The Conflict Begins

The conflict between the North and the South grew with acquiring new territories, and reached its peak after the war with Mexico in 1846–1848. The war started as a continuation of the dispute over the southwestern territories after Texas was annexed as 28^th state.

The Republic of Texas stretched over the territories of present-day New Mexico, Texas, parts of Oklahoma, Kansas, Colorado and Wyoming. Originally it was part of Mexico, and the Mexican government encouraged settling of these remote northern provinces. By 1835, more than 35,000 Americans lived there, and when the Mexican government tried to tighten control over these territories, the rebellion started. By the end of the year, Texans won independence and in 1836, established an independent republic with Sam Houston as a president (the republic was nicknamed "The Lonely Star", as its government was seeking annexation to the other "stars" – the United States).

Though the annexation of Texas territory was favored by many Americans, the Senate first rejected it – senators recognized the danger of the vast proslavery territory in the south. Finally Texas was annexed and became the 28^th state in 1845.

Now the Mexican government was outraged not only over the question of Texas statehood, but also over the borders of the new state. The attempts of the US government to buy New Mexico and California failed, so the war was declared in 1846. After revolts and fighting that lasted through 1848 the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo was negotiated – by this treaty Mexico ceded the southwest region and California for $15 million.

Annexation of southwest was coupled with settling northwest territories – in 1843, the first great migrations of Americans on Oregon Trail started, and American government was organized there.

By 1850, the frontier reached the Pacific Ocean, and with the acquisition of the northwest and southwest territories the question of slavery reached its peak. Northerners were apt to prohibit slavery in New Mexico and California where there were no slaves, while southerners saw these states as proslavery.

The dispute was settled with a new compromise (Compromise of 1850) that admitted California as a free state, settled the boundaries of Texas and established the territories of Utah and Mexico (slavery was not mentioned). Also more strict rules were provided for catching runaway slaves. Though tension continued to grow, the Compromise of 1850 postponed the war between the North and South for another ten years.

In 1854, the quarrel continued over the territories of Kansas and Nebraska, which were being rapidly settled and, under the terms of the Missouri Compromise, closed to slavery. The same year according to the Kansas-Nebraska Act proposed by Senator Douglas, Kansas and Nebraska became territories open to slavery.

This measure not only outraged the antislavery forces, it gave birth to the new Republican Party that demanded slavery be excluded from all territories. The influence of the party quickly grew, as it appealed to the groups interested in economic development that saw free labor as a key to America's progress. Republican antislavery propaganda called for non-extension of slavery, one of its leaders Abraham Lincoln argued that the South threatened democracy and slavery threatened all whites.

Lincoln was nominated the candidate from the Republican Party in the presidential election of 1860 and won. His election despaired southern leaders and resulted in secession from the Union.

South Carolina seceded in December 1860, and by February, 1861 it was followed by six more southern states: Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, and Texas.

The seven states formed the Confederate states of America, choosing Jefferson Davis as their president.

Task 2. Fill in the table representing steps that led to the Civil War.

Date	Events	Consequences
	Annexation of the southwest
	The Kansas-Nebraska Act
	The Republican Party appeared
	Lincoln won the presidential election as a Republican Party nominee
	South Carolina, Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, and Texas seceded from the Union

Task 3. Discussion. Who was more likely to win the war? Discuss the chances of two sides to win the war using the table.

The North	The South
A population of 22 million	A population of 9 million, of which 3,5 million were slaves
75 % of railway roads	25 % of railway roads
A central government	No central government
Diverse economy	Cotton economy
Increased immigration during the war	No immigration during the war
Abraham Lincoln	Jefferson Davis