Expansion

A history of American Revolution expansion from the Jacksonian era to the Civil War.

Andrew Jackson's rise to power in the 1820s marked a turning point as the West and South united to challenge the old Eastern elite. The nation faced deepening sectional divisions over slavery, economic policies, and territorial expansion as settlers moved westward. The Mexican-American War and the Wilmot Proviso intensified these tensions, leading to a crisis that would ultimately divide the country. As the nation grappled with its identity, leaders like Jackson, Clay, and Calhoun shaped policies that would determine the future of the United States. The struggle between expansion and preservation of the Union would define a generation, with the Civil War looming on the horizon.