Chapter 13. While sectional tensions were rising during the 1840s, a place where most Americans could agree was on the idea of Expansionism- That God

Chapter 13

A House Divided 1840-1861

While sectional tensions were rising during the 1840s, a place where most Americans could agree was on the idea of Expansionism- That God had chosen America to control the Western Hemisphere . Really started with Indian removal- that focused the drive west. Our size and growth (pop doubles every 20 years) seemed to make it obvious- and this was one area Whigs and Democrats alike could support.

John O’Sullivan coined phrase “manifest destiny”. Frederick Jackson Turner Wrote The Significance of the Frontier in American History (1893). Said the west is what forged America’s character- we were forged by conquering the continent.

Yet expansion only exacerbated the tensions, as new territory gained became yet another place to argue over- esp in regards to expansion (or not) of slavery

The Fruits of Manifest Destiny

Panic of 1837 sent a lot of people west of the Mississippi, and that was a new thing- up till that time it had been mostly trappers.

1840-45 5000 people move to Oregon ( “Oregon Fever” Willamette Valley), by 1860 300,000 people have moved over the Rockies to OR and CA

At the time, Oregon was claimed by both US and Eng (we said it was Louisiana Purchase, they say it’s Canada)

Adams – Onis Treaty says we Share

Continental Expansion

The Mexican Frontier: New Mexico and CaliforniaMexico won independence

in 1821- and controlled huge territory -6.5 m people but not many in “New Mexico” (30,000 Sp 10,000 In) or California (3,200 Sp – land grants, and 170,000 In)

Santa Fe trail and Pacific trade linked NM and CA with US

In 1821- the new gov’t of Mexico sold a large land grant (18,000 acres)to Stephen Austin. By 1830, Austin had organized and sold that land to 7,000 people

By 1835 there were 27,000 American settlers- who had come to TX with about 3000 slaves to farm cotton.

Mexico was worried so many people were coming- and that they were protestant Americans with no thought of changing culture- Austin wanted autonomy, and eventually independence.

Issue got stickier when Mexico abolished slavery- and Texans had no intention of complying.

The Texas Revolt

The AlamoPres. Of Mexico sends General Antonio Lopez de Santa

Anna to force Texans to follow the law. Lay siege to the ALAMO (a mission in San Antonio) March 6 1836, Santa Anna attacks and kills 187 Texans (including Davie Crocket and Jim Bowie) “Remember the Alamo” become the Texan’s war cry.

March 2nd Texas had declared itself and independent nation- and April 21 Sam Houston led Texans to victory at Battle of San Jacinto where Santa Anna was taken prisoner and forced to recognize Texan Independence. When he got home- Santa Anna (and Mexico) repudiated the treaty

Issue tricky for US- the Texans were Americans, but support could bring war with Mexico. Furthermore, if Texas joined US, it would be a slave state. By 1845 there are 150,000 in TX

Election of 1844 John Tyler had taken presidency in 1841 Wm H Harrison died.

Tyler was a strange Whig president- they decline to run him in 1844

But main issue of the 1840s is expansion- which makes presidential campaign far more about foreign policy than domestic

An expression of Manifest Destiny- Texas and Oregon were the central issues in the campaign. (would enter union with balance of slave/free)

Henry Clay Whig candidate (again, this is his 4th attempt!)– waffles on Texas (costs him presidency, as does abolition party)

Martin Van Buren expected democratic candidate, but couldn’t muster support- so Democrats nominate “dark horse” candidate James k Polk. (a protégé of Jackson’s- some historians call him the only other Jacksonian Democrat. “Young Hickory”)

Polk wins 170-105- seen as a mandate for annexation…but Tyler steals Polk’s thunder by annexing before he left office

Presidential Rankings: C-Span Survey, 2009

1. Abraham Lincoln2. Franklin Roosevelt3. George Washington4. Theodore Roosevelt5. Harry Truman6. John Kennedy7. Thomas Jefferson8. Dwight Eisenhower9. Woodrow Wilson10. Ronald Reagan11. Lyndon Johnson12. James Polk13. Andrew Jackson14. James Monroe

15. Bill Clinton16. William McKinley17. John Adams18. George H.W. Bush19. John Quincy Adams20. James Madison21. Grover Cleveland22. Gerald Ford23. Ulysses Grant24. William Taft25. Jimmy Carter26. Calvin Coolidge27. Richard Nixon28. James Garfield

