How Did Slavery Play In The Annexation Of Texas Dbq

Contradicting William jay 's slavery as a reason for the war, John D. P. Fuller proposes in his The Slavery Question and the Movement to Acquire Mexico, 1846-1848 that toward the start of the Mexican War, the common conviction was that domain procured from Mexico would enter the union with slavery, yet after sectional controversies had erupted, most Southerners turned out contrary to obtaining of new region. Although many of the people who supported the annexation of texas were slaveholders, they were not primarily motivated by the establishment of slavery in a new state rather it was for manifest destiny since also these southerners were from the southwest. The annexation raced many debates and conflicts and as Fuller said it was not

"Manifest destiny" enlightened Americans to their right of land. It was the explanation for the war that the Mexicans could not control their extra land, so it was the right of the Americans to control it for them. When Stephen Austin and his settlers settled in Texas, it showed that the Mexican Government could not handle the extra territory. In order to get even with Mexico after the Alamo war was a necessity. Polk tried time and time again to negotiate peace but his vision of a better America and respected stubbornness allowed him to keep his mind set for the interest of the American people.

Also the Native Americans had a violent encounter with Manifest Destiny. 2.) Why did the young Whig Abraham Lincoln oppose the annexation of Texas? Lincoln opposed the annexation of Texas because he viewed territorial expansion as a threat to American’s future.

CH 18 notes • The Mexican American war ended making Mexicans give up texas, California, and all the areas inbetween. The antislaveryites liked the Wilmot proviso because it prohibiterd slavery in any territory gained from the Mexican American war, but southern senators didn’t use the proviso. The debate of slavery in the Mexican territories caused problems between whigs and democrats along the north and south sectional lines. Popular sovereignty panacea • General Lewis Cass took over from President Polk and created popular sovereignty that appealed to the public because it was a compromise between free soilers who wanted to ban slavery and the territories who wanted to keep it. Popular sovereignty could spread the blight of slavery.

The Mexican-American War was an important turning point for the institution of slavery in the U.S. due to the acquiring of the states such as California, New Mexico, and the recognition of Texas’s annexation. With the new land acquired many disputes rose up on whether the states should be slave states or not, due to the good land and weather conditions in California and New Mexico perfect for farming (Doc.1). Manifest Destiny seemed like it was the most important for the south because of the better land but many Northern Democrats believed that slavery could not further expand (Doc.1) The Mexican-American war was a complete victory for the United States but the states gained became free states out numbering the number of the Southern slave

Americans had implemented on an idea published in a newspaper by John O’Sullivan in which he wrote, ‘Our manifest destiny to overspread the continent allotted by Providence for free development of our yearly multiplying millions. ’(OM 369) He insisted to the American people that God had given them the right to spread democratic ways by expanding westward. This meant that they were on a calling to convert other nations to American ways, even if it meant by force. The Whigs (South) feared that if “Manifest Destiny” carried on, it encouraged the multiplication of slavery.

Following the Mexican-American War, America had gained the Utah and New Mexico territories as well as California from the Bear Flag Revolt. The onset of Manifest Destiny occurred faster than ever before, with territories vying to become full US states. Northerners fought to stop the expansion of slavery, whereas Southerners argued for the opposite. Over the 20 years since Clay’s last compromise, sectional divisions grew worse than ever before seen in the country. Still not having decided his opinion on the issue of slavery, Clay saw how important it was to compromise.

“The Southern states had regular votes against legislation because they foresaw the law that would hasten the settlement of western territory”.Says the article (History.com) This shows that The territory was bought but people wanted farmers and Freemen to move West. “Indeed, the vision of independent yeomen establishing homesteads on the prairies was offered in the political rhetoric of the 1850s as a vivid contrast to the degradation of slave labor on the southern plantations”. Says the article (History.com) Also showing how many farmers and Free men had a right to move West and have power. As it can be seen, providing the opportunity for individuals that ultimately open up the

This gives the congress and senate an equal vote on the issue. Equal amount of people who are for slaves, and an equal amount for those who are not. When Texas was annexed the Mexicans brought slaves into Texas. The American government agreed that Texas would be a slavery free state. You can’t really tell in Mexico was doing this to annoy America, or if they didn’t know it was not allowed.

In the 1840’s the Americans had a belief which was they could spread their land and culture across what was know as mexican territory. The culture before was America only consisting of only The United States, and The Louisiana purchase. The Americans needed a land where they could have fertilized soil to grow their crops. The Americans said “we want to expand our way of living.” Which meant that the only way to get the land was to share it or capture it.

Simply, an end to slavery, in the Texan’s eyes would let inferior people’s into the competition, ruin the southern economy, and waste all of the southerner’s investment in slavery, so preservation of slavery was the primary cause that Texans fought in the Civil

During this time Manifest Destiny was commonly referred to as Continentalism although the United States looked to expand west rather north into Canada. During the 1840’s the United States found itself in conflict with the British and the Mexicans over occupation of the Oregon and Texas territories, respectively. The conflict with the British would end peacefully, with a divide of the Oregon territory along the forty-ninth parralel. This was beneficial to the United States who already knew they were going to war with Mexico over their annexation of the Texas territory. During this war with Mexico the United States would see a great deal of success which would lead to many Americans, primarily politicians, promoting the idea of annexing all of Mexico rather than just the portion known as Texas.

Before Texas was annexed as the twenty – eighth slave state to join the Union , many people in Northern states feared that if Texas was to be annexed , the slave states would take over the Congress. The Southern states in the other hand wanted Texas to be part of Confederate because the more slave states , the better economy they will have. The Election of 1844 won by James K. Polk approved annexation of Texas. The U.S. Congress then passes a joint resolution for Texas to join the United States. On December 29 , 1845 Texas was finally annexed as a 28th state .

The annexation of Texas was a contentious issue in the United States. According to the reading, the critics argued about the consequences of annexing Texas would be "the wealth and cares brought by expansion" would make the US government certain to die. Moreover, others assumed that "expansions was a scheme by southern slave owners to add new slave states and thus increase their power" (p134). On the other hand, the opponents such as Walker mentioned the threatened consequences of not annexing Texas such as abolishing slavery problems, "the country would face economic depression, civil war, and dismemberments; and America's most powerful enemy would be handed a potent weapon with which to menace the nation's security ... should annexation

In retrospect, the history of the antebellum America is quite fascinating. During this period, the young republic faced several challenges. One of the most serious ones was the slavery issue. Reading the related materials, people might understand that the Founding Fathers had actually pondered about the solution to the issue; however, they did not pursue it because they foresaw possible turmoil in American politics. Unfortunately, the issue kept simmering until it reached the boiling point which resulted in the disastrous Civil War.