Manifest Destiny and Its Legacy, 1841– 1848mrglider.weebly.com/uploads/1/0/9/3/109362371/ch._17... · 2019. 11. 15. · VIII. A Mandate (?) for Manifest Destiny (cont.) • Election

Chapter17ManifestDestinyandItsLegacy,1841–

1848

I.TheAccessionof“TylerToo”

• Whigparty:–Wm.H.Harrison,aWhig,electedin1841andJohnTylerelectedVice-President• Cabinet:SecretaryofState—DanielWebster• HenryClayinSenate,uncrownedkingofWhigs

– Harrisoncontactedpneumoniaanddiedafteronlyfourweeksinoffice:• ByfarshortestadministrationinAmericanhistorybutlongestinauguraladdress

I.TheAccessionof“TylerToo”  (cont.)

• JohnTyler:• “Tylertoo”partyofWhigticket,nowclaimedspotlight• Stubbornlyattachedtoprinciple• ResignedearlierfromSenate,ratherthanacceptdistastefulinstructionsfromVirginialegislature• LeftJacksonianDemocratsforWhigs• EnemiesaccusedhimofbeingaDemocratinWhigclothing• TylerwasatoddswithmajorityofWhigs

I.TheAccessionof“TylerToo”  (cont.)

• Whigpartyplatform:– Pro-bank,pro-protectivetariff,andpro-internalimprovements.

• “Tylertoo”rhymedwith“Tippecanoe,”butthereharmonyended.

• Harrison,theWhig,servedforonlyfourweeks,whereasTyler,theex-DemocratbutlargelyaDemocratatheart,servedfor204weeks.

II.JohnTyler:APresidentWithoutaParty

• Whigsplatform:• Outlinedastronglynationalistprogram• Financialreformcamefirst:

– WhigCongresspassedlawendingindependenttreasurysystem

– PresidentTyler,disarminglyagreeable,signedit– ClaydrovethoughCongressabillfora“FiscalBank”whichwouldcreateanewBankoftheUnitedStates

– Clay—the“GreatCompromiser”—wouldhavedonewelltoconciliateTyler

II.JohnTyler:APresidentWithoutaParty(cont.)

– Tylervetoedbillonbothpracticalandconstitutionalgrounds– Whigleaderstriedagain,passinganotherbillprovidingfora“FiscalCorporation”

– Tyleragainvetoedtheoffensivesubstitute– Democratswerejubilant

• WhigextremistscondemnedTyleras“HisAccidency”and“ExecutiveAss”– Hewasformallyexpelledfromhisparty– Entirecabinetresigned,exceptSecretaryofStateWebster,theninmidstofdelicatenegotiationswithEngland

II.JohnTyler:APresidentWithoutaParty(cont.)

• ProposedWhigtariff:– Tylervetoedbill– HedisagreedwithWhigschemefordistributingtostatesrevenuefromsaleofpubliclandsinWest

– Hebelievedthiswouldsquanderfederalmoney• ChastenedClayitesredraftedtariffbill:

– Removeddollar-distributionscheme– Loweredratestomoderatelyprotectivelevelof1832—roughly32%ondutiablegoods

– TylerreluctantlysignedTariffof1842

III.AWarofWordswithBritain

• Anti-Britishpassions:• AtbottomlaybittermemoriesoftwoAnglo-Americanwars• Pro-BritishFederalistshaddiedout• BritishtravelerswrotenegativelyaboutAmericancustomsintravelbooks• Writingstouchedoff“ThirdWarwithEngland”• FortunatelythisBritish-Americanwarfoughtonpaperbroadsides;onlyinkwasspilled

III.AWarofWordswithBritain  (cont.)

– Americaaborrowingnation:• Expensivecanalstodigandrailroadstobuild• Britain,withoverflowingcoffers,wasalendingnation• Duringpanicof1837,severalstatesdefaultedonbondsorrepudiatedthemaltogether

– 1837—short-livedinsurrectioneruptedinCanada• Hot-bloodedAmericansfurnishedmilitarysuppliesorvolunteeredforarmedservice• Washingtonregimetriedtomaintainneutrality


• Butitcouldnotenforceunpopularlawsinfaceofpopularopposition.• ProvocativeincidentonCanadianfrontierbroughtpassionstoboilin1837:– Americansteamer,Caroline,wascarryingsuppliestoinsurgentsacrossNiagaraRiver

– AttackedbyBritishandsetonfire– Craftsankshortoffalls,butoneAmericanwaskilled

• UnlawfulinvasionofAmericansoilhadalarmingaftermaths.


