221;, as well as for the “New World”. Actually, some believed that territories such as Oregon or California could be used as a refuge for the oppressed people of Europe, dominated by tyrannical monarchies. An Alabama congressman expressed that view in 1845: “ Long may our country prove itself the asylum of the oppressed […] when the waters of despotism shall have inundated other portions of the Globe.” (Cong.Globe, 28 cong, 2 sess, App43 ( January 3rd, 1845 )) Finally, we should bear in mind that the motives for settlement in the new western territories were diametrically different, being a slave-owner or not. Indeed, southerners were anxious to enlarge the Slave Empire in order to enhance the South’s political power in Washington, and to provide an outlet for its growing slave population. Furthermore, as far as the Texas republic was concerned, southern slave-owners called for an immediate annexation, in order to secure the interests of the planter class in the cotton-growing regions of the USA. Indeed, they believed that Great Britain, which had freed slaves in its West Indies possessions in 1833, was engaged in a plot to abolish slavery throughout North America. ***** ***** ***** Throughout the first half of the 19th century, American people travelled from East to West and settled in almost every part of the country. We have seen that this territorial expansion was the result of numerous factors: growth of population, individual need for adventure and self improvement, Washington’s desire to extend its commercial influence outside the borders of the country, Manifest Destiny etc…However, other factors, such as the Monroe doctrine, also played a important part in the expansion of the country. Indeed, though being originally aimed to prevent any non-American powers to settle on the American Continent, it was used after 1843 by the Democrats as a tool of Manifest De...