29. Zachary Taylor

30. Benjamin Harrison

31. Martin Van Buren

32. Chester Arthur

33. Rutherford Hayes

34. Herbert Hoover

35. John Tyler

36. George W. Bush

37. Millard Fillmore

38. Warren Harding

39. William Harrison

40. Franklin Pierce

41. Andrew Johnson

42. James Buchanan

The Road to WarPolk was virtually unknown before elected, but came with a clear

platform of things he wanted to do. - all of which he achieved in less than 4 years…Lower Tariff from 32%-25% (Walker Tariff- which still makes good $$

b/c it happens to be a boom cycle economically)Restore independent treasury system – 1846Settle Oregon Dispute - One of the campaign slogans had been “54’40 or

fight”- but with Texas joining the union in 1845- keeping balance was more important, so compromise in Oregon became attractive. Settled along 49th parallel. Polk Knew treaty would be unpopular- so he didn’t spearhead it himself, passed it to Senate for negotiation

Acquire California – this one is going to get tricky- Mexico does not want to sell…..

Mexico did not appreciate US annexation (They cut dip. relations)

Boundary dispute: US says Texas territory goes to Rio Grande, Mexico says it stops at Nueces river. Polk

wants to negotiate boundary- and try to buy CA for $30 million- Mexican officials won’t even meet- and Mexican army attacks US troops patrolling disputed area. (btw- Polk sent army there to provoke attack)

Polk asks congress for Dec. of War- controversial. Whigs not sure about land claims…North fears this is to expand slavery

Majority of Americans are fans, but the North is worried, not just b/c of slavery, but b/c we are pushing Mexico around to get what we want (Thoreau goes to jail) I mean, it’s not like we aren’t going to win…. Not something that gets a lot of press here in US, but Mexico still strongly resents

Ulysses S Grant, and Robert E Lee (both of whom served in war) said it was an embarrassment. Training ground for civil war- many officers (from both sides) get their military experience here. Not bad in terms of casualties- only 13,000 Americans die, most of those from disease- so we decide fighting isn’t all that hard

Abraham Lincoln (Congressman at time) challenged Polk’s declaration, and it made him unpopular at home

The War and It’s Critics

1st time we have fought (in a big way) on “Foreign” soil changes the game. Multi pronged attack:

California: wants to be a part of US, declares themselves independent of Mexico (Bear Flag Republic) Capt John C Fremont and Stephen Kearny arrive with US army to defend against Mexican forces (took New Mexico for good measure

Mexico: Largest amount of fighting took place. Feb 1847 Zachary Taylor (becomes overnight hero) defeats Santa Anna at Battle of Buena Vista, but Mex. Gov’t still won’t negotiate…so Polk sends army to take Mexico city…suddenly they are willing to talk.

Combat in Mexico

Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo 1848Mexico recognized annexation of

Texas (to Rio Grande), and Ceded territory to US based on successes of Fremont, Kearny, and Taylor.

US agreed to pay $15 compensation for land

So….if we want it, we should have it. Many Americans (esp Southerners) wanted to take all of Mexico. Eventually decide there are too many Mexicans there….

We got half a million square miles of land, and about 100,000 Spanish, and 150,000 more Native Americans.

Treaty guaranteed “male citizens the free enjoyment of their liberty and property, and all the rights of Americans” – but we really only meant large landowners of European descent. “Spanish” Mexicans (generally defined by wealth and social position) were invited to be a part of society, those who were “too Mexican” were not –and that was a lot of people. New Mexico did not become a state until 1912.

Dark side of manifest destiny is that the “destiny” (like so many other things) only applies to white men –we are convinced this is evidence of the superiority of the Anglo Saxon Race (defined by being NOT black, Indian, Hispanic, or Catholic)

Race is more than skin color, it also involved culture, national origin, class, and religion. In Mexican Cession- only whites could purchase land – and free blacks can’t even live there.

Race and Manifest DestinyRedefining Race

California has a white population of 15,000 when war ended. January 1848 Gold found at Sutter’s Mill (outside Sacramento)- when

news got out people began to flood to area, and by end of year over $6 million in gold had been discovered in various areas in California.