– In1840aman,McLeod,whoconfessedtobeinginvolvedinCarolineraid,wasarrestedandindictedformurder

– Londonmadeclearhisexecutionwouldmeanwar– Fortunately,McLeodfreedafterestablishingalibi– Tensionsrenewedin1841whenBritishofficialsinBahamasofferedasylumto130VirginianslaveswhohadrebelledandcapturedAmericanshipCreole

– Britainhadabolishedslaverywithinempirein1833,raisingsouthernfearsthatitsCaribbeanpossessionswouldbecomeCanada-likehavensforescapedslaves

IV.ManipulatingtheMaineMaps

• Maineboundarydispute:– St.LawrenceRivericeboundseveralmonthsofyear:• Asdefensiveprecaution,BritishwantedtobuildaroadwestfromseaportHalifaxtoQuebec• RoadwouldgothoughdisputedterritoryclaimedbyMaine• AroostookWarthreatenedtowidenintofullwar

IV.ManipulatingtheMaineMaps (cont.)

– BritainsenttoWashingtonanonprofessionaldiplomat,LordAshburton,whoestablishedcordialrelationswithSecretaryWebster• TheyagreedtocompromiseonMaineboundary(seeMap17.1)• Asplit-the-differencearrangement:

– Americansretained7,000squaremilesof12,000squaremilesofwildernessindispute

– BritaingotlesslandbutwondesiredHalifax-Quebecroute

Map 17-1 p366

IV.ManipulatingtheMaineMaps (cont.)

• Carolineaffairpatchedupbyexchangeofdiplomaticnotes• Bonusinsmallprint:

– British,inadjustingU.S.-CanadianboundaryfartherWest,surrendered6,500squaremiles

– ArealaterfoundtocontainpricelessMesabiironoreofMinnesota

V.TheLoneStarofTexasShinesAlone

• Texas'sprecariousexistence:–Mexico:• refusedtorecognizeTexas'sindependence• regardedLoneStarRepublicasaprovinceinrevolttobereconqueredinfuture• MexicanofficialsthreatenedwarifU.S.A.everannexedTexas

V.TheLoneStarofTexasShinesAlone(cont.)

– ThreatenedbyMexico,Texasmaintainedcostlymilitarydefense

– TexasalsonegotiatedwithBritain&Francetosecureadefensiveshieldofaprotectorate:• In1839and1840,TexansconcludedtreatieswithFrance,Holland,andBelgium.

– Britain&FranceinterestedinanindependentTexastohelpblockfurtherAmericanexpansion

V.TheLoneStarofTexasShinesAlone(cont.)

• OtherforeignersinterestedinTexas:– BritishabolitionistshopedtoendslaveryinTexas– BritishmerchantsregardedTexasasimportantfree-tradearea—anoffsettotariff-walledUnitedStates

– BritishmanufacturershopedTexascouldproduceenoughcottontoreduceBritain'schronicdependenceonAmericanfiber

VI.TheBelatedTexasNuptials

– Texasbecamealeadingissuein1844presidentialcampaign:• Foesofexpansionassailedannexation• Southernhotheadscried,“TexasorDisunion”• Pro-expansionDemocratsunderJamesK.PolkdefeatedWhigs• LameduckpresidentTylerinterpretednarrowDemocraticvictoryas“mandate”toacquireTexas• TylerdeservescreditforshepherdingTexasintofold

VI.TheBelatedTexasNuptials (cont.)

• Despairingofsecuringnecessary2/3voteinSenateforatreaty,Tylersoughtannexationbyjointresolution• Afterspiriteddebate,resolutionpassedin1845,andTexasformallyinvitedtobecome28thstate• MexicoangrilychargedAmericanshaddespoileditofTexas• Butclearby1845thatMexicowouldnotbeabletoretakeTexas

VI.TheBelatedTexasNuptials (cont.)

– By1845LoneStarRepublichadbecomeadangerspot:• InvitedforeignintriguethatmenacedAmericanpeople• ContinuedexistenceofTexasasindependentnationthreatenedtoinvolveUnitedStatesinwars• UnitedStatescanhardlybeaccusedofhasteinachievingannexation

VII.OregonFeverPopulatesOregon

• OregonCountry:– Geography• FromRockiestoPacificOcean,northofCaliforniato54°40'(presentsoutherntipofAlaskapanhandle)• ClaimedatonetimeoranotherbySpain,Russia,Britain,andtheUnitedStates• Twoclaimantsdroppedoutofcompetition:

– SpainthroughFloridaTreatyof1819– Russiaretreatedto54°40'linebytreatiesof1824&1825

VII.OregonFeverPopulatesOregon(cont.)

