Expansion and Unity During the 1800s the United States was rapidly growing. Despite the growing need for expansion, there was still opposition to the acquisition of new land. At first constitutionally during the Louisiana Purchase, and then later over the issue of slavery in the 1850s. The issue of territorial expansion brought about heated tension between party lines and regional lines during the early to mid 1800s. When Thomas Jefferson wanted to acquire the Louisiana …showed first 75 words of 366 total…

…showed last 75 words of 366 total…war broke out. With these issues of slavery and the reconstruction of the union after the Civil War, the drive for expansion was put back in the dark. The start of the Missouri Compromise almost ensured the continuance of slavery by setting a pattern of entry to the United States: free state, then slave state. Starting with Thomas Jefferson's purchase of the Louisiana Territory, controversy has arisen over expanding slavery into the newly acquired territories.