Chapter 18: Manifest Destiny and Its Legacy
Early Presidents: George Washington (Fed) John Adams (Fed) Thomas Jefferson (D-R) James Madison (D-R) James Monroe (D-R) John Q. Adams (D-R) Andrew Jackson (D) Martin Van Buren (D) William H. Harrison/ John Tyler (W) James K. Polk (D)
".... the right of our manifest destiny to over spread and to possess the whole of the continent which Providence has given us for the development of the great experiment of liberty and federaltive development of self government entrusted to us. It is right such as that of the tree to the space of air and the earth suitable for the full expansion of its principle and destiny of growth." - John L. O'Sullivan (1845)
John Winthrop, “City Upon A Hill”, 1630
William Henry Harrison (1841) 1 st Whig President “Old Tippecanoe” Shortest Term in US History
John Tyler, Whig (in name only) Harrison’s VP, ( ) Vetoed Bank Plan Vetoed Tariff Cabinet resigned (except Webster) Whigs attempt to impeach Aroostook War settled with Webster-Ashburton Treaty (1842) Attempts to Annex Texas (finished under Polk)
Aroostook War led Aroostook War, 1839 Van Buren admin Preceded by Caroline Incident Bloodless Lumberjack War Settled by Webster-Ashburton Treaty
Forts of the Hudson’s Bay Company, 1845
Fort Vancouver, Hudson’s Bay Company
Robert Gray, American discovers the Columbia River in 1792
Jason Lee, early missionary Pioneer to Willamette Valley Established in 1831 By 1845, 5000 Americans lived in Oregon Territory
Early Catholic Priests Fathers Blanchet (L), DeSmet (R), DeMers (C)
Waiilatpu Mission, founded by Marcus Whitman in 1836
Tiloukaikt and Tomahas, Cayuse chiefs
Whitman Massacre (artist depiction), 1847
State of Washington’s two Statues in the US Capitol: Marcus Whitman and Mother Joseph
Loser (again)
James K Polk, Democrat (one term) Underestimated Visionary of “Manifest Destiny” Texas annexed Oregon Border established (1846) “54-40 Or Fight” Walker Tariff (reduced rates) Independent Treasury Bill Wilmot Proviso Introduced (not passed) Mexican-American War (46-48) Treaty of Guadaloupe Hidalgo (Cali, Nev, Ariz, NM to USA) California Gold Rush begins
Western Acquisitions During Polk’s Presidency
John Slidell, US Minister to Mexico, 1845
Causes of the MexAm War Unpaid Debts by Mexicans Rejection of Slidell’s Offer Attack of US Troops on the Border (see GW Bush WMD)
US House of Representatives, 1845
MexAm War Heroes: Winfield Scott “Old Fuss and Feathers”/ Zachary Taylor “Old Rough ‘n Ready”
“Spotty” Lincoln Whig Congressman from Illinois Lost bid for re-election because of his opposition to the Mex-Am War
Henry David Thoreau Walden “Essay on Civil Disobedience”
Nicholas Trist Negotiated the Treaty of Guadaloupe Hidalgo (1848)
Guadaloupe Hidalgo 1848 Gadsden Purchase, 1853
Effects of the MexAm War 13,000 American lives lost (Blood for Land) Treaty of Guadaloupe Hidalgo increased US by 1/3 Manifest Destiny reinforced Gave experience for Civil War soldiers Tarnished Latin American Relations Increased Slavery Tension (ie- Wilmot Proviso)
Bear Flag was first raised in 1846 by John C. Fremont in Sonoma, CA In 1847, Stephen Kearney’s US troops replace it Stars & Stripes