Fulfilling the DestinyCompleting Manifest Destiny

Land acquisitions

Manifest Destiny• The belief that the whole of North America

(minus Canada) to the Pacific Ocean was the dominion of the United States.

Annexation of texas• Moses Austin: was amongst the first

Americans to receive a land grant from Mexico—18,000 sq. miles!

• Empresarios were land barons whom Mexico granted enormous tracts of land for cultivation.

• Gradually these Empresarios turned Tejas into a land dominated by cotton production and slavery.

Austin’s hand picked settlers

• Austin insisted on:• No drunkards• No frontiersmen• No profane swearer• Prosperous southern slaveholders

Profitable texas• Texas was sending an

estimated $500,000.00 worth of merchandise to New Orleans for shipment to the Northern textile mills each year.

• Mexico is going to look to reign in this profitable exchange and reassert control over Mexico.

• Leadership change to Santa Anna

independence• Texas declares

independence from Mexico.

• War breaks out between Mexico and Texas

• Military effort led by Sam Houston

• Key conflicts: Goliad and the Alamo

• Republic achieved 1836

Texas massacres inspireGoliad The Alamo

• http://akorra.com/uploads/1/Battle_of_the_Alamo.jpg

To annex?Northern

perspective• Northern Whigs were

not in favor of the annexation of Texas.

• Was in Congress several times!

• Not interested in a war with Mexico

Southern perspective

• Southern Democrats were absolutely in favor of the annexation of Texas.

• Change congressional balance, extend slavery, and increase wealth.

• War with Mexico not something they opposed.

Texas to statehoodElection of 1844

• James K. Polk—the darkhorse. Clay versus Polk.

• Struggles of John Tyler (president who actually annexed Texas)

• Election decided by a third party! A small margin of but 40,000 votes!

Who is James k. polk?James K. Polk

• America’s first “darkhorse”

• A very highly regarded president in many circles.

• Chose to serve one term—known for his commitment to Manifest Destiny

Oregon54-40 or fight!

• James K. Polk takes a hardline stance with Britain who occupied the area.

• As population increases calls for statehood do as well.

• Oregon is admitted to the union on the heels of Texas in 1846.

• Slavery?

Completing America’s Manifest Destiny1846-8

The Mexican American War

• Dark Horse• Election of 1844• Unfinished business after the joint annexation

of Texas and Oregon.• Mexico’s condition in 1844. • Reasons for interest in Mexican lands?

James K. Polk

The land calls• The land possessed

great promise.

• Texas revealed its significance.

• Mexico was afraid expansion would continue South into Mexico itself.

The wars course• The propaganda

machine in US newspapers had been in high gear since the days of Texas.

War breaks out!• Mexico responded to

Taylors aggressive stance.

• Killing or wounding 16 capturing the rest of the party.

• “Mexico has passed the boundary of the United States, has invaded our territory and ,shed American blood upon American soil….war exists”

• Lincoln’s “Spot” speech

“Mr. Polk’s War”• War’s popularity

• Polk’s work ethic

• Mexico would sue for peace after several key victories

• US would keep occupied lands.

The Call to Arms

• US Army stood at 7400 prior…Polk’s call for volunteers garnered 112,000!

Taylor gets key victories, Kearny wins without firing a shot!

• Taylor takes Palo Alto and Resaca de la Palma.

• Kearny takes Santa Fe ad Monterrey

• Also captured San Diego and Los Angeles.

• More US troops die from disease than they do from combat related wounds…by a huge margin.

War ends• Taylor pummels Santa

Anna at Buena Vista.

• The amphibious landing at Veracruz.

• The victory was a stunning success. Winfield Scott wrote Polk “Mexico no longer has an army”.

• Short lived statement. Santa Anna rallies for one final defense of Mexico City with 30,000 men, the city would soon be captured.

Guadalupe-Hidalgo

The Civil War begins…• What to do with

Mexico?

• Northern and Southern perspectives emerge.

• Wilmot Proviso…

The 800 Lb. Gorilla in the room

• Congress agreed in 1844 not to talk about Slavery.

• Why?

• Until…1849

• David Wilmot