Territorial acquisitions

The acquisition of the new territories both helped America by boosting the economy, but impeded it by causing further political tension. The addition of the western land gave farmers the ability to construct and reinforce an agricultural economy. Consequently the expanding economy brought many more immigrants to the nation, further empowering industry and economy. It stimulated exports as flourishing transportation systems allowed goods from the west to be transported to the northeast and then exported. But conflict inevitably arose as the new land had to be divided into states, and the issue of slavery was put on the table. This was only temporarily soothed by the Missouri Compromise that divided the nation at the 36-30 line in which the northern nation would abolish slavery, and southern states would retain it. This simply caused more tension in the end on account of the country being further divided causing more debate and conflict and eventually leading to the civil War.