17. Manifest Destiny and Its Legacy

William Henry Harrison Elected in 1840 Whig Party Henry Clay & Daniel Webster hoped to control “Tippecanoe & Tyler Too” I don’t feel so well…

The Accession of “Tyler Too” 4 weeks into office, Harrison contracts pneumonia & dies VP John Tyler becomes president Ah man, I was told I wouldn’t have to do anything!

John Tyler Virginian More a Democrat than Whig Against Whig Policies of: ◦ Tariffs ◦ Bank of U.S. ◦ Internal improvements

Whig Platform for Financial Reform Bill to end the independent treasury system ◦ Tyler signed Clay: new Bank of the U.S. ◦ Tyler vetoed the bill Tyler vetoes a proposed tariff bill ◦ Later revised & signed

“Man Without a Party” “His Accidency” Tyler’s cabinet resigns ◦ Except Webster (finalizing treaty w/ England) Whigs fail to impeach

A War of Words with England Anti-British feelings were high ◦ Feds died off ◦ Two wars ◦ Brits said Americans uncivilized U.S. borrowing, England lending ◦ Panic of 1837 led to defaults on loans Both sides printed scathing remarks

Rebellion in Canada (1837) Americans furnish supplies, weapons, and volunteered The Caroline, sunk on Niagara R. by British forces Tensions were high, but later calm

Creole 1841, passengers of the slave ship Creole take control and sail to Bahamas ◦ Britain offers asylum

Manipulating the Maine Maps “Aroostook War” – fought between lumberjacks over disputed territory in Maine ◦ Maine declares war on Canada Daniel Webster & Britain’s Lord Ashburton negotiate and produce the Webster-Ashburton Treaty ◦ More land for Maine ◦ Brits get room for Halifax-Quebec road ◦ Mesabi Iron Range!

Maine Boundary Settlement, 1842

The Lone Star of Texas Shines Alone After independence, Texas built up reinforcements Made alliances w/ France, Belgium, Holland ◦ Troubled the U.S.  The Monroe Doctrine undermined  Texas cotton for the British?

The Texas Question Southern “slavocracy”… ◦ Always wanting more slave land Annexing Texas may cause war… Britain wanted Texas independent… More land & cotton if annexed…

The Belated Texas Nuptials Expansionist James K. Polk won election of 1844 “Mandate for Manifest Destiny” 1845 Texas joins Union Mexico: U.S. was land grabbing

Oregon Fever Oregon territory was expansive Claimed by both U.S. & England ◦ Lewis & Clark Oregon Trail common route to Oregon

Oregon Trail

The Doomed Donner Party April, 1846 – April, 1847

The Doomed Donner Party James Reed & Wife Margaret Patrick John Breen Breen Breen  Of the 83 members of the Donner Party, only 45 survived to get to California! CANNIBALISM ! ! CANNIBALISM ! !

A Mandate (?) for Manifest Destiny 1844 Presidential Election ◦ Dem. – James K. Polk ◦ Whig – Henry Clay

A Mandate (?) for Manifest Destiny

Polk the Purposeful “Young Hickory” laid out a 4 pt. mission ◦ Lower tariff ◦ Restore independent treasury ◦ Fix Oregon border issue ◦ Get California

Misunderstandings with Mexico Polk wanted California Relations with Mexico strained ◦ Recalled foreign minister ◦ Defaulted on payments of 3 mil loan ◦ Texas boundary disputes John Slidell sent to buy Cali for $25 million ◦ Snubbed by Mexican gov.

The Mexican-American War ( )

American Blood on American (?) Soil Hoping for a showdown, Polk sends 4,000 men under Zachary Taylor to march from Nueces R. to Rio Grande Mexican troops attack & kill or wound 16 ◦ Abraham Lincoln pushes for a “Spot Resolution” War declared!

The Mastering of Mexico Polk hoped to gain California Santa Anna promised to give up California if returned to power— he lied

Stephen W. Kearney Marches from Fort Leavenworth, Kansas with 1700 men & captures Santa Fe

John C. Fremont Leads the Bear Flag Revolt, a successful revolution in California

“Old Rough & Ready” Zachary Taylor fought into Mexico ◦ Reaches Buena Vista ◦ Repels 20,000 Mexicans with his 5,000 ◦ Becomes a hero

Gen. Winfield Scott Scott commanded the southern troops Landed in Vera Cruz Battled his way to Mexico City

Fighting Mexico for Peace Nicholas Trist negotiates an armistice ◦ 10,000 for Santa Anna Trist refuses to leave after being recalled

Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo Nicholas Trist, American Negotiator

Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo Mexican Cession – America got all American territory north of the Rio Grande ◦ U.S. paid $15 million for it ◦ $3.5 mil in debts to U.S. absolved Whigs wanted an end to the war Some wanted all of Mexico Polk settled for the terms of the treaty

Profit and Loss in Mexico