Manifest Destiny: The belief that it was America's destiny to expand its territory from coast to coast, fueling westward expansion during this time.
Compromise of 1850: A series of laws passed by Congress aimed at resolving conflicts between free and slave states regarding newly acquired territories from Mexico.
Kansas-Nebraska Act: An act that allowed for popular sovereignty (the people in each territory could vote whether they wanted slavery or not) in Kansas and Nebraska territories, leading to violent clashes between pro-slavery and anti-slavery forces.