– BritishclaimstoOregonwerestrong:• EspeciallyportionnorthofColumbiaRiver• Basedon:

– Priordiscoveryandexploration– Treatyrights– Actualoccupation– ColonizingagencyHudson'sBayCompany

– AmericanclaimstoOregon:• Explorationandoccupation• CaptainRobertGray(1792)stumbledontoColumbiaRiver,whichhenamedafterhisship


• FamedLewisandClarkexpeditionof1804-1806• Presenceofmissionariesandothersettlers,someofwhomreachedWillametteRivervalley– Missionaries,intryingtosavethesouloftheIndians,wereinstrumentalinsavingthesoilofOregonforUnitedStates

– TheystimulatedinterestinafarawaydomainthatmanyAmericansearlierassumedwouldnotbesettledforcenturies

• ScatteredAmericansandBritishpioneerslivedpeacefullysidebyside


– Anglo-AmericanConventionof1818(Chap.12):• UnitedStateswantedtodivideatforty-ninthparallel• BritishwantedColumbiaRiverasdividingline• Aschemeforpeaceful“jointoccupation”wasadopted,pendingfuturesettlement• HandfulofAmericansinWillametteValleywasmultipliedinearly1840sby“Oregonfever”


• Over2,000mileOregonTrail(1846)fivethousandAmericanshadsettledsouthofColumbiaRiver• BritishcouldonlymustersevenhundrednorthofColumbiaRiver

– Actuallyonlyarelativelysmallareawasindisputeby1845:

– Americansproposedline@forty-ninthparallel– BritishagainofferedlineatColumbiaRiver– Issuenowtossedintopresidentialelectionof1844,whereitbecameovershadowedbyquestionofannexingTexas

VIII.AMandate(?)forManifestDestiny

• Twomajorpartiesnominatedtheirstandard-bearersinMay1844:–WhigsselectedHenryClay– JamesPolk(Tennessee)chosenbyDemocrats—America'sfirst“darkhorse”

– CampaignanexpressionofManifestDestiny:• Senseofmission,believingGodhad“manifestly”destinedU.S.A.forcareerofhemisphericexpansion

VIII.AMandate(?)forManifestDestiny(cont.)

– ExpansionistDemocrats:• StronglyswayedbyManifestDestiny• Platform:“ReannexationofTexas”and“ReoccupationofOregon”allthewayto54°40'• “AllofOregonorNone”(Slogan“Fifty-fourfortyorfight”notcoineduntiltwoyearslater)• CondemnedClayas“corruptbargainer,”dissolutecharacter,andslaveowner

VIII.AMandate(?)forManifest Destiny(cont.)

– TheWhigs:• Counteredwiththeirownslogans• SpreadliethatagangofTennesseeslaveshadbeenonwaytoslavemarketbrandedwithinitialsJ.K.P.(JamesK.Polk)• Clay“straddled”crucialissueofTexas:

– WhilehepersonallyfavoredannexingslaveholdingTexas(anappealtoSouth),healsofavoredpostponement(anappealtoNorth)

VIII.AMandate(?)forManifest Destiny(cont.)

• Electionresults:• PolknippedClay170to105votesinElectoralCollege• 1,338,464to1,300,097inpopularvote• ClaywouldhavewonifhehadnotlostNewYorkStatebyamere5,000votes:– TinyantislaveryLibertyPartyabsorbednearly16,000votesthatwouldhavegonetoClay

• DemocratsproclaimedtheyreceivedamandatefromvoterstotakeTexas

IX.PolkthePurposeful

• PresidentJamesPolk:• Notanimpressivefigure• Hisworkloadincreasedbyhisunwillingnesstodelegateauthority• Methodicalandhard-workingbutnotbrilliant• Shrewd,narrow-minded,conscientious,persistent• Developedafour-pointprogram,andwithremarkablesuccessachieveditcompletelyinlessthanfouryears

IX.PolkthePurposeful  (cont.)

