the mexican-american war added the mexican cession to the U.S. in 1846-1848. what effect did this have on sectionalism in america?
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The Mexican-American War, fought from 1846 to 1848, indeed resulted in the Mexican Cession, which added a significant amount of territory to the United States. The impact of this expansion on sectionalism in America was multifaceted. Here's how you can understand the effects:
1. Background research: To grasp the impact of the Mexican Cession on sectionalism, it is essential to have some background knowledge about the war, the territories gained, and the prevailing sectional tensions at that time. Conducting research on these topics will provide the necessary context.
2. Analyze territorial expansion: The acquisition of the Mexican Cession added vast territories, including present-day California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, and parts of Colorado and Wyoming. This expansion raised some crucial sectional issues related to the extension of slavery, which was a significant point of contention between the North and the South.
3. Wilmot Proviso: One immediate effect of the Mexican Cession was the introduction of the Wilmot Proviso in 1846. The proviso, proposed by Representative David Wilmot, aimed to ban slavery in any new territories acquired from Mexico. However, it was never passed into law, highlighting the divide between Northern and Southern states on the issue of slavery.
4. Sectional tensions intensify: The Mexican Cession exacerbated the existing tensions between slaveholding Southern states and free states in the North. The southern states saw the newly acquired territories as potential expansions for slavery, while many in the North wanted to limit or prohibit the expansion of slavery altogether. This led to a further deepening of sectional divisions and increased tensions between the two regions.
5. Compromise of 1850: The question of whether slavery should be allowed in the territories gained from the Mexican Cession became a central issue that needed resolution. The Compromise of 1850 attempted to address this, including provisions like the admission of California as a free state, the strengthening of the Fugitive Slave Act, and the implementation of popular sovereignty in some territories. While the compromise temporarily defused tensions, it did not fully resolve the sectional divide.
Overall, the Mexican Cession intensified the sectional tensions between the North and the South over the issue of slavery, contributing to the growing divide that ultimately played a significant role in the outbreak of the American Civil War. Understanding these historical events and the context surrounding sectionalism in America will provide a more comprehensive understanding of the impact of the Mexican Cession.