11. A Nation on the Move: Westward Expansion, 1800–1860

Summary and Review

The United States expanded westward from 1800 to 1860, driven by a belief in manifest destiny, leading to significant events like the Louisiana Purchase, the annexation of Texas, and the Mexican-American War. Key figures such as Lewis and Clark explored the new territories, while the Missouri Crisis highlighted tensions over slavery's expansion. The Texas War for Independence resulted in Texas becoming a republic, and the subsequent Mexican-American War led to the U.S. acquiring vast territories, including California, which sparked the Gold Rush. The Wilmot Proviso and the Compromise of 1850 further intensified the national debate over slavery, revealing deepening sectional divides.