• Polk'sfour-pointprogram:– Lowertariff• SecretaryofTreasury,RobertWalker,devisedtariff-for-revenuebillthatreducedaverageratesofTariffof1842from32%to25%• Withstrongsupportfromlow-tariffsoutherners,WalkerTariffbillmadeitthroughCongress• ComplaintscamefrommiddlestatesandNewEngland(seeTable17.1)• Billprovedtobeexcellentrevenueproducer

Table 17-1 p371

IX.PolkthePurposeful (cont.)

– Restoreindependenttreasury:• UnceremoniouslydroppedbyWhigsin1841• Pro-bankWhigsinCongressraisedstormofopposition,butPolksuccessfulin1846

– ThirdandfourthpointsonPolk's“mustlist”wereacquisitionofCaliforniaandsettlementofOregondispute(seeMap17.2)


• SettlementofOregondispute:• “Reoccupation”of“whole”hadbeenpromisedtonorthernDemocratsin1844campaign• SouthernDemocrats,onceTexasannexed,cooledoff• Polk,feelingboundbythreeoffersofhispredecessortoLondon,proposedlineat49°.• Britishanti-expansionistsnowbelievedthatColumbiaRiverwasnotSt.LawrenceofWest• Britainin1846proposedlineat49°


• PolkthrewdecisiontoSenate• Theyspeedilyacceptedofferandsubsequenttreaty• SatisfactionwithOregonsettlementamongAmericansnotunanimous• Polk,despiteallthecampaignbluster,gotneither“fifty-fourforty”norafight• Hegotsomethingthatinthelongrunwasbetter:areasonablecompromisewithoutarifleraised

Map 17-2 p371

X.MisunderstandingswithMexico

– FarawayCaliforniawasanotherworryforPolk:• Diversepopulation:SpanishMexicans;Indians;some“foreigners”(mostlyAmericans)• GiventimethesetransplantedAmericansmightbringCaliforniaintotheUnion• PolkwaseagertobuyfromMexico• MexicoowedUnitedStatessome$3millionfordamagestoAmericancitizensandtheirproperty• MoreseriouscontentionwasTexas• DeadlockedwithMexicooverTexas'sboundaries

X.MisunderstandingswithMexico  (cont.)

• TexaswantedboundaryatRioGrandeRiver• MexicosoughtboundaryatNuecesRiver• PolkcarefultokeepU.S.troopsoutofno-man's-land

– CaliforniacontinuedtocausePolkanxiety:• Rumors—BritishwantedtobuyorseizeCalifornia

– AmericanscouldnotacceptunderMonroeDoctrine• PolkdispatchedJohnSlidelltoMexicoCity(1845):

– Tooffer$25millionforCaliforniaandterritorytoeast– MexicowouldnotevenpermitSlidelltopresenthisoffer

XI.AmericanBloodonAmerican(?)Soil

• Polkdecidedtoforceashowdown:– January13,1846,heordered4,000men:• UnderGeneralZacharyTaylortomarchfromNuecesRivertoRioGrandehopingforaclash• Whennothinghappened,heinformedcabinet(May9,1846)thatheproposedtodeclarewarbecauseof:– Unpaidclaims– Slidell'srejection

• Newsofbloodshedarrivedsamenight• MexicantroopscrossedRioGrandeandmetTaylor

XI.AmericanBloodonAmerican(?)Soil(cont.)

– PolksentvigorouswarmessagetoCongress:• Congressoverwhelminglyvotedforwar• InmessagetoCongress,Polkwasmakinghistory—notwritingabalancedaccount• Spotresolution—byAbrahamLincolndemandedinformationastoprecise“spot”onAmericansoilwhereAmericanbloodhadbeenshed

– DidPolkprovokewar?• Californiawasimperativeinhisprogram• Mexicowouldnotsellitatanyprice

XI.AmericanBloodonAmerican  (?)Soil(cont.)

• PolkwantedCalifornia,sohepushedquarreltobloodyshowdown• Bothsideswerespoilingforafight• Bothsideswerefiredbymoralindignation• Mexicanswantedtofight“BulliesoftheNorth”• ManyAmericanssincerelybelievedMexicowasaggressor

XII.TheMasteringofMexico

• PolkwantedCalifornia—notwar:–Whenwarcame,hewantedtofightonalimitedscaleandthenpulloutwhenhecapturedprize

– SantaAnnaconvincedPolkthathewouldbetrayMexico,buthethendrovehiscountrymentoadesperatedefenseoftheirsoil

XII.TheMasteringofMexico  (cont.)

