THE AMERICAN PAGEANTCHAPTER 17

Manifest Destiny & Its Legacy1841-1848

Old Tippecanoe…

Hard Cider Campaign of 1840 Let Van from his coolers of silver drink

wineAnd lounge on his cushioned settee,Our man on a buckeye bench can recline,Content with hard cider is he

Martin Van Buren (NY-Dem) vs. William Henry Harrison (OH-Whig) real Whig leaders were Daniel

Webster (Sec. of State) and Henry Clay in Senate.

Irony of Harrison’s presidency Longest inaugural address-105

minutes; shortest administration-1 month

and Tyler Too

Converted from Democratic Party Disapproves of Jackson “dictatorship” Minority of Whigs pro-states righters

Whig Platform: not published In reality: Clay’s platform—pro B.U.S., pro-tariff, pro-

internal improvements

Tyler vs. the Party

Financial reform top priority Bill signed to end independent treasury

system Clay pleased

“Fiscal Bank” bill rejected Drunken mob gathers outside White House

“Fiscal Corporation” bill rejected too Whigs referred to Tyler as “His Accidency”

and “Executive Ass” Whig tariff bill initially vetoed as well

Final straw Whigs expelled “Democrat” Tyler from

party Entire Cabinet resigns except Daniel

Webster (Sec. of State) Tried to impeach

Another War w/ England? Anti-British sentiments

Lack of Federalists, war memories. Led to literary war of words

British authors (Dickens) who could not receive copyright royalties from US sales.

Panic of 1837 resulted in states defaulting on British loans.

1837: American citizens’ support Canadian insurrection Caroline attacked on New York shore Canadian named McLeod bragged

about involvement Found not guilty in court British in Bahamas offered 130

escaped slaves asylum Creole

War in Maine “Aroostook War”

1838-1839 Proposed road from

Halifax to Quebec Maine/Canada fight over

disputed territory. Unclear since Treaty of

Paris Webster-Ashburton

Treaty 1842 US receives more land

including Mesabi Range in MN

British get desired road route

Texas Shines Alone

1836 Texas Independent of Mexico. Lone Star Republic-province in revolt?

Constant fear of Mexican attack Large Military

Treaties with France, Holland, and Belgium British interests in using TX

Check US expansion into SW Wanted TX for cotton. British abolitionists wanted to use Texas as base to

attack slavery in South US afraid of foreign powers (FR) using

British & TX vs. US conflict to violate Monroe Doctrine

Texas Issue Raised

Due to fears, TX became campaign issue in 1844.

Pro expansion Polk (D) defeated Clay (W) Lame Duck Tyler interpreted as mandate to acquire

Texas. “Conscience” Whigs opposed of expansion

due to slavery issue 1845: Texas annexed by joint resolution

instead of treaty Invited to become 28th state Mexico angered.

Manifest Destiny

1844 Election: Whigs chose Clay, expansionists in Democratic Party engineered nomination of Polk 1st “dark horse” candidate Polk: Speaker of House, Governor of TN,

backed by Jackson. “Manifest Destiny” was campaign issue

Democrats called for annexation of Texas and all of Oregon.

Whigs responded by tying Polk to slavery and Clay to liberty.

Clay hurt by straddling fence on Texas. Lost New York by 5,000 votes Antislavery Liberty Party won 16,000 votes!

Onward to Oregon

Both England and US had strong claims to Oregon based on trade, exploration,

occupation. 1818: US/Britain agreed to joint

occupation 49th parallel as northern border of

LA Purchase Columbia River area disputed

1840s: “Oregon Fever” led to about 5,000 US settlers by 1846 only a few hundred for Britain,

British began to realize implications.

“54’ 40 or Fight”

Young Hickory

Polk develops 4-point program, achieved in under 4 years. 1st point: lowered tariff. Treasury Sec. Walker

lobbied Congress for Walker Tariff of 1846. Reduced rates (32% to 25%), but yet gave good revenue b/c strong economy.

2nd point: Independent Treasury restored; Achieved in 1846.

3rd point: Acquire California. 4th point: Acquire Oregon. Polk again proposed

49º, British first said no, but realized Columbia R. not that valuable, area was “furred out.”

Misunderstandings w/ Mexico

Polk & others felt Manifest Destiny included California.

1845: CA population mostly Indians and Spanish-Mexicans, less than 1,000 Americans. Polk wanted to buy California, but Mexico upset

by damage claims in Texas. Texas dispute heightened by boundary

dispute: Nueces River or Rio Grande? Polk kept US troops out of disputed area.

Polk thought British might buy it, sent minister (John Slidell)to Mexico City to purchase Mexico refused to even hear offer.

American Blood on American Soil

Jan. 1846, Polk ordered Gen. Zachary Taylor to move from Nueces River to Rio Grande

did not provoke Mexican army initially. April/May, impatient Polk moved to declare war

but his plan worked – Mexico started shooting, 16 US killed. Polk declared shedding of “American blood on

American soil,” Congress voted for war.

Congressman Abraham Lincoln suspicious, introduces “spot” resolutions to get info about location of attacks. Damaged Polk’s reputation Polk provoked war to grab California, protect from

British. Southwestern expansionist also wanted war

against Mexico.

War On

Polk wanted limited war just to get CA, but Santa Anna double-cross led to larger war. Instead of acting on behalf of

America, rallies support of countrymen

Opportunist John C. Frémont, with local Americans, proclaimed short-lived California republic.

Notable military achievements: Zachary Taylor at Buena Vista. Winfield (“Old Fuss and Feathers”

Scott’s brilliant campaign to Mexico City, most distinguished American general since Revolutionary War.

Seeking Peace

Polk’s rep. Trist, embarrassed by Santa Anna, finally negotiates Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo.

Terms: (1) US gets all land between Texas and Oregon, incl. California.

Terms: (2) US pays $15M for land, and agrees to pay damage claims against Mexico ($3.25M).

Two problems with ratification: 1) “Conscience Whigs” got control of House in 1847,

threatened to not fund the war. (2) Manifest Destiny expansionists were calling for all of

Mexico. Critics suggest $18.25M was for guilty conscience,

but need for haste was likely motivator.

Profit and Loss in Mexico

War cost 13,000 US lives most from disease (fairly cheap).

Enormous gains: US territory increased by 1/3 larger than LA Purchase.

Military success impressed British/foreign critics.

After war, Latin America feared US, condemned greed.

Heightened slavery tension