Talk:History of the United States (1849–1865)

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Why is this article so much smaller than the rest of the US history articles?

Yeah...especially since this was a critical time in U.S. History, when many events strung together caused the tearing of the nation into halves. Ctifumdope 03:11, 25 January 2006 (UTC)

probably because the civil war was just a link to the main article, it would be good to have a longer summary --Astrokey44 18:03, 15 May 2006 (UTC)

I'm planning on expanding this section in the next few days, since school is out. MarcelLionheart 20:21, 18 May 2006

Most of my additions are done; I'm going to Europe for two weeks, so, will be out of contact for a while. Ciao MarcelLionheart 04:36, 24 May 2006 (UTC)

-- The page needs some minor tweaks and additions, proposed here first for comments: (1) While Wilmot's proviso did propose that territory won from Mexico should be free, it is important to note that the proviso's supporters believed that this would merely continue the prior Mexican law on the subject, which had forbidden slavery there since the 1820s. The arguments that followed, especially during the 1850 debates, were disputes over whether these prior Mexican laws should be honored (Wilmot and the Freesoilers said yes) or not (Calhoun, Davis, and proslavery Southerners said no.) See the Congressional Globe at the Library of Congress for details. (2) There is a rather blanket, even POV, use of the term "Southerners" which implies a degree of unanimity in the region that Whigs and slave captives, among others, might have disputed. (3) The whole section probably needs to have more full treatment of Whig-Democratic conflicts and reasons for the ultimate collapse of the Whigs. (4) Given the centrality of the fugitive slave issue as a motive for the secessionists, it probably deserves more than a passing reference. (5) Given the important technological developments in this period, as well as some significant landmarks in Native American relations, would it make sense to treat other issues in the period besides the coming of the Civil War?

[edit] Election of 1852

Can someone put in a small paragraph on the Election of 1852 and create the appropriate redirect of Election of 1852 to United States presidential election, 1852: "#redirect [ [United States presidential election, 1852 ] ]" (68.14.143.194 17:12, 23 April 2007 (UTC))

[edit] Industrial Development in the American West

I have been considering creating one or more articles about the development of infrastructure and industry in the colonizing period of the American West, ie bridges, roads, mills, mining, lumber, production of goods and textiles. Very broad topic. Can someone point me to existing articles/categories that may be related? Anyone have any other approach to this info? Best wishes. WBardwin 05:58, 13 May 2007 (UTC)