M I S S O U R I C O M P R O M I S E
The Great Compromiser's Great Compromise
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WHAT: Basically, it was an agreement between pro-slavery and anti-slavery factions in the U.S. concerning whether or not new territories should be allowed slavery or not. The Missouri Compromise admitted Maine as a free state and Missouri as a slave state and prohibited slavery in the rest of the Louisiana Purchase north of the 36-30 line.
WHEN: 1820 (during the Monroe presidency)
WHERE: Decision made in the United States Congress. However, it affected the proposed state of Missouri and the Louisiana territory
WHO: The main key figure of this concept was Henry Clay, the Great Compromiser. He supported a strong federal government. This was one of his crowning achievements, because of its effectiveness.
WHY: It's place in history is that it settled the issue of slavery between the North and South until its repeal.
SIGNIFICANCE: The main idea of the Missouri Compromise was that it settled the question of slavery for a TEMPORARILY. However, the Missouri Compromise would be repealed by the Kansas-Nebraska Act.
WHEN: 1820 (during the Monroe presidency)
WHERE: Decision made in the United States Congress. However, it affected the proposed state of Missouri and the Louisiana territory
WHO: The main key figure of this concept was Henry Clay, the Great Compromiser. He supported a strong federal government. This was one of his crowning achievements, because of its effectiveness.
WHY: It's place in history is that it settled the issue of slavery between the North and South until its repeal.
SIGNIFICANCE: The main idea of the Missouri Compromise was that it settled the question of slavery for a TEMPORARILY. However, the Missouri Compromise would be repealed by the Kansas-Nebraska Act.
T H E M E X I C A N W A R
A Squabble of Expansion
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WHAT: After disputes over Texas lands that were settled by Mexico, the U.S. declared war on Mexico and by the Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo the U.S. took Texas, California, and many other areas that are now considered part of the U.S. for $15 million.
WHEN: 1846-1848
WHERE: Mainly, the entire war took place in the west, and the war was over western expansion.
WHO: One of the key figures of the Mexican War was James K. Polk (Democratic; expansionist) who provoked and supported the war.
Another key figure was Santa Anna, the (evil?) dictator of Mexico whom Polk was determined to gain land from.
WHY: It's place in history is that it was a massive land gain and increased the power of the U.S. This land gain would lead to disagreements about whether slavery should or should not be allowed to expand into this newly acquired land.
SIGNIFICANCE: The main idea of the Mexican War was that despite Polk achieving his goals of expansionism, whether or not slavery should be allowed in the new territories of the U.S. became an issue once again.
WHEN: 1846-1848
WHERE: Mainly, the entire war took place in the west, and the war was over western expansion.
WHO: One of the key figures of the Mexican War was James K. Polk (Democratic; expansionist) who provoked and supported the war.
Another key figure was Santa Anna, the (evil?) dictator of Mexico whom Polk was determined to gain land from.
WHY: It's place in history is that it was a massive land gain and increased the power of the U.S. This land gain would lead to disagreements about whether slavery should or should not be allowed to expand into this newly acquired land.
SIGNIFICANCE: The main idea of the Mexican War was that despite Polk achieving his goals of expansionism, whether or not slavery should be allowed in the new territories of the U.S. became an issue once again.