Mexican-American War: A conflict between the United States and Mexico from 1846 to 1848, which resulted in the U.S. acquiring a large portion of the American Southwest, including California and Texas.
Free Soil Movement: A political movement in the 1840s and 1850s that opposed the expansion of slavery into the western territories, advocating for the creation of 'free soil' where slavery would be prohibited.
Compromise of 1850: A series of legislative measures passed by the U.S. Congress in 1850, which aimed to resolve disputes over the status of slavery in the territories acquired after the Mexican-American War.