By 1850, relations between the North and South were seriously damaged by the gaining of territories from Mexico. (25)
4 views 0 purchase
Course
American Civil War
Institution
AQA
A Level History Essay on the 1850 relationship between the North and South, with a focus on the gaining of the Mexican territories, the Wilmot Proviso, and the Compromise of 1850. Marked by a teacher and awarded 18/25 (grade A).
By 1850, relations between the North and South were
seriously damaged by the gaining of territories from Mexico.
(25)
Territories were gained from Mexico as a result of the Mexican War
of 1844, triggered by the killing of several American men in Texas.
There are many different factors as to why the relations between the
North and South grew increasingly damaged, such as the large
cultural and economic differences, and events such as the
Nullification Crisis. However, the gaining of territories did not
seriously damage the relations between the North and the South by
1850, due to the fact there was a compromise in 1850, showing the
damage was not 'serious' as there was a possibility of it being fixed,
and the poor sectional relations was down to the issue of slavery.
Without this, it is highly unlikely there would have been damage as
a result over the gaining of Mexican territory, which just drew
attention to the deeper foundational issues of slavery.
Upon taking office in 1844, Polk began preparing talks with Britain.
By accepting less of Oregon, Polk and the nation could prepare for
the coming war with Mexico. The war was started with Mexico in
order to seize California, end the debate for Texas, and win all the
western land in between. While the public's fear of foreign
involvement in North America may have agreed with Polk's agenda,
the war he fought against Mexico, that began in May 1846, sparked
widespread criticism. Although Congress passed a war resolution by
overwhelming margins in both the House and Senate, adverse
reaction to Polk's war message was quickly expressed, and many
Whigs deemed the conflict "Mr.Polk's War." In addition to the attacks
on Polk by politicians and members of the press, anti-war
sentiments were being expressed by the American Peace Society
and the American Anti-Slavery Society, which therefore suggests
that the war itself caused tension, but the tension seemed to arise
hood between political parties, rather than the North/South divide,
and there is no evidence of serious damage. While the war was the
trigger, the long-term damage came about as a result of the
consequences of winning the war, because of the discrepancies in
what to do with the gained territory.
After the war, Democrat Representative David Wilmot brought up
the question of slavery in the newly gained territories. He proposed
to ban slavery, which was passed in the House of Representatives
but not in the Senate. Wilmot opposed southern control of the
Democratic party whilst northern democrats worried the question of
slavery would drive anti-slavery voters to the Whigs. Few
Southerners expected slavery to take hold because the climate was
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through credit card or Stuvia-credit for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying these notes from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller freyamay32. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for $7.11. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.
