Manifest Destiny and Its

Legacy 1841-1848

Chapter 17

John Tyler

• William Henry Harrison (Whig) won election of 1841

– Daniel Webster and Henry Clay were the real

leaders of Whigs but Harrison died

• John Tyler “His Accidency” becomes President,

– many Whigs did not trust him

– Was put on ballot to attract southern states’ rights

supporters, not to rule

• Opposed nationalistic programs, but joined

Whigs because he did not like Andrew

Jackson’s tactics

– Tyler’s politics opposed Webster/Clay

• Whig platform

– Financial Reform, Tariff,

– Tyler vetoed Clay’s bill for a “Fiscal Bank” (a new

Bank of US)

• Tyler kicked out of Whig Party and his cabinet

resigned in protest (except for Webster)

• House also tried to impeach Tyler

– Tyler vetoed tariff that would have given states

revenue from sale of federal land in west

• “Log Cabin” Bill allowed settlers to claim 160 acres of

federal land before it was offered for sale

War of Words With Britain

• Rise of Jacksonian-Democrats reduced sympathetic feelings towards Britain

– British press criticized America for slavery, uncivilized, base behavior

• America had to borrow money and Britain was lending it

– Panic of 1837 led to default of many American loans, causing Anglo-

American tensions

• Canadian Rebellion 1837

– Americans supported it, but it failed

– Caroline (American steamship) attempted to bring supplies to Canada,

but was attacked and sank by British in Niagara River

• McLeod (British Canadian) was arrested for murder (in 1840), British

threaten war if this happened

• Creole

– Britain offer asylum to slaves who revolted

on slave ship

– Created anger in South against Britain

• Aroostook War

– British and American militias fought over disputed border between Maine

and Canada

– Webster-Ashburton Treaty

• Established boundary.

• Allowed Britain to build Halifax-Quebec Road

• Gave US territory in Minnesota

Annexation of Texas

• Mexicans never recognized independence of

Texas

– Texas turned to France, Holland, Belgium

and Britain for help

• Saw as opportunity to limit American

political and economic growth

• Britain could gain alternative to

southern cotton

• European powers could use Texas as

way to challenge Monroe Doctrine and

create diversions for America

• Polk defeats Clay in 1844 election, so Tyler

annexes Texas

Oregon Territory

• Both Britain and America claimed Oregon

– Britain claimed based on exploration

and colonization by Hudson Bay

Company

– America claimed based on

exploration of Captain Robert Gray

and the Lewis and Clark Expedition

• Both sides wanted control of Columbia

River, so allowed joint occupation

• Oregon Trail in 1840s significantly

increased number of Americans in region

Election of 1844

• James Polk (D) defeated Henry Clay (Whig)

– Dark horse candidate (not nationally known)

• Was supported by Andrew Jackson

• Former Speaker of House and governor of TN

– Both sides tried to taint opponent with slavery

• Manifest Destiny

– Belief it is God’s will to spread America and

democracy across continent

– Supported annexation Texas and Oregon (Fifty

Four Forty or Fight)

• Would extend US to Pacific

• Walker Tariff 1846

– Lowered tariff rates which encouraged trade and

generated a lot of money for US

• Polk also restored independent Treasury

• After initial resistance Britain agreed to 49th

parallel

as border of Canada/Oregon

– Avoided war with Britain at same time US was

fighting Mexico

Cause of Mexican American War:

• Mexico never recognized Texan independence

• US said Mexico owed $3 million from Mexican Revolution

• Mexico also rejected American offers by John Slidell to buy California

• Dispute over border between Texas and Mexico

US said border

was at Rio Grande

Mexico said

border was at

Nueces River

Mexican – American War

• January 13, 1846 US sent army led by Zachary

Taylor to Rio Grande to provoke Mexico

– Mexicans attack the US army on April 25,

1846

• Polk used attack on “American” soil to justify

declaration of war

– “Spot Resolution” Abraham Lincoln (Whig)

demanded to know exactly where in America

Mexico attacked.

– Lincoln and Whigs opposed war as an attempt

to expand slavery

• Polk was motivated to war as means to get

California from Mexico and prevent British access

to California

• South and west support war, northeast opposed it

• Whigs oppose war

– Opposition ends Whigs as a political party

Bear Flag

Revolt

• John Fremont led a

rebellion of

Americans in

California against

Mexico in 1846

• By 1847, United

States controlled

California

End of War

• General Zachary Taylor “Old Rough and Ready” invaded

Mexico from Texas won many battles including Buena Vista

• General Winfield Scott – invade Veracruz and pushed to

Mexico City

• Mexico City falls in September 1847

Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo 1848

• Mexico recognize Rio Grande as southern border of Texas

• Mexico recognize Texas as part of United States

• Mexican Cession

– Mexico gave US all land from Texas to Pacific

• US give Mexico $15 million

• Opposition came from “Mexican” or “Conscience” Whigs

who did not want to expand slavery

• Opposition also came from expansionists who wanted all of

Mexico

• Treaty was pushed through Congress and ratified

Effects of Mexican War

• Expanded America by 1/3

• Encouraged Manifest Destiny

• Provided military training for future Civil War

leaders

– US Military Academy (West Point) and Naval

forces proved their value; Naval Academy

created in 1846

– Marines were successful

• Proved to European nations America’s ability to

overcome logistic and tactical difficulties fighting

• Changed Latin American attitude towards US

– US now seen as a threat and a bully

• Increased tensions over slavery

– Wilmot Proviso – attempted to ban slavery in

all new territory

Californios

• Mexican residents of California (Califonios)

– were descendants of Spanish and Mexican settlers and conquistadores

– Established missions along coast

– Following Mexican Revolt, more Mexicans arrived and ranchers took

power from missions

• Following Mexican American War and Gold Rush, Californios fell to only 15%

of population by 1850

– Lost political power

– Lost rights to land

– Suffered from laws that favored miners instead of ranchers

Gadsen Purchase 1853

• US purchased southern New Mexico and

Arizona from Mexico

• Purchased for land for railroads

• Ends continental US expansion