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Period: to
2nd Great Awakening/ Rise of Abolitionism
The Second Great Awakening greatly impacted the influences of religious groups and churches. As well as this the growing Abolitionist Movement began to sweep the nation, mainly originating from Northern Churches and Politicians. This continued to lead to growing animosity between the Northern and the Southern states. -
Missouri Compromise
With tensions rising between Pro-Slavery and Anti-Slavery factions Congress needed to act soon to diminish the hatred and retain Union. Their efforts did succeed however and the Union was able to hold strong for thirty more years. -
Nullification Crisis
The nullification acts were states passing bills to ignore or nullify federal laws, first brought to light by Thomas Jefferson and James Madison who were vehemently against the Alien and Sedition Acts. This concept was used much by the South to protect slavery and it came to a heated boil in 1832 -
Gag Resolution
A rule imposed onto Congress that forbade the House from considering anti-slavery petitions. This angered many, not only on the topic of slavery, but on the Constitutions and the rights of a free man. John Adams fervently fought against this for years, finally getting it repealed in 1844. -
Election of 1844
A close election that was closely related with Manifest Destiny and the expansion Westward. This led to a thin line between the Unity of the two political parties and threatened the balance of slavery in the states. -
Annexation of Texas
After the annexation of Texas Mexico continued to attack the U.S. along the Rio Grande encouraging Polk to go to war. When Mexico ceded to the U.S. and the Treaty was passed there were thunderous debates over the topic of slavery in the land acquired from the war, especially after the Wilmot Proviso was declined. -
Mexican American War and the Treaty of Guadelupe
Beginning with a Skirmish along the Rio Grande the fighting escalated into a war between Mexico and started a conquest for land spreading West including the Oregon Territory. When the war ended and the land was claimed through the Treaty of Guadalupe huge tensions grew among the Union and debates about slavery being present in the territories began.
