Manifest Destiny

Manifest Destiny Millions of Americans in 1840s & 50s

believed that God chose Americans to control of the Western Hemisphere Felt mission was to spread democratic

institutions from "sea to shining sea.“ Land greed and ideals joined into a potent

mix for expansion "Manifest destiny" phrase coined in 1844 by

John L. Sullivan Movement really began in 1830s with

Jackson & Van Buren removing Indians

Election of 1844 Democrats supported "Young Hickory" James

K. Polk Sought to annex Texas & gain Oregon up to the 54-40

parallel.

Whigs supported Henry Clay

Liberty Party: 1st party created to block the extension of slavery Candidate: James G. Birney, founder of Kentucky Anti-

Slavery Society Party ran in both 1840 and 1844 elections.

Polk d. Clay 170-105 (Clay lost NY by 5K votes)

President James K. Polk Polk’s 4-Point

Program Lowered the tariff

of 1842 from 32% to 25%

Restoration of the Independent Treasury System (1846)

Acquisition of California

Settlement of the Oregon dispute

Oregon Treaty (1846) Control of the Oregon Territory had

been under dispute for decades John Jacob Astor: Developed the American

Fur Company into a huge enterprise organizing the fur trade from the Great Lakes to Oregon.

Conflict with Russia 1812: Russia established Fort Ross just north of

San Francisco 1820: Monroe Doctrine 1824-25: Treaties with U.S. & Britain pushed

Russia to 54-40’ line U.S. & Britain became sole possessors.

Oregon Treaty (1846) 1840’s: Flood of American pioneers

came to Oregon on a trail blazed by Jedediah Smith Oregon Trail began at Independence, MO

or Council Bluffs, IA 2,000 mile trail; average of 17 deaths per

mile for pioneers 1846: 5,000 U.S. settlers lived south of

Columbia River; British had only 700 people living north of river Early in 1846, Britain agreed to 49th parallel

Texas 1835-1836: American

settlers in Texas fought the Texas Revolution

1836-1846: They ruled themselves as the Republic of Texas Mexico refused to

recognize Texan independence. Threatened war if the U.S.

should try to annex the territory.

Texas Texas was the leading issue

in the Election of 1844 Opponents feared expansion

of slavery into new region. Southerners strongly

supported annexation.

1845: President John Tyler won a joint resolution in Congress for annexation

Mexico claimed U.S. had unjustly taken Texas; refused to recognize its annexation

Mexican War Polk wanted to buy California from Mexico

The Texas issue had caused Mexico to sever diplomatic relations with U.S.

Boundary dispute: Original boundary was the northerly Nueces River; Texans claimed the Rio Grande to the South Polk honored Texas’ boundary & claimed $3

million in damages

Polk sent John Slidell to Mexico City in late 1845 to buy California for $25 million Mexico refused to allow Slidell to present his

proposition

Mexican War January 1846: Polk

ordered General Zachary Taylor to march from Nueces River to Rio Grande, and ordered Navy in Gulf of Mexico and California coast to be ready. Polk was prepared to

force a showdown, but none occurred

Mexican War April 1846: Mexican troops crossed Rio Grande

and attacked Taylor; 16 casualties Polk sent war message to Congress.

Congress overwhelmingly voted for declaration of war.

Southern expansionists eager to take more Mexican territory.

A majority of Whigs opposed the war in principle. Some Whigs questioned if the war had begun on U.S. territory Spot Resolutions: Rep. Abraham Lincoln sought the exact "spot“ Many Whigs believed U.S. had no legal right to land south of

Nueces River. Ralph Waldo Emerson feared slavery issue in new conquered

territories would lead to a severe sectional crisis: "Mexico will poison us!"

Mexican War California Campaign

Captain John C. Fremont captured California, after the state had earlier won its independence in the Bear Flag Revolt

In 1846, General Stephen W. Kearny captured Santa Fe and moved in to reinforce California

Mexican War Pacific Coast Campaign

Commodore John D. Sloat seized Monterey & San Francisco.

Mexico Campaign General Zachary Taylor was victorious at

Monterey and Buena Vista Taylor became an overnight hero (elected

president in 1848). General Winfield Scott pushed inland from

Vera Cruz and captured Mexico City Mexico still refused to negotiate and instead

carried on guerrilla warfare.

Mexican War Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo (1848)

Provisions: U.S. gained California, and modern-day NM, AZ, UT

and NV - ½ of Mexican territory U.S. to pay $15 million and assumed claims of U.S.

citizens against Mexico of $3,250,000

Treaty approved by Senate 38-14 despite bitter debate "Mexican Whigs" disapproved of war & even

threatened to cut off supplies to U.S. forces in Mexico

Expansionists in South clamored for all of Mexico Calhoun pushed for treaty immediately before

significant opposition mounted

Results of the Mexican War Most significantly, slavery issue reignited:

Slavery or not in new the territories? In a broad sense, Mexican War resulted in

Civil War Abolitionists saw Mexican War as

conspiracy of southern slave owners.

Wilmot Proviso (1848) Slavery should never exist in any of territory gained

from Mexico Twice passed House but not Senate; endorsed by all

but 1 free state Southerners resented Northern attempts to prevent

expansion of slavery

Results of the Mexican War U.S. territory increased by 1/3 (including

Texas); bigger than Louisiana Purchase

13,000 Americans dead, mostly by disease.

Sentiment for Manifest Destiny increased in U.S.

Latin America began to negatively view U.S. as the "Colossus of the North“

U.S. forces experienced in war; would effect scope of Civil War