Antebellum America Overview

Sending troops to disputed Texas territory; crossing the Rio Grande into Mexico, escalating tensions.

Mexico's response to U.S. troop movements and actions, including crossing the Rio Grande.

Eleven U.S. soldiers were killed, which ignited the war.

Conflict between the U.S. and Mexico from 1846 to 1848.

The United States ultimately won the Mexican-American War.

The treaty signed in 1848 that officially ended the Mexican-American War. The U.S. paid $15 million for the land gained from Mexico, including California and a large portion of the Southwest.

The territory that Mexico ceded (gave up) to the United States in the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. This included present-day California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, and parts of Colorado and Wyoming.

A proposed amendment to the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo that would have banned slavery in all territory acquired from Mexico. It was hotly debated but ultimately failed.

A massive migration of people to California in 1849, spurred by the discovery of gold. This led to rapid population growth and the formation of the state of California.

The 1853 purchase of land from Mexico by the U.S. for $10 million. This land was south of Arizona and New Mexico, allowing for easier transportation routes.

The belief that the United States was destined to expand westward across North America, driven by a sense of American exceptionalism and the desire for land, resources, and economic opportunity.

The desire for access to natural resources, economic opportunities, and religious refuge prompted significant migration and settlement in the West. Settlers sought rich land for farming, mining, and trade.

A conflict between the United States and Mexico from 1846 to 1848, sparked by territorial disputes over Texas and California, resulting in a decisive U.S. victory and the acquisition of vast territories.

A series of laws designed to appease both pro-slavery and anti-slavery factions in the United States following the Mexican-American War, aiming to resolve the issue of slavery in the newly acquired territories.

The Mexican Cession sparked heated debates over slavery in the newly acquired territories, with the North opposed to expansion and the South advocating for its protection, setting the stage for a deepening sectional conflict.

U.S. expansion westward significantly disrupted the lives of Native American communities, forcing them off their lands, displacing their traditional ways of life, and leading to conflict and hardship.

Immigration from various parts of the world during the 19th century contributed to significant cultural changes in the United States, with diverse influences enriching American society through language, customs, and traditions.