In 1849 over 100,000 people came (either overland or by sea) to try their luck. By 1852, there are 360,000 people there. Including our 1st real wave of Asian Immigration – 25,000 Chinese (who had been leased as contract workers)

Most don’t find gold. Some leave- but businesses serving the “49ers” made excellent profits - like Levi Strauss- who made durable work pants for miners.

Women ran boarding houses and restaurants, ran laundries, and brothels- but they were scare. Men outnumbered women 3/1

Gold Rush California

“Gold Fever” created chaos and lawlessness – and attacks against “outsiders”: Mexicans, Chileans, Chinese, French, Indians carried out by “committees of vigilance”.

To get things under control (they need federal support)- California drafted a constitution, and applied to congress for statehood (bypassing territorial phase). Constitution did not include slavery, which upset South (we’ll come back to this)

As usual, things don’t go well for Native Americans. Population dropped from 150,000 to 30,000 by 1860. Indian children could be declared orphans or vagrants and be bought and sold as laborers.

Gold discovered in Australia in 1851. During the 1850s, California and Australia produced 80% of world gold supply (really helped Eng and US in terms of gold reserves and capitalism)

Aborigines did not fair well, nor did Chinese who came to mine

California and the Boundaries of FreedomThe Other Gold Rush

Before 1850 we didn’t deal all that much with Asia- kind of a pain to get there… but California and Oregon created US states on a new ocean- facing an new continent on the other side.

Japanese had been isolationist since 1500s- allowed Dutch 1 ship a year- no trade for anyone else.

1853 US sent Commodore Matthew Perry (brother of Oliver Perry from 1812) to open trade with Japan- which he does at gunpoint

Successful- sparks Meiji restoration and industrialization of Japan- turning them into the superpower of the Pacific- and they don’t forget who forced them to change

Opening Japan

A Dose of ArsenicMexican Cession (which,

including Texas, is even bigger than Louisiana Purchase) will eventually create: California, Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada, Utah - and bits of Colorado and Wyoming. But what will happen in territory (slave/free) is tearing at Fragile bonds

Splits are happening all over- the Methodist and Baptist churches split in Northern and Southern denominations, and the two party system is crumbling

1846 David Wilmot (Congressman from PA) proposed that no slavery be allowed in the Mexican CessionPassed in House -where majority of congressmen are from

North, that’s where the population is- but couldn’t pass senate- where states are even (and VP is southern)

Southerners are incredibly resentful- John C Calhoun says you can’t tell settlers where they can take their property…Abolitionists are excited, and tensions are mounting…parties are dividing along sectional (rather than ideological) lines

From this point on – Slavery is attached to EVERY issue- it’s becoming the elephant in the room

The Wilmot Proviso

Election of 1848 and Popular SovereigntyJames K Polk had run in 1844 with a one

term pledge, which he kept. Whigs run Zachary Taylor- hero of Mex. War,

and Louisiana slaveholder (though he declared himself neutral on slave issue)

Democrats ran Lewis Cass: expansionist, vague on slavery, who dealt with situation

in a clever way by declaring policy of “Popular Sovereignty” … the people who

live in the territory should vote and decide slave or free. Resonated as a possible way out of sticky messes.

Free Soil PartyBoth the Democrats and Whigs seem to be leaving the door

open for slavery in territories- and there are a growing number of people who don’t agree.

Free Soil a 3rd party sectional coalition of Northern Whigs and Democrats opposed to expansion of slavery. Nominated Martin Van Buren as President (with Charles Adams, grandson of John as running mate)

Rest of platform was internal improvements, and free land for settlement in the west.

Foreshadowed Republicans, who will come 6 years later

Zachary Taylor wins, but Free Soil has respectable total (300,000 votes- though won not state for electoral) which shows increase of sectionalism




29. Zachary Taylor



32. Chester Arthur


34. Herbert Hoover

35. John Tyler

36. George W. Bush


38. Warren Harding


40. Franklin Pierce

41. Andrew Johnson

42. James Buchanan

Admission of CA causing an uproar (no slave state available for balance) Henry Clay “the great compromiser” puts together one more deal The Compromise of 1850

California enters as free stateTexas (slave) boundary with New Mexico (will

be free) set to give Texas advantage in landSlave trade (not slavery) will be abolished in

Washington DCA new – tougher- Fugitive Slave law will be

enactedRest of Mex. Cession will use popular

sovereignty.

