WESTWARD EXPANSION 1842-1850
President Tyler’s Administration (1841—1845) ▪ John Tyler becomes an “accidental” president following William Henry Harrison’s death one month after being inaugurated – battles the Whigs throughout his presidency
MANIFEST DESTINY: America is destined to expand from coast to coast ▪ It’s a God-given destiny for America to expand ▪ We are superior people and need to civilize the Native Americans ▪ Should spread our culture, institutions and ideals of democracy
Webster-Ashburton Treaty (1842) Circumstances: There were several causes of Terms/Effects tension between Great Britain and United ▪ US-Canadian land claims were settled States: The Canada-Maine border in the area ▪ US-British relations are strengthened of the Aroostook Valley was disputed, issues ▪ “spirit of mutual concession” over ships and rescuing slaves
Annexation of Texas (1845) Circumstances: ▪ 1821:Mexican Revolution grants Mexico free from Spanish control. Texas is a state in the Mexican Republic. Mexico begins to invite immigration from the north by offering land grants to Stephen Austin and other American settlers. Mexico needed to increase the population of the area and to produce revenue for their infant government.
▪ 1835: Thousands of Americans live in Texas. American settlers now had to obey Mexican law which also included converting to Catholicism, prohibiting slavery, and pledging allegiance to Mexico. Mexico begins to crack down on American settlers who ignore Mexican authority and refuse to conform. (Texas was becoming too “American.”)
▪ 1836: Texans begin to rebel against Mexican authority and declare their independence. The Mexican dictator, Santa Anna, advanced north and annihilated the Texan garrisons at the Alamo and at Goliad. “Remember the Alamo!” becomes the rally cry as Texans fight back. Sam Houston defeats Santa Anna at San Jacinto, and the Mexicans were forced to let Texas go its way. Texas wins it independence and becomes a republic.
▪ Sam Houston immediately asks the American government for recognition and annexation. President Jackson, Van Buren and Henry Clay are against the annexation of Texas: don't want to anger Mexico and upset the free state/slave state balance. Southern slave states support the addition of Texas and fear an alliance between independent Texas and Britain.
▪ President John Tyler made the annexation of Texas a priority, and in the closing days of his presidency, Congress voted to make Texas a state. Texas admitted to the Union as the 28th state on the last day of Tyler’s presidency with a joint resolution in 1845 (majority vote in Congress). Officially becomes a state in 1846 under Polk.
Effects: ▪ Helps fulfill Manifest Destiny ▪ The addition of territory increases tensions between the North and the South over the future of slavery in the new states
Wilmot Proviso of 1846: o Republican Representative David Wilmot (D-PA) proposed a bill at the start of the Mexican-American war stipulating that “neither slavery nor involuntary servitude shall ever exist” in any territory to be acquired from Mexico. o aroused intense sectional feelings
Election of 1844: Whigs nominate Henry Clay, Democrats nominate James K. Polk
POLK = EXPANSIONST - had eyes set on Texas, Oregon, and the Southwest and California
He tapped into the public mood and realized that manifest destiny was the very issue that could lead him to victory. Polk called for expansion that included Texas, California, and the entire Oregon territory. The northern boundary of Oregon was the latitude line of 54 degrees, 40 minutes. "FIFTY-FOUR FORTY OR FIGHT!" was the popular slogan that led Polk to victory against all odds.
Oregon Treaty 1846 Circumstances: Terms & Effects: ▪ Lured West: lush valleys, rich forests, mild ▪ While originally calling for “54° 40’ or climate attracts settlers and fur traders fight!” Polk was willing to compromise ▪ Oregon Trail: stretched 2,000 miles from ▪ Polk pressures Britain to negotiate the St. Louis to Portland (5 month journey) rights to Oregon ▪ Oregon had been jointly controlled by the ▪ US and Britain compromise on the Oregon US and Britain since 1818 border at 49th parallel
Polk agrees to compromise at 49th parallel because of growing tensions with Mexico over the border of Texas
Mexican-American War 1846-1848 Circumstances: ▪ Polk hoped to purchase CA and NM from Mexico and authorized diplomat John Slidell to offer $24 to $30 million for the territory. The annexation of Texas angered the Mexican government so much that it refused to receive Slidell.
▪ Tensions mounted between the United States and Mexico over a border dispute. Mexico claimed the Nueces River to be Texas’s southern border, but the United States insisted the border lay further south at the Rio Grande River.
▪ Polk, angry over the failed purchase and refusal of Mexico to see Slidell, retaliated by sending troops into disputed territory to pressure Mexico into negotiating.
▪ A force under General Zachary Taylor took up a position just north of the Rio Grande. Days later, Mexican troops attacked an American patron. When news of the clash reached Washington, Polk sought and received from Congress a declaration of war against Mexico.
Terms/Effects: ▪ Whigs accused Polk of provoking Mexico ▪ Northerners feared the expansion of slavery ▪ US routes Mexican forces in an easy victory
▪ MEXICAN CESSION: US gains California, New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado, Utah and Nevada (US pays 15 million)
▪ Rio Grande border of Texas
▪ Manifest Destiny is fulfilled
THE SLAVERY ISSUE: Should slavery extend into the new territories?
Election of 1848:
Zachary Taylor Lewis Cass Martin Van Buren Whigs Democrats Free-Soil Hero of Mexican-American Supported popular No slavery in the territories War. Never voted, knew little sovereignty: allowing settlers of politics, had no platform to vote on fate of slavery in territories
California Circumstances: Effects: ▪ Gold is discovered in 1848, leading to a rush ▪ Admission of California as a free state of settlers to California. “49ers” would upset the slave state/free state ▪ California asks to be admitted as a free state balance (remember: Missouri Compromise previously used to solve a similar issue) ▪ Compromise of 1850 adds California
COMPROMISE OF 1850:
o California admitted as a free state
o The territories of Utah and New Mexico left open to popular sovereignty
o Slave trade abolished in Washington D.C.
o New Fugitive Slave Law (strictly enforced)