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
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