Crisis and Compromise

Famous Debate between Henry Clay/Stephen Douglas vs John C Calhoun (dying of TB). Daniel Webster (also dying) stepped in and helped swing North to accept the Compromise. Then Zachary Taylor died unexpectedly of an intestinal infection in 1850 (what is it with Whig Presidents?) Millard Fillmore new President, and he wants compromise

Stephen Douglas cleverly introduces sections one at a time- realizing they are more likely to pass that way. (works)

North gets the better side of the deal – CA as free state gives them the majority in Senate. Halt of slave trade in DC a big concession from gov’t that slavery is a problem.

Fugitive Slave law is the only the really designed to make south happy- and it backfires in that if offends many people- and swells the numbers of abolitionists.

Again, if South had left in 1850- they would have had a much better chance of winning. North got 10 more years to expand economically and gain support for union cause (it is southern actions in Kansas etc… that really fire them up)

The Great Debate

Required citizens to assist in recovery of slaves (you could be tried as accessory if you did not). Denied blacks right to trial by jury or to testify in their own defense.

Made both sides angry- North b/c they were forced to agree to it (though not many followed it) and South b/c they knew North was avoiding, and therefore deliberately flouting the law)

Fugitive Slave Act

Becoming very difficult to find a “national” candidate- if they have any views they are probably controversial- so Whigs and Democrats split along sectional lines.

Whigs had never been really strong anyway- fell apart with death of Henry Clay and Daniel Webster

Democrats in equally bad shape- firmly split N/S1852 Whigs ran General Winfield Scott (another Mex. War general- the

only times they have won have been with generals)Democrats argued over who to run – in the end chose Franklin Pierce who

spent a lot of time talking about maintaining the rights of all sections- and supporting the compromise of 1850, including fugitive slave law

Pierce SPANKS Scott 254-42

Douglas and Popular Sovereignty




29. Zachary Taylor



32. Chester Arthur


34. Herbert Hoover

35. John Tyler

36. George W. Bush


38. Warren Harding


40. Franklin Pierce

41. Andrew Johnson

42. James Buchanan

Most important short term cause of the Civil War1854 IL senator Stephen Douglas proposed a bill to create “Kansas”

and “Nebraska” out of Louisiana Purchase territory- (he wants to see transcontinental RR take a more northern route, and start in his home state of IL) and that the status of slavery in those territories should be determined by popular sovereignty.

Problem is that the territory is above Missouri Compromise line- if this works it is a repeal of the Missouri Compromise. South is thrilled…North is freaking out.

Kansas Nebraska Act passes - but at a terrible cost. Missouri Comp and Comp of 1850 are dead, and political parties dissolve. Whigs shatter entirely, Democrats split North/South

Kansas Nebraska Act and New Parties

The Republicans came not only from sectional tension, but economic (market revolution) and social (immigration) changes to the nation as a whole

RR are now connecting the country, from 5,000 mi in 1848, there were 30,000 miles in 1860 (most in North) In 1850 farmers still tended to ship crops down Mississippi, by 1860 it was almost entirely RR. While most people live in towns rather than cities, large cities are developing rapidly

North and West were creating a complex integrated economy- and the Republicans tied into that

The Northern Economy

“Know Nothing”, or “American” Party- also formed at this time. Nativist, angry about the large #s of German and Irish immigrants who had been arriving since 1840s. Wanted to prohibit further immigration and create literacy and citizenship tests for voting

Had a lot of success at the local (mayor) and even state (gov) level

And yet, despite SEVERE discrimination, it is remarkable how few immigrants were truly disenfranchised.

The Rise and Fall of the Know Nothings

Republicans are Born from the remnants of the Whigs, the Free Soil Party, and those who oppose the Kansas Nebraska act in general. Not allowed to exist in the South.

Item #1- no further expansion of slavery in the territories (notice not fully abolitionist yet) said the strength of the nation lay in her “Free Labor”, and that the defining quality of the North (vs South) was the opportunity to rise.

