“We have conquered many of the neighboring tribes of Indians…
“We have conquered many of the neighboring tribes of Indians, but we have never thought of holding them in subjection—never of incorporating them into our Union….To incorporate Mexico, would be the very first instance of the kind of incorporating an Indian race; for more than half of the Mexicans are Indians, and theother is composed chiefly of mixed tribes…. Ours, sir, is the Government of a white race…. [I]t is professed and talked about to erect these Mexicans into a Territorial Government, and place them on an equality with the people of the United States. I protest utterly against such a project.” — Senator John C. Calhoun, Conquest of Mexico speech, 1848 Question: The excerpt most directly reflects which of the following developments in the United States during the first half of the nineteenth century?
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