AP US Unit 6 November 2009

Harrison died after 4 weeks in office in 1841 Pneumonia from talking too long at his inauguration!

Tyler takes over, but is more of a Democrat than a Whig – he just didn’t like Jackson and was a individual so he had left the Democrats for the Whigs earlier

Clay still wanted to push through his Whig plans: A law ending the independent treasury Passed by Tyler

A law creating a Fiscal Bank, which would establish a new BUS Vetoed by Tyler Clay tried again with a “Fiscal Corporation” Vetoed by Tyler Whigs were very angry Dispelled Tyler from the party and thought about impeaching him Entire cabinet, except SOS Webster, resigned

Rise in Tariffs including a “redistribution plan” that would take funds from the sale of public western lands and distribute those funds amongst the states Vetoed by Tyler – rates too high and thought the feds should keep the money So Clay pushed a new Tariff plan (about 32% and the 1832 levels) and no dollar redistribution Approved by Tyler

Still some strife between the two countries They made fun of us in travel guides and magazines, about being rustic and crude America was a borrowing country at that time and England was a lender This obviously caused some tensions

Small insurgence in Canada in 1837 Supplied by some Americans An American supply boat, the Caroline, was attacked on the NY shore by the British and set on fire Breach of neutrality Slaves who escaped from VA on a captured American ship, the Creole, were given safe haven in the Bahamas in 1841

Northern Maine was a disputed area British wanted to build a road from Halifax to Quebec – the road would go through this disputed territory Lumberjacks and Militias from both sides fought in the Aroostook War in 1842

Daniel Webster and Lord Ashburton negotiated a “split the difference” treaty that would give the US 7000 of the square miles and the British would get their road The British also adjusted the Canada/US boundary further west to give us a section of Minnesota that would be found to contain the Mesabi iron ore range – the chief deposit of iron ore in the US – hah!

Mexico considered Texas a “province in revolt” since 1836 and threatened America about adopting Texas Texas was worried and was driven to negotiations with England and France They wanted an independent Texas to stop American expansion, provide them with cotton, be a free trade area, challenge the Monroe Doctrine, and to be a political pawn

Polk (D) won over Clay (W) in 1844

Tyler saw this victory as a mandate to acquire Texas Tyler had a joint resolution in both houses push this through (majority) instead of a treaty (2/3 vote). This passed in early 1845 and Texas was invited to join the Union. Mexico was VERY angry but after 9 years of Texan independence, America had decided that it had waited long enough

Oregon Country had originally been under claims from Spain (lost in Florida Treaty of 1819), Russia (gave up to in 1824 and 1825 treaties) and England and US England claimed North of the Columbia

Americans started pouring into the area south of the Columbia – originally missionaries, but then settlers in the Willamette Valley – 5000 Americans by 1846 compared to 700 British North of the Columbia US wanted to keep the 49 th parallel while England wanted to keep the Columbia This grew more important in the election of 1844, but not quite as important as Texas

Whigs: Henry Clay – pro union – on the fence about Texas – un-clarity about slavery lost him NY because of the liberty party Dems: James Polk the Dark Horse, pro expansion, or fight – owned slaves This campaign was an expression of Manifest Destiny Manifest Destiny: God wanted Americans to spread their culture and religion across the continent

Hardcore and not a good delegator 4-point program: Lower Tariff Walker Tariff of 1846 reduced rates from 32 to 25% Restoration of the Independent Treasury Acquisition of California Settlement of Oregon “dispute” England gave up and called the line at the 49 th parallel

Polk wanted to buy Mexico Was worried that England was going to buy it (turned out to be rumors) Polk really wanted San Francisco Sent Slidell to Mexico City in late 1845 with approval to purchase it for 25 million He wasn’t even allowed to present his proposition

Mexico was MAD at US Texas thing Conflict over Texas boundary – Nueces or Rio Grande Withdrew their diplomats from Washington Technically America had $3 million in claims against Mexico for destruction of US property…

Polk sent troops under General Zachary Taylor from the Nueces to the Rio Grande in January Nothing happened and Polk wanted to attack anyway, but luckily(!) Mexican troops crossed the Rio Grande on April 25 th and attacked

Polk cried out against the loss of American blood on American soil (really in an area claimed by Mexico) and many jumped into the war fever Some anti-slavery Whigs protested and a young congressman introduced a “spot” resolution trying to figure out exactly where the fighting occurred (Lincoln) Both sides were mad and looking for a fight

Santa Anna was in exile in Cuba and let US know that if they let him back he would give up California – he lied! He returned and organized Mexico against the US. Zach Taylor (Old Rough and Ready – The Hero of Buena Vista), Winfield Scott (Hero of War of 1812 – Old Fuss and Feathers), Stephen Kearny, John C. Fremont all successfully led the war against Mexico

Santa Anna stalled the Americans by saying he would work on peace… Trist (chief clerk of state department) penned the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo and it was signed on February 2, 1848 Gave US CA and TX and all land to Oregon (about ½ of Mexico) America would pay $15 mill for it America would assume the claims against Mexico Anti-slavery (conscience Whigs) were upset about it and Super-Expansionists were upset it didn’t get more

13,000 American lives lost (most from disease) 721 died in battle US was increased by 1/3 (including Texas) Yay Manifest Destiny

“Schoolroom for the Civil War” Both Lee and Grant and many other Civil War leaders gained field experience in this war Really helped begin sectional conflict Wilmot Proviso would have said no slavery in territory acquired from Mexico – didn’t pass the Senate but twice passed the House (still sectional even in Senate)