Week 3 Reply Post

Please respond to the classmate post below.

The Missouri Compromise

In 1817, Missouri, which was part of the Louisiana Purchase, sought statehood. The issue of whether to allow slavery in the new state sparked a heated debate in the House of Representatives. Northerners opposed it, as they believed that southern states had an unfair advantage due to the three-fifths law, which granted extra votes for enslaved people. They feared that declaring Missouri a slave state would disrupt the balance between enslaved people and free states, giving enslaved person states a two-vote advantage. James Tallmadge proposed the Tallmadge Amendment, which condemned slavery as immoral and contrary to the nation’s founding principles of equality and liberty (Corbett 2019). This amendment reflected the deep-rooted tensions and ethical concerns surrounding the issue of slavery in the United States during that period. The Tallmadge Agreement, which proposed denying Missouri statehood as a slave state, was met with opposition from northerners who feared that it would lead to the eventual abolition of slavery throughout the country. In 1820, Congress reached a compromise where Maine and Missouri would both join the Union, with Maine as a free state and Missouri as a slave state. To prevent future conflicts over the issue of slavery, the Missouri Compromise was established. It drew a line at 36° 30′ across the entire Louisiana Territory, stating that slavery would be permitted south of this border but prohibited north of it. This compromise aimed to maintain a balance between enslaved persons and free states and avoid further disputes over the expansion of slavery in the United States.

Lewis and Clark Expedition of 1804-1806

The Louisiana Territory was initially under Spanish control, allowing America to benefit from duty-free trade through the ports of New Orleans. However, in 1801, Spain transferred Louisiana and New Orleans to France, leading to the loss of this trade advantage for America. Subsequently, President Jefferson negotiated the purchase of the Louisiana Territory from France for 15 million dollars, effectively doubling the size of the United States. Following this acquisition, Jefferson commissioned Meriwether Lewis to explore the territory, particularly the Mississippi River and the potential path to the Pacific Ocean, with the aim of facilitating trade with Asia. Lewis enlisted William Clark to assist in this exploration. Although they did not find an all-water route to the Pacific Ocean, their journey was considered a success as they legally mapped the territory, established relationships with native inhabitants, and collected numerous plant and animal specimens. Additionally, Meriwether Lewis was appointed as the Governor of the territory, further solidifying the United States’ claim to the region.

Which of your two selections do you consider most impactful on Westward Expansion during 1800-1848? Explain why.

The acquisition of the Louisiana Territory had a profound impact on westward expansion, nearly doubling the size of the United States and being regarded as one of the greatest real estate deals in American history. Although the Lewis and Clark expedition did not find a direct water route from the Mississippi River to the Pacific Ocean, it effectively mapped the territory, providing valuable information for those considering westward migration. This mapping instilled confidence in people wanting to move westward, especially considering that only one person did not survive the two-year-long journey. This contrasted with the initial establishment of the colonies, where a majority of the population did not survive the harsh winters, highlighting the significance of the Lewis and Clark expedition in paving the way for successful westward expansion.

Analyze the effects of the ideology of Manifest Destiny on the two historical events that you chose from the list.

The concept of Manifest Destiny, which held that Americans were destined and divinely ordained to spread democratic institutions across the continent, strongly influenced the Louisiana Purchase (Corbett 2019). However, this ideology had detrimental consequences, leading to the displacement and death of many Native Americans as the acquisition of land and expansion of the country took precedence at any cost. American expansion was often perceived not as a triumph for democratic republicanism, but rather as evidence of the innate superiority of the American Anglo-Saxon branch of the Caucasian race. Despite the principles of equality declared in the Constitution, there was pervasive prejudice not only against slaves and Native Americans but also against anyone perceived as hindering the country’s expansion. This included the French, Spanish, Russian, and others who were seen as obstructing America’s entitlement to the land they sought, driven by a belief in their divine right to expand.