Territorial Expansion and Sectional Balance in America: Impact and Legacy (1845-1854)
FEATURED IMAGE: Introduction The period between 1845 and 1854 marked unprecedented territorial growth for the United States, adding over 900,000 square miles through three major acquisitions. This expansion reshaped North American boundaries and intensified debates over slavery’s future in new territories. The dramatic changes during this period established patterns of development that would influence American…