12
Roky mountains
Territories
There were 40 years between 1861 and 1901.
This question appears to be about the US Civil War which took place from 1861 to 1865.
To decide if the conquered territories would become free or slave states. This ultimately led to the American Civil War (1861-1865)
between 1801 and 1861
Roky mountains
Mississippi river
Between 1854 and 1861, the area of territory open to slavery expanded significantly due to the Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854, which allowed new territories to decide on the legality of slavery through popular sovereignty. This led to violent conflicts known as "Bleeding Kansas" as pro-slavery and anti-slavery settlers rushed into the territories. Additionally, the Dred Scott decision in 1857 further entrenched the status of slavery, declaring that Congress had no power to regulate slavery in the territories. By 1861, the political landscape was increasingly polarized, with more territories and states aligning with the institution of slavery.
In 1861, there were 19 free states in the United States. Additionally, there were several free territories, including Kansas, Nebraska, and others, which were not yet admitted as states. The distinction between free and slave states was a key factor leading up to the Civil War, as tensions over slavery intensified during this period.
Territories
There were 40 years between 1861 and 1901.
Between 1854 and 1861, the area of slave states and territories expanded due to the passage of the Kansas-Nebraska Act, which allowed settlers in those territories to determine whether they would permit slavery through popular sovereignty. This led to violent conflicts known as "Bleeding Kansas" as pro-slavery and anti-slavery factions clashed. Additionally, the Supreme Court's Dred Scott decision in 1857 further entrenched slavery by ruling that Congress could not prohibit slavery in the territories. Ultimately, these developments heightened tensions leading up to the Civil War.
They feared the new acquired territories would undermine the delicate balance between slave and non-slave states. They tried to ban slavery on the new territories by introducing the Wilmot Proviso (1846). However, many of these territories were already pro-slavery, including New Mexico and Texas. This unresolved issue was one of the main reasons of the American Civil War (1861-1865).
Former Mexican territories were supposed to ban slavery, except Texas. This was defined ion the Wilmot Proviso (1846). However, it was not enforced, and caused further divisions between pro-slavery states and the North. It resulted in the American Civil War (1861-1865).
popular sovereignty
At the time of the Civil War (1861-1865), the United States consisted of 34 states and several territories. Key territories included the Kansas Territory, Nebraska Territory, and the New Mexico Territory, among others. The significant division was between the Union states in the North and the Confederate states in the South, with territories primarily leaning towards either side based on their economic and social structures. The war ultimately influenced the status of these territories, leading to changes in their governance and future statehood.