Quickly becomes the 2nd national party (held majority of northern Congressional seats in 1854)

The Free Labor Ideology

Douglas had figured that Kansas would be slave, and Nebraska free But if we are using popular sovereignty, the trick is to have your

group (slave or free soil) be in the majority.New England Emigrant Aid- helped 2000 move to Kansas

1855 election held for 1st Kansas legislature- Missourians poured over border to stack the vote. But free soilers repudiate and set up their own gov’t- which was attacked by proslavery groups in 1856

Overall- more than 200 dead in fighting that goes from 1856 to start of civil war

Bleeding Kansas and the Election of 1856

Pottawatomie Massacre

The craziest abolitionist of them all was John Brown (originally from Hudson OH) He felt slave holders weren’t going to change- they needed to be wiped out- it was God’s work.

May 24-25th 1856 He and his sons attacked and killed (with hatchets) a group of 5 men in retaliation for the attack on Free soil Lawrence Kansas

Brown escaped authorities- was seen as a hero to some, a demon to others

Brooks SumnerCharles Sumner- an abolitionist Senator from Massachusetts- gave a

speech in which he denounced the “crimes committed in Kansas”, condemned south and southerners as a whole, which didn’t amuse the southern senators.

Preston Brooks – congressman from South Carolina, gets up and begins beating him on the head with his metal toped cane- nearly killing Sumner (he was never quite right again)

Brooks resigned, but was overwhelmingly re-elected- South saw him as a hero

(sent him dozens of canes)

Dissolution/creation of national parties created a re-alignment of voters.Republicans: their slogan, “free soil, free labor, free men”, obviously

designed for north- but also to appeal to many social classes. Nominate John C Freemont (another Mexican war hero) emphatically against expansion of slavery

Democrats: developing two wings, north and south. Recent events had made moderates in the South more radical. Northern Democrats support the idea of popular sovereignty, just keep ticking along. Nominate James Buchanan of PA, had been sec of state under Polk.

Buchanan wins 174-114Democrats largerSoutherners threaten to secede if Fremont elected People feared change….Buchanan is promising to not make changes…..

Election of 1856




29. Zachary Taylor



32. Chester Arthur


34. Herbert Hoover

35. John Tyler

36. George W. Bush


38. Warren Harding


40. Franklin Pierce

41. Andrew Johnson

42. James Buchanan

Emergence of LincolnJames Buchannan

The worst president on the list for the same reason he was elected, he did nothing to stop the Armageddon that was coming

Makes no one happy; he doesn’t like slavery, (alienates south) but refuses to act (alienates abolitionists) and does nothing to stand up to those causing issues, like when supporters of slavery in Kansas use blatant fraud to create their constitution (alienates north)

But the final nail is that when the south does decide to secede he does….nothing (felt he had no legal right) a firm hand MIGHT have prevented bloodshed

Dred Scott1857, two days after Buchanan took office, the

Supreme Court took the US a giant step closer to war.

Dred Scott was a slave, whose master moved (with him) to IL for 4 years, then they went back to Missouri. Backed by abolitionists, Scott sued for his freedom on the basis of having lived in free territory.

Chief Justice Roger Taney (Maryland slaveowner) published an inflammatory ruling:

Scott could not sue- he was not a citizen, and living in IL did not make him freeThe Missouri compromise is unconstitutional, an popular sovereignty is

unnecessary, b/c property is property, and no state or territory had the right to forbid slavery.

North decides that South is trying to impose their will on US, compromise is not possible, slavery will have to end for the argument to be over.

Perhaps the person LEAST effected is Scott himself- the abolitionists kept their promise, and he was emancipated. The reputation of the Court took a big hit. Republicans saw it as another part of the gov’t controlled by slaveowners.

LeCompton Constitution: Kansas applied for statehood in 1857. Using popular sovereignty, voters were allowed to vote for 2 version of state constitution, one with, and one without slavery. However, if the “no slave” section won, the rights of slaveholders already there would be protected, so Kansas would be a slave state no matter what.

Many “free soilers” refused to vote- so “slave” faction won, and Kansas petitioned for entryas a slave state. But it was so bogus that even the pop. Sov. Guys like Stephen Douglas don’t back it- Kansas denied entry.

The Decision’s Aftermath

Actually less economically intense than either 1819 or 1837, but more psychologically damaging, we were already on the edge.

Caused by too much gold from CA creating inflation, overproduction of grain, and land speculation.

Industrial north hardest hit- cotton econ not particularly damaged.

Become part of Republican platform:Demand for higher tariffs - passed during

warDemand for free farms (pioneers point out

they are risking their lives to develop land, it should be free) Homestead Act passed during the war.

