Discussion: The Missouri Compromise and The California Gold Rush.
For the initial post, pick two (2) of the following historical events:
• The Lewis
... [Show More] and Clark Expedition
• The Missouri Compromise
• Independence of Texas
• Mexican War of 1846-1848
• The California Gold Rush
Then, address the following for your selections:
• Which of your two selections do you consider most impactful on Westward Expansion during 1800-1848? Explain why.
• Analyze the effects of the ideology of Manifest Destiny on the two historical events that you chose from the list.
The Missouri Compromise and The California Gold Rush
The Missouri Compromise was an agreement passed in 1820 between the pro-slavery and anti-slavery factions in the United States Congress, involving primarily the regulation of slavery in the western territories. It prohibited slavery in the former Louisiana Territory “north of the parallel 36°30' north except within the boundaries of the proposed state of Missouri (History, 2009).” Manifest Destiny was the idea that God had destined the US to spread out across the continent of North America (Openstax, 2019). According to Hammond (2007), while the need to uphold equality and liberty surrounded the debate of slavery expansion to new territories, the idea of preventing blacks from "degrading" the newly acquired territories took center stage. Racial inequality at that time was seen as The Missouri compromise in 1820 is one of the events that triggered discussion on the issue of slavery in relation to territorial expansion efforts by the young republic (p.124). The failure of the Missouri Compromise to cover new territories not included in the Louisiana Purchase triggered increased interest in the debased on slavery’s expansion.
The California Gold Rush started in 1848 and ended in 1855. The forty miners came from other parts of America but it also attracted people from Latin America, Europe, Australia, and China. It was said that San Francisco was only a small place until the gold was discovered and it bloomed into a large town (History, 2010).The gold miners had lived in tents or wooden shacks and their life was hard and very primitive. Some miners brought their families with them so that everyone could help in mining for gold (Openstax, 2019). The California Gold Rush sparked a movement west, which only further ignited manifest destiny. People saw the opportunity to stake a claim of their own and truly pursue the "American Dream" out west (History, 2010). The Gold Rush provided a renewed passion to the idea of Manifest Destiny. The Gold Rush attracted thousands of people from around the country, and around the world, to make the journey west. The Rush offered people the dream of moving west, staking a claim on your own land, and finding gold (History, 2010).
The Missouri Compromise is most impactful. The Missouri Compromise was significant because it helped to reduce tensions between the North and the South. By doing so, it helped to delay the Civil War. It is also significant, however, because it is the first real manifestation of those tensions (History, 2009). However, the Gold Rush significantly influenced the history of California and the United States. It created a lasting impact by boosting significant industrial and agricultural development and helped shape the course of California's development by spurring its economic growth and facilitating its transition to statehood (History, 2010).
References
Hammond, John C. Slavery, Freedom, and Expansion in the Early American West.
Charlottesville: University of Virginia Press, 2007.
History. (2009, October 29). Missouri Compromise. Retrieved from History: https://www.history.com/topics/abolitionist-movement/missouri-compromise
History. (2010, April 6). California Gold Rush. Retrieved from History: https://www.history.com/topics/westward-expansion/gold-rush-of-1849
OpenStax. (2019). U.S. history. OpenStax CNX. Retrieved from https://cnx.org/contents/[email protected]:gMXC1GEM@7/Introduction [Show Less]