1. How did the Mexican War effect
the sectional interests of:
•New Englanders
•Westerners
•Southerners
Kara Schoch, Ashley Spraggins, Jill Mullen

2. Early Texas Timeline
1821: Mexican Independence from Spain
1823: 300 American families enter Texas
• Americans bought cheap land from Mexicans b/c Texas
was bad land
• Americans were required to convert to Christianity
• No Slavery
1831-1844: “Gag Rule” in Congress
1835: Americans in Texas declare independence

3. Beginning of Mexican War
• Mexican-American War (1846-1848)
• US annexes Mexican-owned Texas in 1845
• Polk offered $30 million for New Mexico &
California
• When Mexico refused offer, US instigated
war to further Manifest Destiny
• Declaration of War in 1946

4. Mexican-American War Gains
US won easily and
Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
gave US:
•New Mexico
•California
•Nevada
•Arizona
•Utah
Finally achieves
Polk’s goal to reach
the Pacific coast

5. Thesis
The western land gained in the outcome of
the Mexican War separate the North,
South, and West, over disputes of slavery.

6. Dispute over Slavery
The addition of these lands unbalanced the
slavery/non-slavery states
• New Englanders wanted non-slave states
• Southerners wanted more slave states
• Westerners
Needed a solution

7. Proposals
Daniel Webster
• 7th of March speech: Northerners give in
William Seward
• Disregard Constitution/ Look to God for solution
Henry Clay
• 1850 Compromise
John Calhoun
• Have North and South President

8. Sectional Struggle
North
• Anti-Slavery Whigs had Zachary Taylor
and Free Soil Party
South
• Wanted strict penalty & Fugitive Slave
Law
West
• Wanted a free California

9. 1850 Compromise
• California is Free
• Fugitive Slave Act: Northerners cannot
help slaves escape
• No slave trade in DC
• Slavery still allowed in DC
• Popular Sovereignty to vote for territories

10. 1850 Compromise
• California is Free
• Fugitive Slave Act: Northerners cannot
help slaves escape
• No slave trade in DC
• Slavery still allowed in DC
• Popular Sovereignty to vote for territories