Panic of 1857

Rise of Abraham LincolnOriginally a Whig, he was not well known

outside of Illinois before mid-1850s. A lawyer, state legislator, and had served one term in Congress.

Strong objection to Kansas Nebraska act brought him back into politics, as did his disagreement with Stephen Douglas about the idea of popular sovereignty- Lincoln says the gov’t needs to take a stand.

NOT an abolitionist, had no objections (until later) to Southern states keeping their slaves, but adamantly against the expansion of slavery

Lincoln challenged Douglas for his Senate seat in 1858. Famous for quote when nominated “A house divided against itself cannot stand. I believe the government of this nation cannot endure permanently half slave and half free”.

Challenged Douglas to a series of 7 famous debates that contrasted not only the two candidates ideology, but their overall approach. Douglas was a great traditional speaker, used lots of big words, passionate long winded appeals, and clever tricks to make his point. Lincoln much more down to earth, folksy, accessible.

Most famous given included Freeport Doctrine: Lincoln asked Douglas if he thought slavery COULD be made illegal after Dred Scott. Douglas said “sort of” they could exclude slavery by not accepting it.

Douglas wins narrow victory- but Lincoln gained national exposure

Lincoln Douglas CampaignDebates

After Kansas, John Brown decided what is needed is a literal war against slavery.

Raised $$ in North and Canada, Oct 16th 1859 then led a group of 21 on a raid of the federal arsenal in Harper’s Ferry Virginia, where he intended to steal guns/ammunition, which he intended to use to create a slave rebellion. (he wants to establish an independent black nation in the south)

7 federal employees killed in attack, 10 wounded- but Brown et al trapped inside, eventually surrendered to Virginia army captain Robert E Lee.

Brown tried/convicted of treason, Hanged on Dec 2nd . Became abolitionism martyr - “John Brown’s body lies a moldering in the grave, but his sole is marching on”. But though many in the north disparaged his acts as extreme, many southerners saw his act a representative of what they could expect if they stayed in the union

John Brown at Harper’s Ferry

Election of 1860When democrats met for nominating Southern delegates (fire

eaters) end up walking out – and party splits. Important b/c the Democrats had been the last piece of national unity.

Stephen Douglas nominated by Northern DemsSouthern Dems nominate John C Breckenridge- a kentucky

moderate (not disunionist)A new party jumps up in response to crisis, Constitutional Union

party (whigs & Know nothings), which nominates John Bell of TN as compromise candidate

Republicans nominate Abraham Lincoln – primarily b/c he hadn’t been around long enough to make enemies.

South warns, if Lincoln wins, they are out….

South wasn’t kidding about leaving…. They recognized that Lincoln not only meant an end to the expansion of slavery, but a shift in power to the north. (no more balance), and the way they see it, their entire way of life is at stake. Besides, they’re tired of being criticized etc…

December 1860 South Carolina votes (in state legislature) to secede, within 6 weeks, 6 more states: Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana and Texas, follow

Buchanan does nothing. Said Constitution gave him “no authority” on this matter (NOW we get a strict constructionist!) and favored “peaceful resolution of this unpleasant situation”.

On the other hand, if he had attacked immediately, more of the border states would have probably left, which would have changed the war

Secession of the Southern States

Confederate States of America

In February delegates meet in 1st capital of Montgomery Alabama (will later move to Richmond VA). Write a constitution- with firm protection of slavery, and guarantee of supremacy of state’s rights.

Jefferson Davis elected PresidentMany southerners felt secession would be unopposed- you go your way,

we’ll go ours. Figured north needed southern cotton too much, and if war came, all southern debts would be repudiated, which could crash northern econ.

Firmly believed they had the moral high ground- the original 13 states had made the union voluntarily, now some were leaving voluntarily- this is the social contract/natural rights all over again.

Crittenden Amendments

Last ditch attempt at compromise proposed by James Crittenden of KY. Proposed creating a constitutional amendment to extend Missouri compromise line to the Pacific which would include any new territory acquired (Like Cuba)Lincoln flatly rejected- says in his inaugural address he has no

problem with the idea of slavery (has to keep the border states!) but he would not allow states to leave the union, and would do ANYTHING necessary to get them back.

Documents

Chapter 13. While sectional tensions were rising during the 1840s, a place where most Americans could agree was on the idea of Expansionism- That God