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Annexation of Texas
In 1845 Texas was annexed and remained a sovereign nation separate from the US. It was annexed via a joint resolution through Congress and was supported by Polk. -
Mexican American War
The armed conflict between America and Mexico over the annexation of Texas which Mexico still considered their own despite the Texas Revolution in 1836. The U.S. captured Mexico City forcing Mexico to the sale of its northern territories to the U.S. Polk completed his goal of territorial expansion of the U.S. to the Pacific coast which resulted in Mexican cession in exchange for $15 million. -
Oregon Treaty
US and Britain signed the treaty in Washington DC, it settled the dispute between the countries by setting the 49th parallel other than Vancouver as the dividing line of US and Britain territory. -
California Gold Rush
Gold was discovered at Sutter's Mill, news of the discovery soon spread resulting in 300,000 men, women, and children moving west in search of more gold. By 1850 California was considered a state. -
Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
This officially ended the Mexican-American war. It ended that the US was given Texas and the land west of Texas, including California. However, the US was to pay $15 million for the land. This land greatly increased the size of the US. -
Fugitive Slave Act
Bill was resisted by northerners, this law made it a crime to to aid runaway slaves, it also allowed for the arrest of escaped slaves in areas where slavery was illegal and the slaves were then returned to their owners. -
Kansas-Nebraska Act
Law that suspended the Missouri Compromise and left it up to Kansas and Nebraska to determine whether they would be a free or a slave state. It was a very controversial thing among the North and the South. -
Lincoln-Douglas Debates
A series of seven debates between the candidates. Douglas won the debates, however Lincoln made some points that helped him to ultimately win the Election of 1860. -
John Browns Raid on Harper's Ferry
John Brown seized the US arsenal at Harper's Ferry, the plan was to end slavery by massacring slave owners and freeing slaves. He failed and the South the act as treason and were encouraged to separate from the North. -
Election of 1860
The main difference between the candidates was the subject of slavery and whether they were for or against it. Lincoln won the presidency and the South was in an uproar feeling as they no longer had a voice in politics. -
Secession of South Carolina
SC seceded from the Union and demanded that all federal property in the state be surrendered to the state. Sc was the first state in the South to secede after the election of Lincoln and this caused a chain effect on southern states.