Ch. 17:Manifest Destiny and its

Legacy

1841-1848

1841-1845

Pres. Harrison (9th)

Whig(dies after 4 wks in office)

V.P. Tyler (10th)

“Democrat in Whig clothing”

Manifest DestinyReasons & Effects?

1. New markets needed

2. Increase trade w/Asia if we had western ports

3. Democratsa. Expansionist

b. Eco. necessity

c. Increase slavery

4. Whigs growth through

industrialization not agriculture

John O’Sullivan

Aroostook “War” 1839• The only war ever declared by a state.

Between the Canadian region of New Brunswick and the state of Maine.

Cause: The expulsion of Canadian lumberjacks in the disputed area of Aroostook by Maine officials.

Congress called up 50,000 men and voted for $10,000,000 to pay for the “war.”

General Winfield Scott arranged a truce, and a border commission was convened to resolve the issue.

Maine Boundary Maine Boundary Settlement, 1842Settlement, 1842Maine Boundary Maine Boundary Settlement, 1842Settlement, 1842

Texas Declaration of Texas Declaration of IndependenceIndependence

Texas Declaration of Texas Declaration of IndependenceIndependence

Key Figures in Texas Key Figures in Texas Independence,Independence, 1836 1836Key Figures in Texas Key Figures in Texas Independence,Independence, 1836 1836

Sam Houston(1793-1863)Sam Houston(1793-1863)

Steven Austin(1793-1836)

Steven Austin(1793-1836)

The Republic of TexasThe Republic of Texas1836-18451836-1845The Republic of TexasThe Republic of Texas1836-18451836-1845

The Lone Star StateStill considered province of Mexico

Independence was not recognized by Mexico but by France, Holland, and Belgium

GB toyed with idea of an independent Texas; divide and conquer U.S. and U.S. stop expansion =

Free trade at ports, abolition, and cotton production attractive for G.B.

Thanks to Pres. Tyler for annexation of Texas

Westward Bound!

Should we worry about being attacked by Natives?

>250,000 move between 1840 and 1860

The Oregon TrailThe Oregon Trail – – Albert Bierstadt, 1869Albert Bierstadt, 1869

The Oregon TrailThe Oregon Trail – – Albert Bierstadt, 1869Albert Bierstadt, 1869

Realities

    

                                                                                                                           

  

                                                                                                                                               

“Oregon Fever”

1. Early on: commercial/fur

2. Convention of 1818: US/GB share territory

3. Settled bya. Farmers

b. Fur trappers

c. Missionaries

4. Free land & patriotism

Settling Oregon

a. Settlers made state constitution – British not happy!

b. “54’ 40 or Fight!” Oregon Treaty peacefully settles boundary dispute at the 49th parallel (1846) under Pres. Polk; too many of us in the territory!

Texas and Election of 1844

Whig

Henry Clay

Democrat

James K. Polk

“Young Hickory”

Texas and Election of 1844

1. Issues of electiona. Expansion

b. Slavery

c. Statehood for Texas

2. Liberty Party – 3rd party

James Birney

Liberty Party

American Progress, 1872 John Gast

Manifest DestinyJohn L. O’Sullivan, 1845

".... the right of our manifest destiny to over spread and to possess the whole of the continent which Providence has given us for the development of the great experiment of liberty and federaltive development of self-government entrusted to us. It is right such as that of the tree to the space of air and the earth suitable for the full expansion of its principle and destiny of growth."

The West: romantic and adventurous?

Goals of “Young Hickory”1. Established an

independent treasury system

2. Acquire Oregon Country

3. Reduce tariffs4. Acquire California

and New Mexico from Mexico

From Tennessee!

The Mexican-American War

May 1846- Feb.1848

Origins Of the Mex-Amer War1. Border disputes: “I say Rio

Grande, you say Nueces!”

2. $25 m offer by Polk to Mex for Rio Grande, N.M., and Ca. = they refused

3. Polk sets the stage:a. Sends Gen. Taylor to Rio Grande

b. Navy @ Ca. ports if war declared

c. Supports Bear Flag Revolt = Ca. Independence 1846.

4. April 1846: Exaggerated skirmish = war

Mexican Dictator Santa Anna

Double-crosser!

Battle of Buena VistaFeb. 1847

5,000 American vs. 20,000 Mexicans

Lead by Gen. Zachary Taylor

Battle of Mexico CitySept. 1847

Gen. Winfield Scott

To the victor the spoils!

Mr. Polk’s War1. Not all in Congress on board

a. Lincoln/Whigs – “unnecessary war”

b. Presidential war powers questioned

2. Although no military experience, Polk controls strategy = “commander in chief”

3. Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo (Feb. 1848)

4. Gadsden Purchase - $10 m for TRR under Pres. Pierce

5. Diplomatic relations worsen between LA and US.

Mexican-American War was practice for what was to come…

Wilmot Proviso (1846)

No slavery in any of the territory ceded by Mexico

Northern Whigs and Democrats vs.

Southern Whigs and democrats

Gadsden Purchase

http://vimeo.com/10734221