• AmericanoperationsinSouthwest&Californiacompletelysuccessful(seeMap17.3):– BothGeneralStephenKearnyandCaptainJohnFrémonthadsuccessinWest

– FrémontcollaboratedwithAmericannavalofficersandlocalAmericanswhohoistedbannerofshort-livedCaliforniaBearFlagRepublic

Map 17-3 p374


– GeneralTaylordefeatedMexicansinseveralbattlesandthenreachedBuenaVista(February22-23,1847):• Herehis5,000troopsrepulsedattackby20,000troopsunderSantaAnna• Taylorbecame“HeroofBuenaVista”• Taylor,however,couldnotdefeatMexicodecisivelyinsemi-desertsofnorthernMexico• Needacrushingblowatenemy'svitals—MexicoCity


• GeneralWinfieldScottsucceededinbattlinghiswaytoMexicoCitybySept.,1847– OneofmostbrilliantcampaignsinU.S.history– ScottprovedtobemostdistinguishedU.S.generalbetweenAmericanRevolutionandCivilWar

XIII.FightingMexicoforPeace

• ScottandchiefclerkofStateDepartmentNicholasTristarranged:– ArmisticewithSantaAnna(cost$10,000)– PolkorderedTristhome,buthewrotea65-pageletterexplainingwhyhecouldnotcomehome

– TristsignedTreatyofGuadalupeHidalgoonFebruary2,1848,forwardedittoWashington

XIII.FightingMexicoforPeace (cont.)

• TreatyofGuadalupeHidalgo:• ConfirmedAmericantitletoTexas• YieldedenormousareastretchingtoOregon,the

ocean,embracingCalifornia• Totalexpansewasabout½ofMexico• UnitedStatesagreedtopay$15millionforlandand

toassumeclaimsofitscitizenagainstMexico(amount=$3,250,000)

– (see“MakersofAmerica:theCalifornios”)

XIII.FightMexicoforPeace (cont.)

• PolksubmittedtreatytoSenate:– AntislaveryWhigsinCongress—dubbed“MexicanWhigs”or“ConscienceWhigs”—denounced“damnablewar”

– Anotherperilimpended:• AswellinggroupofexpansionistsclamoredforallofMexico• IfAmericahadseizedit,shewouldhavebeensaddledwithanexpensiveandvexatiouspolicingproblem

XIII.FightMexicoforPeace (cont.)

• Victorsrarelypayanindemnity:– Polkarrangedtopay$18,250,000afterwinning– CriticsclaimedAmericanshadguiltyconscience– Apologistspointedproudlyto“Anglo-Saxonspiritoffairplay”

XIV.ProfitandLossinMexico

• Aswarsgo,MexicanWarasmallone:– Cost13,000Americanlives,mostbydisease– Fruitsofwarwereenormous:• America'stotalexpansewasincreasedby1/3• Provedtobeblood-spatteredschoolroomforCivilWar• Campaignsprovidedpricelessexperienceforarmy• NavyvaluableinblockadingMexicanports

XIV.ProfitandLossinMexico  (cont.)

• MarineCorpswonnewlaurelsandtothisdaysingsinitsstirringhymnaboutthe“HallsofMontezuma”• Armywagedwarwithoutdefeatandwithoutamajorblunder• Opposingarmiesemergedwithincreasedrespectforeachother• MexicansneverforgotthatU.S.A.toreawayabout½oftheircountry• MarkedanuglyturningpointinrelationsbetweenUnitedStatesandLatinAmerica

XIV.ProfitandLossinMexico  (cont.)

• WararousedslaverydebatethatnotstopuntilCivilWar• DavidWilmotofPennsylvaniaintroducedamendmentthatslaveryshouldneverexistinanyterritorieswrestedfromMexico• WilmotProvisoneverbecamelaw,but:

– Endorsedbylegislaturesofallbutoneoffreestates– Cametosymbolizeburningissueofslaveryinterritories

• Morethananyotherissue,debateoverslaveryinnewwesternlandsdividedNorth&South• Fromperspectiveofhistory,openingshotsofMexicanWarwereopeningshotsofCivilWar

Map 17-4 p379

Documents

Manifest Destiny and Its Legacy, 1841– 1848mrglider.weebly.com/uploads/1/0/9/3/109362371/ch._17... · 2019. 11. 15. · VIII. A Mandate (?) for Manifest Destiny (cont.) • Election