Growing Divisions and Westward Expansion: Nullification Crisis, War with Mexico, and the Compromise of 1850

1. SSUSH8 The student will explain the relationship between growing north-south divisions and westward expansion. c. Describe the Nullification Crisis and the emergence of states’ rights ideology; include the role of John C. Calhoun and development of sectionalism. d. Describe the war with Mexico and the Wilmot Proviso. e. Explain the Compromise of 1850.

2. In the early 1800s South Carolina’s economy began to weaken in part due to high government tariffs, or taxes, on imports. In 1828, Congress passed another tariff on goods manufactured in Europe, which many called the “Tariff of Abominations”. Received support from Northern states, where it served to increase the sale of goods in the U.S. Why would tariffs hurt Southern states like South Carolina more than Northern States? No support from Southern states because cotton was sent overseas in trade for manufactured items, thus saw the legislation as a threat to their economies. Nullification Crisis

3. Nullification Crisis • The high tariffs were put in place during the John Quincy Adams administration, and many hoped with Andrew Jackson’s presidency, the tariffs would be significantly reduced. South Carolina threatened to secede from the U.S. over the high tariffs

4. Nullification Crisis • Vice-President John C. Calhoun, from South Carolina, argued that the states had the right to nullify, or cancel, the federal legislation since it was not in their best interest. • He declared that states had this power of nullification because the states had created the federal government • Calhoun’s opinion took a different position from President Jackson who was not in favor of nullification.

5. John C. Calhoun • Served as Vice President under both John Quincy Adams & Andrew Jackson. • First VP born as a U.S. citizen • First VP to resign from office • In favor of slavery, states’ rights, limited government, & nullification.

6. Nullification Crisis • In 1832, Congress passed yet another tariff law • In November 1832, South Carolina declared the tariffs of 1828 and 1832 null, and refused to pay the federal government’s taxes on imports • In 1832, South Carolina passed the Ordinance of Nullification – this asserted the state’s right over federal tariff legislation & justified secession from the Union • It turned to a crisis – could South Carolina declare federal legislation illegal within its borders? (Who had more power, the federal government or the states?)

7. Nullification Crisis • President Andrew Jackson ordered a warship to Charleston, viewing the nullification as a treasonous act. • South Carolina followed & took actions for military force to be used. • On July 14, 1832, To ease tensions, after Calhoun had resigned his office (first VP to resign from office),President Andrew Jackson & Congress passed a bill that gradually lowered tariffs. • South Carolina repealed its Nullification Ordinance (of tariffs) and the issue was temporarily solved on March 11, 1833. How was the Nullification Crisis an example of sectionalism?

8. Expansion in Texas • Mexico had a large area of unsettled and uncontrolled land near the US-Mexico border • Mexican government invited American families to settle this area • 2 conditions: • Must adopt Roman Catholicism • Must try to sell crops and other goods in Mexico before exporting to foreign countries

9. Texas Fights for Independence • Thousands of Americans flooded the territory • Refused to adopt Mexican customs and beliefs • 1835: American settlers revolted against Mexican dictator, General Santa Anna • 1836: Mexicans surrendered, but attacked 2 months later at the Battle of the Alamo • All 187 U.S. defenders died, including Davy Crockett • “Remember the Alamo!” • Texans then captured Santa Ana & declared independence

10. My trip to San Antonio & the Alamo over fall break!

11. War With Mexico • James Polk becomes President in 1845, promising to annex Texas, and Oregon. • 1845: Texas and Congress approved annexation of Texas to the Union—28th state • This upset Mexicans (it was their land!); they ended all relations with US • Polk ordered the army into the disputed area where Mexican troops opened fire on the Americans • Polk then declared war on Mexico, claiming they were the aggressors

12. War With Mexico • The American army is ordered into Mexico, and out to California • Before the troops can reach California, a group of American settlers revolt and take the area naming it the Bear Flag Republic • In 1847, the U.S. Army enters Mexico City causing the Mexicans to surrender and ending the war

13. War With Mexico • The Mexican-American War lasted from 1846-1848 • Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo ended the war, giving the U.S. a vast amount of land in the Southwest • The U.S. now stretched from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean Why would this treaty cause problems with the Slavery issue?

14. Wilmot Proviso • In 1846, Senator David Wilmot proposed the Wilmot Proviso: • any territory gained from Mexico would not be allowed to have slaves • The proposal divided politicians: it upset pro-slavery Southerners, and though it passed in the House, the Senate refused to vote on it. • The Wilmot Proviso continued the north-south divisions over slavery resulting in increased sectionalism. • This debate leads to the formation of the Republican Party in 1854 • They wanted the federal government to ban slavery from new territories

15. Wilmot Proviso  Compromise of 1850 • To counter the Wilmot Proviso and to ease tension, a proposal was made to allow the new territories/states to decide for themselves on the slavery issue, an idea called popular sovereignty • This would abandon the MO Compromise of 1820 • California applied for statehood in 1849, threatening to break the balance of free and slave states • Henry Clay proposed a resolution which became known as the Compromise of 1850

16. Compromise of 1850 • Though the Compromise initially had little support, it was passed, by dividing it into smaller bills, allowing Congress to vote on each issue separately easing the tension, for the time being, over slavery.

17. Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 • Part of the Compromise of 1850 • Expansion of the Fugitive Slave Act of 1793 • 1850 Act made it a crime, punishable by a $1000 fine, to aid an enslaved runaway. • Citizens were required to assist in capturing runaway enslaved people, even if the runaways had made their way to a free state.

18. Practice Questions • Southern states believed they had the right to self-govern to protect their • A) economic interests • B) voting rights in Congress • C) right to freedom of speech • D) trade relations within the United States

19. Practice Questions • Disagreement over which political policy fueled the Nullification Crisis? • A) tariffs • B) states’ rights • C) slavery • D) voting rights

20. Practice Questions • The Compromise of 1850 conflicted with the Missouri Compromise because • A) it restricted slavery to states below the Mason-Dixon line. • B) it assured that Congress would maintain a balance of free and slave states • C) it allowed states to determine their slave status • D) it called for an end to slavery by the beginning of the 20th century.

21. Practice Questions • What was the outcome of the Mexican-American War? • A) Texas became a separate nation • B) Mexico gained its independence from Spain • C) The U.S. annexed 500,000 square miles of territory • D) Americans began moving past the Louisiana territory