To what extent did the debates about the Mexican War and its aftermath reflect the sectional

interest of New Englanders, westerners, and southerners in the period from 1845-1855?
The Mexican War was a result of President Polks zealous ambition to expand the United
States territory from the east coast to the west, as well as the popular belief of the United
States so-called manifest destiny. The success of the war led to a continental nation, and a
surge of western expansion that would forever shape the country we know today. However,
President Polks declaration of war was received with mixed feelings, not because the people
disagreed with Americas manifest destiny, but because of the issue western expansion raised:
slavery.
Many anti-slavery Whigs, and northern abolitionists protested this imprudent and
unwarranted declaration of war with Mexico. They accused Polk of leading the country into an
unnecessary war that would drain resources and men, all for the purpose of expanding slavery
to the new territories acquired. They questioned Polks motives, scrutinizing his readiness to
wage a war for southern territories contrary to his willingness to settle for only half of the
northern Oregon territory. In the North, mass and individual protests ensued, as legislatures
passed resolutions speaking out against this unconstitutional act, and some individuals refused
to pay taxes that they believed would go towards the war effort.
Although the majority of western settlers trekked west in the popular feeling of adventure
and freedom, northerners were correct to assume that the victory of the Mexican War would
result in southerners desire to expand slavery to the new territories. As more settlers rushed
west, the populations of the western territories grew, and the territories desired statehood.
Congress would soon have to confront the growing issue of slavery, although it was just as
divided on the topic, and tensions were growing between the North and South. New Englanders,
such as Daniel Webster, feared this western expansion because they knew that the issue of
slavery, now precariously resolved for the time being, was bound to rise up again with the
addition of new territory into the United States. Westerners whole-heartedly supported this
western expansion, as they were the pioneers of the United States manifest destiny.
Southerners also supported expansion because they saw it as a viable way to expand slavery
into new territories, and increase their influence in Congress. With the controversial Wilmot
Proviso in 1846, sectional interests overpowered political parties, as southern Democrats and
southern Whigs joined together to vote against this measure and northern Democrats and
Whigs unified to support this proviso. Wilmots Proviso set off the debate over slavery between
the two regions, and eventually led to the escalating tension and hostility that would cause the
Civil War.