Territory expansion dominated-Slavery? Tyler Too WH Harrison & Whig Spoils-figurehead Daniel Webster, Henry Clay the real leaders of the Whigs Harrison died-Tyler, the Virginian took over-Democrat Minority faction of Whigs-put on ticket to attract fringe Opponent to Clay/Webster faction-Tyler a state’s righter

Tyler Whig plan was largely nationalistic-first passed a law ending the independent treasury system & then pushed through bill for new federal bank Tyler vetoed the bank/tried again & failed-Tyler vetoed Tyler becomes a hated man-expelled from the Whig Party & his cabinet(except Webster) resigned-Rumors of impeachment New Tariff proposed-scheme to distribute among states of revenue from sale of public lands-Tyler vetoes-eventually new tariff proposed & accepted by Tyler in 1842

War of Words w/ Britain New problems in 1842-still hatred-Jacksonian Democrats viewed as backwards by British-books viewed angrily by Americans War of words restricted copyright privileges fro foreign authors We were a borrowing nation & they were lenders Panic of 1837 caused default on bond payments Problem in Canada-American steamer-Caroline carrying supplies to insurgents across Niagara River-attacked on NY shore by British-1 killed yet illustrators drew different picture- Mcleod-1840 charged & acquitted-asylum to 130 Virginia slaves captured 1841-more tension

Maine Dispute British tried to build a road from Halifax to Quebec-ran through disputed territory-fighting erupted-”Aroostook War” 1842 crisis deepened-London sent a nonprofessional diplomat w/American ties(Lord Ashburton) & he & Webster worked out an agreement Treaty established Maine boundary-we received more land & they received the road Same treaty-furthered the Northwest boundary-Mesabi iron ore of Minnesota

Lone Star of Texas Since 1836 Texas had unusual existance-Mexico threatened war if we tried to receive Texas Texans greatly outnumbered-began negotiations w/ Britain & France-Treaties w/ France, Holland, & Belgium British saw huge opportunity in Texas-trade w/ no tariffs, abolitionism, break down the Monroe Doctrine, split the U.S.- cotton in Texas also-relieve the threat of being cut off supplies by embargo or war Texas Nuptials 1844 Campaign Issue-Texas-pro expansion Democrat Polk defeated Whigs and Clay-Lame Duck Tyler thought a mandate to acquire Texas Tyler arranged for joint resolution and passed-invited to become the 28th state-Mexico upset but U.S. had to act- potential major danger spot

Oregon Fever Claimed at various times by a number of countries Spain and Russia dropped out & British claims were strong U.S. claims strong as well-Joint Occupation w/ Treaty of 1818 American plan to divide w/ 49th Parallel failed w/ British wanting Columbia River Early 1840s-”Oregon Fever”-over 2,000 mile trip-By ,000 Americans settled-British losing the population race wanted a peace settlement-No real controversy yet became an issue by 1844 election

A Mandate for Manifest Destiny Clay-Whigs/Polk-Democrats-Tennesse-dark horse? “Manifest Destiny” Democrats ran on Reannexation of Texas & reoccupation of Oregon-”all the way to the 54 40’ Clay hurt his chances by riding the fence w/ Texas Polk nipped Clay only 38,000 separated popular vote Liberty Party-actually helped Polk Mandate? Tyler thought Polk victory was a mandate-pushed for a Joint Resolution before leaving the White House

Polk