1. Manifest Destiny and Its Legacy
Chapter 17
Manifest Destiny and Its Legacy

2. “American Progress” by John Gast, 1872
This painting shows "Manifest Destiny" (To expand the United States from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean).
In 1872 artist John Gast painted a popular scene of people moving west that captured the view of Americans at the time. Called "American Progress" and widely distributed as an engraving portrayed settlers moving west, guided and protected by a goddess-like figure and aided by technology (railways, telegraphs), driving Indians and bisons into obscurity.

3. William Henry Harrison
He was the first president to die in office.
He served one month, the shortest term of any president.
He gave the longest inauguration speech of any president.
He was the first candidate to have a campaign slogan---"Tippecanoe and Tyler, Too."

4. John Tyler Became president after the death of Harrison
Former Democrat turned Whig due to dislike of the dictatorial tactics of Jackson.
He was against almost everything Whigs were for.
National Bank
Protective Tariff
Internal Improvements
His entire cabinet resigned, except for Webster.
Tyler had 15 children, the most of any president.

5. Caroline Affair
The Caroline was an American steamship that had been aiding rebels in Canada. Canadian militia, on orders of the British, seized the Caroline in American waters. They set the ship on fire, and sent it hurling over the Niagara Falls. These actions strained US relations with Great Britain almost to the point of war.

6. www.state.me.us/.../ history/fortkent/war.gif
Aroostook War
Feb.–May, 1839, border conflict between the United States and Canada. In 1838, Maine and New Brunswick both claimed territory left undetermined on the U.S.-Canadian border, including the valley of the Aroostook River. Maine farmers were interested in the valley's farmlands, and when New Brunswick sent Canadian lumbermen to do logging there, Maine authorities raised a force to eject them. New Brunswick asked for British regular troops and full-scale fighting seemed imminent, but Gen. Winfield Scott, who had been sent to the area with a small U.S. force, managed to reach an agreement (Mar., 1839) that prevented trouble. The boundary was later settled by the Webster-Ashburton Treaty (1842).
history/fortkent/war.gif

7. Webster-Ashburton Treaty
The Webster-Ashburton Treaty, signed August 9, 1842, settled the dispute over the location of the Maine-New Brunswick border between the United States and Canada as well as the location of the border (at the 49th parallel) in the westward frontier up to the Rocky Mountains and the shared use of the Great Lakes. It also called for a final end to the slave trade on the high seas, to be enforced by both signatories.

8. The Lone Star Republic
After Texas won their independence from Mexico it remained an independent country. (Lone Star Republic)
Texas asked the United States to grant them statehood but the U.S. refused because of fear of war with Mexico and fear of inflaming the slave issue.
Due to fear of an attack by Mexico Texas made treaties with France, Holland, and Belgium.
When Texas began negotiations with Great Britain the U.S. was forced to act.

9. New Yorkers opposed the annexation of Texas in this petition.
James Polk responded by becoming the candidate in favor of national territorial expansion. Polk avoided trouble over his desire to annex Texas (which would become a slave state) by proposing to add Oregon as a free state.
New Yorkers opposed the annexation of Texas in this petition.

10. Election of 1844 Whigs – Henry Clay Democrats – James K. Polk
Third run at the presidency
Leading spokesman for the Whig Party
Desperate to become president
Democrats – James K. Polk
A dark-horse candidate who had been picked because the Democrats couldn’t agree on anyone else.
Called “Young Hickory”
He and the Democrats advocated “Manifest Destiny.”
Plan: Annex Texas and annex the Oregon Territory and whenever a slave state was added from the south a free state would be added from the north.
Clay desperately tried to promote the same plan and he contradicted himself and lost the election; thus becoming a three time loser for the presidency.

12. Annexation of Texas
After the landslide victory of James Polk, who ran on a ticket supporting annexation of Texas, Congress approved the annexation by joint resolution. In years past, Congress had blocked the Tylers' treaties for these annexations.

13. Oregon Territory
The Oregon territory stretched from the northern tip of California to the 54° 40’ line.
Once claimed by Russia, Spain, England, and the U.S.
England had good reasons for its claims north of the Columbia River, since it was populated by British and by the Hudson’s Bay Company.
Americans had strong claims south of the Columbia River due to the voyage of Robert Grey and the population explosion as a result of the Oregon trail.

