In this lecture, Dr. Totten argues white Americans believed they were destined to conquer and settle the American continent. White Americans systematically ethnically cleansed Native Americans from the American southwest and West in order to make way for white settlement and exploitation. In addition, The United States fought a war with the Republic of Mexico and conquered vast stretches of their territory, known as the Mexican Cession. This led to the revival of the question over slavery's expansion into the territories, which led to the political crisis of the 1850s and eventually, the American Civil War.

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