Changes

Tyler was the first president to attempt to annex Texas.  But Tyler ruined his chances by declaring that slavery would be good for Texas, which the northern states opposed.  When the treaty to add Texas to the United States came to the Senate, it did not initially pass.

Tyler was the first president to attempt to annex Texas.  But Tyler ruined his chances by declaring that slavery would be good for Texas, which the northern states opposed.  When the treaty to add Texas to the United States came to the Senate, it did not initially pass.

==1840s: Social Movements, Manifest Destiny and Westward Expansion==

==Manifest Destiny==

The 1840s was a decade of expansion and social change for the growing United States.  Counting California, which joined the Union in 1850, five new states were added to the United States:  Florida, Texas, Iowa, Wisconsin and California.  This included the two largest states in area in the continental United States (California and Texas), and what are now three of the four largest in population (California, Texas and Florida).  This was the greatest addition of new states since the 1810s.  The nation as we know it today was taking shape.

The 1840s was a decade of expansion and social change for the growing United States.  Counting California, which joined the Union in 1850, five new states were added to the United States:  Florida, Texas, Iowa, Wisconsin and California.  This included the two largest states in area in the continental United States (California and Texas), and what are now three of the four largest in population (California, Texas and Florida).  This was the greatest addition of new states since the 1810s.  The nation as we know it today was taking shape.

In 1842, the United States resolved some minor disputes with Canada (then still a British colony) over the location of the U.S.-Canadian border.  Known as the Webster-Ashburton Treaty, this resolved the location of the northern border of Maine, agreed on the location of the border in the Great Lakes (and shared use of those Lakes), and affirmed the use of the 49 degrees latitude as the border heading west.  Daniel Webster, then the Secretary of State (who otherwise was a prominent Senator), signed the Treaty for the United States and the U.S. Senate ratified it as required by the Constitution.

In 1842, the United States resolved some minor disputes with Canada (then still a British colony) over the location of the U.S.-Canadian border.  Known as the Webster-Ashburton Treaty, this resolved the location of the northern border of Maine, agreed on the location of the border in the Great Lakes (and shared use of those Lakes), and affirmed the use of the 49 degrees latitude as the border heading west.  Daniel Webster, then the Secretary of State (who otherwise was a prominent Senator), signed the Treaty for the United States and the U.S. Senate ratified it as required by the Constitution.

 

Around the same time settlers began to move westward in large groups, traveling on the Oregon Trail.  Beginning in 1843, Americans became fascinated with the Oregon territory, and 1000 pioneers traveled all the way from Missouri to Willamette Valley (a trip that took 4 to 6 months then).  The Oregon Trail stretched for 2000 miles and many settlers spent a full six months traveling along it.  Missionaries traveled in order to minister to the Indians far and wide.   

Around the same time settlers began to move westward in large groups, traveling on the Oregon Trail.  Beginning in 1843, Americans became fascinated with the Oregon territory, and 1000 pioneers traveled all the way from Missouri to Willamette Valley (a trip that took 4 to 6 months then).  The Oregon Trail stretched for 2000 miles and many settlers spent a full six months traveling along it.  Missionaries traveled in order to minister to the Indians far and wide.   

Half of the Oregon territory, which included the current states of Oregon, Washington, Idaho and a bit of Montana and Wyoming, was controlled by the British.  In 1846 the Oregon Treaty settled the disputes between America and Britain, giving most of the Oregon territory to the United States.   

Half of the Oregon territory, which included the current states of Oregon, Washington, Idaho and a bit of Montana and Wyoming, was controlled by the British.  In 1846 the Oregon Treaty settled the disputes between America and Britain, giving most of the Oregon territory to the United States.   

 

Along with the expansion and migration came great social change in the older portions of the United States.  Utopian communities thrived in the 1840s to pursue idealistic societies, often based on common religious beliefs and sharing homes and property.  The homeschooling movement today could be compared with the movements in the 1840s, though homeschooling is more of a concept than a centralized community having shared property.  Examples of Utopian communities in the 1840s (and earlier) were the Shakers, Brook Farm, the Rappites, and the Oneida Community:<ref name="Utopian">http://www.nps.gov/history/nr/travel/amana/utopia.htm</ref>

Along with the expansion and migration came great social change in the older portions of the United States.  Utopian communities thrived in the 1840s to pursue idealistic societies, often based on common religious beliefs and sharing homes and property.  The homeschooling movement today could be compared with the movements in the 1840s, though homeschooling is more of a concept than a centralized community having shared property.  Examples of Utopian communities in the 1840s (and earlier) were the Shakers, Brook Farm, the Rappites, and the Oneida Community:<ref name="Utopian">http://www.nps.gov/history/nr/travel/amana/utopia.htm</ref>

The decline of all the Utopian communities has been attributed to increased industrialization and hostility by a broader public to the concept.  Inflammatory newspaper articles played a role as the public became reliant on secular sources for information.  But historians have concluded that "religious utopian colonies possessed a longer life then their secular counterparts."<ref name="Utopian"/>  Most of the Utopian communities have remnants that are preserved today and can be visited.

The decline of all the Utopian communities has been attributed to increased industrialization and hostility by a broader public to the concept.  Inflammatory newspaper articles played a role as the public became reliant on secular sources for information.  But historians have concluded that "religious utopian colonies possessed a longer life then their secular counterparts."<ref name="Utopian"/>  Most of the Utopian communities have remnants that are preserved today and can be visited.

 

In addition to the Utopian communities, there were key social and religious movements in or around the 1840s that resulted from the culmination of the Second Great Awakening, which swept America from 1790 to 1840:

In addition to the Utopian communities, there were key social and religious movements in or around the 1840s that resulted from the culmination of the Second Great Awakening, which swept America from 1790 to 1840: