The Whig Alternative to Jacksonian Democracy

1832 Election

The New Political Coalition Opponents of Jackson formed a new party in 1834 – the Whig Party Generated support from Southern Planters; Northern Industrialists Evangelical Protestants Campaigned for Strong central govt. Internal improvements (Clay’s American System) National Bank & industrial growth Moral & social reforms

1836 Election

Van Buren in the White House Biggest problem he faced was the depression he inherited from Jackson (Panic of 1837)

Election of 1840 Whigs nominated William Henry Harrison & John Tyler to run against Van Buren Whigs portrayed Van Buren as an aristocrat and Harrison as a simple frontiersman who lived in a log cabin & drank hard cider “Tippecanoe & Tyler Too!” Election had the biggest voter turnout at that time Harrison won but died 32 days after inauguration

1840 Election

Expansion & the Election of 1844 Tyler refused to support the larger Whig political agenda (originally was a Democrat) In response, the Whigs nominated Clay to run against Democrat James K. Polk in the 1844 election Polk based his platform on westward expansion; Clay emphasized economic policies (tariffs & internal improvements) Polk won the election, which showed that the nation was focused on expansion

Election of 1844

Manifest Destiny Tyler worked to support the cause of Manifest Destiny but had little political support Belief that the U.S. was destined to expand westward to the Pacific – duty to civilize others & spread Christianity Used to gain public support for American territorial expansion ".... 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

The Texas Question State in the Republic of Mexico since 1822 By 1835, thousands of Americans had migrated to Texas after the Mexican govt. offered land grants to settlers Many brought slaves with them With foreigners flooding in, the Mexican govt. saw their power base erode, so they attempted to tighten their control; banned slavery Texans responded by proclaiming independence in 1836

The Texas Question After Mexican dictator Santa Anna defeated Texans at the Alamo, Texans, led by Sam Houston, fought back & defeated Mexico the San Jacinto River Treaty of Velasco (1836) recognized Texas’s independence & acknowledged the Rio Grande as the border between Texas & Mexico Treaty was never ratified by the Mexican govt.

The Texas Question Houston asked the U.S. govt. to annex Texas, but Jackson said no Concerned about reviving the slavery issue President Tyler finally admitted Texas to the Union in 1845

War with Mexico Polk wanted to buy CA, but relations with Mexico City were tense Mexican govt. had severed diplomatic relations after the U.S. annexed Texas Boundary issues involving Texas Wouldn’t consider Polk’s offer to buy CA

War with Mexico Jan Mexican troops crossed the Rio Grande & attacked General Taylor & his men – start of the war Wilmot Proviso Called for the prohibition of slavery in lands acquired from Mexico in the Mexican War Never became federal law

War with Mexico Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo (1848) Mexico ceded Texas U.S. paid $15 million for the land west to the Pacific