Territorial expansion is most likely one of the most important steps that America took in becoming a self-sufficient nation. During the first half of the nineteenth century America blossomed in all directions. Through this growth there were risks America took and sacrifices that it made. Manifest destiny was the catalyst to territorial expansion and did bring around problems. Sectionalism emerged within the nation but nationalism still held strong. Throughout the first half of the 19th …showed first 75 words of 900 total…

…showed last 75 words of 900 total…in the newly acquired territories was a more troubling issue and this decided the fate of the United States for the next few years. The slavery issue in California and Texas was balanced by the addition of California to the nation. The region of California was considered a free state and the region of Texas was ruled a slave state. These rulings canceled each other and were accepted, with dismay by some of the people.