The period before the Civil War is known for the vast expansion of the United States. Slavery influenced many aspects of the unity and discord between the Northern and Southern states, such as in political, economic, and social discussions. Furthermore, some cultural factors have caused unity and divergence between different groups of religious people. Westward expansion affected the United States politically, economically, socially, and culturally in ways that at times united them, but also, in some cases, separated them. During the period between 1815 and 1861 political issues that occurred within the states caused separation and unity. at the same time. With the mass movement of people westward to Texas and California, many of the disputes occurred over slavery. Southern states wanted the new states to be slave states, while Northern states believed they should have been free states. This argument continued to rage until 1850, when Henry Clay formed the Compromise of 1850. The compromise essentially decided that the disputed land of New Mexico was not part of Texas and that California should not be divided into a slave and free state. it simply had to remain a free state. With this new compromise and the Missouri Compromise that divided the slave and free states at the 35th parallel, the nation was split in half, creating two distinct sides of the country. This set the stage for the two sides of the civil war. However, westward expansion also created some unity among the states. For the most part, both Northern and Southern states wanted to expand the borders of the United States to the Pacific Ocean. This led both sides to support the Mexican War and agree to the annexation of Texas. Westward expansion caused both... half of the paper... US groups like these, brought many people together with similar ideals and ethics which, in some cases, would provide a stronger unity which side they would be on deployed during the Civil War. The political, economic, social, and cultural changes brought by westward expansion to the United States had much to do with its unity and separation. Politically and economically slavery led Northern and Southern states to fight over where it should be allowed and why. While socially, slavery posed a moral threat throughout the country, unleashing unscrupulous feelings on both sides about the morality of others' existence. Additionally, many people moving west sought religious sovereignty or refuge from persecution. The westward movement of the United States proved to be the foundation and final turning point for the Civil War.