14. Oregon Trail
By the middle of the 19th century, the Oregon Trail had become the main route to the American Northwest. Thousands traveled the route, which took six months by covered wagon. Deeply rutted roads cut by wagon wheels can still be seen today in many places along the trail.

15. A Man and Woman With a Covered Wagon, Prospect, Oregon, George E
A Man and Woman With a Covered Wagon, Prospect, Oregon, George E. Nichols, photographer, 1913.

16. 54º40' or Fight!

17. Compromise
The 1844 Democratic presidential candidate James K. Polk ran on a platform of taking control over the entire Oregon Territory and used the famous campaign slogan, "Fifty-four Forty or Fight!"
Through negotiations with the British after James K. Polk's inauguration, the boundary between the U.S. and British Canada was established at 49°

18. James K. Polk
Polk promised to lower the tariff and he delivered by reducing the tariff from 32% to 25% despite complaints by the industrialists.
He also restored the independent treasury in 1846 and wanted to acquire California and settle the Oregon dispute.
President Polk was the first president in office to have his photo taken (1849).
Polk had ruined his health from overwork while in office. He died of exhaustion only 3 months after his term ended.

19. Polk’s Desire for California
Polk had a strong desire for California but Mexico refused to negotiate due to the annexation of Texas.
The U.S. then sent John Slidell to Mexico City with instructions to buy California for $25 million, however, once he arrived, the Mexican government refused to see him.
This angered Polk to the point of war.

20. American Blood on American (?) Soil
A frustrated Polk now forced a showdown, and on Jan. 13, 1846, he ordered 4000 men under Zachary Taylor to march from the Nueces River to the Rio Grande, provocatively near Mexican troops.
Congress refused to give Polk a declaration of war unless Mexico fired the first shot. As events would have it, on April 25, 1846, news of Mexican troops crossing the Rio Grande and killing of wounding 16 Americans came to Washington.
Polk received his declaration of war

21. Spot Resolution
Congressman Abraham Lincoln’s demand to know the exact spot where American blood had been shed on American soil.
Lincoln insisted that Polk instigated the war.
Northerners questioned Polk’s motives because Mexican territory would be slave territory.

22. Mexican-American War
In the Southwest, U.S. operations led by Stephen W. Kearny and John C. Fremont (leader of the Bear Flag Revolt in California) were successful.
“Old Rough and Ready” Zachary Taylor, fought into Mexico, reaching Buena Vista, and repelled 20,000 Mexicans with only 5000 men, instantly becoming a hero.
General Winfield Scott led American troops into Mexico City.

23. Bear Flag Republic
The first "stars and Stripes were raised over Monterey, California by Commodore John C. Sloat commander of U.S. Naval Forces on July 9, At that time the flag had 28 stars.  California became a state on September 9, It was represented on the flag by the 31st star.

25. Treaty of Guadalupe Hildalgo
Called for Mexico to cede 55% of its territory (present-day Arizona, California, New Mexico, and parts of Colorado, Nevada and Utah) in exchange for fifteen million dollars in compensation for war-related damage to Mexican property.
Mexico was forced to recognize Texas as part of the U.S.
The southern border of Texas was set at the Rio Grande River.
Seeds planted for Civil War

26. Results of the Mexican War?
The 17-month war cost $100,000,000 and 13,000+ American lives (mostly of disease).
New territories were brought into the Union which forced the explosive issue of SLAVERY to the center of national politics * Brought in 1 million sq. mi. of land (incl. TX)
These new territories would upset the balance of power between North and South.
Created two popular Whig generals who ran for President.
Manifest Destiny realized.

27. Wilmot Proviso
The Wilmot Proviso, first suggested on August 8, 1846 in the House of Representatives and attached to many bills in the United States Congress, would have outlawed slavery in any territory acquired from Mexico by the United States as a result of the recently begun Mexican-American War.
The proviso, which was never passed, was named for Congressman David Wilmot, a Democrat from Pennsylvania.