wilmot Proviso
Prohibit Slavery in all territory acquired from Mexico
a. Polk
Extend Missouri Compromise Line thru to the Pacific
b. Calhoun
Adoption of Popular Sovereignty
B. The Compromise of 1850s: Henry Clay
- Admission of California as a free state
- No restriction on slavery in the rest of the land acquired from Mexico
- Abolition of Slave Trade (Not Slavery) in D.C
- More effective Fugitive Slave Law
C. Election of Franklin Pierce
- Election a Referendum on 1850s Compromise
- Democrats: Ignore slavery issue to maintain the union
- Pierce strongly Expansionist: sets stage for increasing controversy
- The Gadsden Purchase: (Southern Arizona and New Mexico)
a. Ended continental expansion of the U.S