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**Theme: Expansion** **Topic:** Debates over American expansionism **Free Response Question**: Compare the debate that took place over American expansionism in the 1840's with those in the 1890's, analyzing the similarities and differences in the debates of the two eras. Introductory Paragraph **Setting:** The expansionism in the 1840's was started by the vast movement of people coming into the U.S and then their movement westward. Which caused a growth in international political developments, trade and technological innovations. In the 1890's the debate was also over who was getting the land but also there was more talk over workers and race as expansion was winding down. **Basis for Analysis**: Acts were passed granting land to certain groups of people. Which usually Mexican settlers and Indian groups had little to no say in the matter of their land. **Partitions**: Expansionism that took place in the 1840's and 1890's can both be shown by political, social and economic differences. **Thesis:** The onset of expansionism in the 1840's came from the huge amount of immigrants that were flowing into America. Which caused a movement toward the west and across the globe. This partly led to conflict in the U.S such as the Mexican American War and the Civil War. The 1890's were a continuation of movements and acts from the 40's.

**Partition 1:** Political 1840's- International political developments let to expanded opportunities for trading Texas and the 1844 election
 * 1846 England repealed its Corn Laws, which had protected its agricultural market from foreign competition- the result in the U.S was that now farmers in the Midwest had incentive to produce wheat for export.
 * Texas was an independent republic- should Texas be annexed came up a lot in presidential debates
 * James k. Polk won the election- compromise with England over Oregon 1864
 * War with Mexico over weather or not they would become a state-September 1847 Mexico city surrendered and the war ended
 * The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo- Mexico gave up Texas.

18'90's- The Court of Private Land 1891- oversaw land disputes Expanded federal role in management of land and settlement on the west
 * favored European American over Hispanic settlers who had received title to land s in Mexico or Spain

**Partition 2:** Economic 1840's- Many groups int he U.S advocate expansionism
 * Cotton- accounted for half the total shipped goods after 1840.
 * Southern planters and northern merchants made huge profits from from cotton trade.
 * In 1840 English textile manufactures depended on the fiber which the American south produced about 3 quarters of their supply.

1890's- Pension act of 1890 - a high tariff was now need ton pay for the Pension act

** Partition 3: ** Social 1840's- The huge immigration into the U.S in the 1830's and 1840's led to the the expanding nation. Technological innovations led to more trading opportunities. Slavery
 * The creation of the clipper ship- helped expansion of global trade
 * with the expansion of U.S involvement in overseas market the need for labor increased.

1890's- The last part of Indian Land was opened to European American Farmers. New obsession with race that had started in the beginning of expansion General Information: "manifest destiny"- justification of American efforts to conquer new territory and to seek new markets for its good across Oceans <span style="background-color: #ffffff; display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: left;">Pension Act- pensions for disabled men who served in the Union army during the Civil War. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: left;">
 * began in the 1830 Indian Removal Act