Manifest DestinyManifest Destiny

AmericaClaims a Continent

Manifest Destiny

Other people “must give way to our manifest destiny to overspread and possess the whole of the continent which __________ has given us for the development the great experiment in liberty.” – John L. O’Sullivan (1845)

Election of 1840

President John TylerElected in 1840 as Harrison’s Vice Pres.First VP to succeed to presidencyNominally a Whig, actually an anti-Jackson DemocratBecomes a president without a partyDubbed "His Accidency" by his detractors, John Tyler was the first Vice President to be elevated to the office of President by the death of his predecessor.

Henry Clay and Daniel Webster attempted to control presidency – Harrison and later TylerTyler would not give in to Clay’s National Bank although he was willing to compromiseWhen the Whig Congress passes a similar Bank bill Tyler vetoes it on the grounds of states rightsWhig’s dismiss Tyler from the Whig PartyAlthough a states right advocate Tyler strengthened the __________Replaced the Whig cabinet with __________Spread the developing sectional cleavage wider

Election of 1844Early Candidates

John Tyler MartinVan Buren Democrat

INDEPENDENTS PARTY LEADERS

WhigJohn C. Calhoun Henry Clay

Election of 1844Surviving Candidates

Both Whigs and Democrats expected party loyalty: commitment to the party was a characteristic of both parties during the 1840s.

Whigs: Henry Clay – nominated on the first and only ballot No Party Platform – a statement of general principals:

Well-regulated currencyTariff to defray the necessary expenses of the government & for the protection of domestic labor

“No position” on annexation of TX

Democrats: James K. Polk Favor annexation of Texas & all of Oregon

“Reoccupation of Oregon and reannexation of Texas” “Fifty-four Forty or Fight”

Liberty Party (Anti-slavery) James Birney Opposed annexation

Election of 1844

Clay1,299,062

Polk1,337,243

Birney 62,300

NEW YORK – 36 Electoral VotesBirney receives 15,800 votes in New YorkClay looses New York by 5,100 votesBirney probably drew his support from Clay votesIf Clay wins New York he wins the Election 141 to 134

Polk’s Program

1. __________ __________

2. Reestablish an __________ __________

3. Settlement of __________ _________ dispute

4. Acquisition of __________ from Mexico

The Santa Fe Trail1845

The Oregon Territory(Joint Occupancy)

The Oregon Trail

Became a tireless promoter of the West

__________ Oregon Trail

Explored Far West and California

His reports helped spark Easterners’ interest

John Charles Frémont(The “Pathfinder”)

Fort Laramie Treaty(1851)

Between US and tribes of the northern plainsUS would:

Compensate tribes for damage caused by _______ _______Confine wagon trains to __________ __________Prevent __________

Tribes would:Stop attacking __________ __________Allow army to build forts along __________ __________Confine themselves to __________ __________

Concept of “specified areas” created intellectual foundation for later __________ system