1. Expansion & Texan Independence
Mr. Calella
American Studies I (Honors)
Chapter 12

2. Homework Quiz
Write a one-paragraph essay explaining the Texan war for independence and its implications on the U.S.

3. Main Idea & Discussion
Mexico offered land grants to American settlers, but conflict developed over religion and other cultural differences, and the issue of slavery
How can differences in culture cause conflicts?
How can differences in religion cause conflict?

4. What to do with Texas? Mexico achieves independence from Spain (1821)
Americans go to settle in N. frontier Mexico (Texas)
Why? What drew them?
Why did Mexico want them there?
Americans pledge loyalty to Mexico, but really held no loyalty to it
Catholicism
Speak Spanish
No slaves (Loophole-forced to sign lifetime work contracts)

5. Americans go to Texas
Influx of US settlers to Texas & Mexico to limit immigration, but cannot enforce
By 1830s, American outnumbered Tejanos 4 to 1
Stephen F. Austin: working with the Mexican government, he led the first group of American settlers into Mexican owned Texas to take advantage of the natural resources and agriculture possibilities
Ties between Northern Mexico (Texas) and U.S. get stronger with large population of Americans

6. Texan Independence
Santa Anna seizes power in Mexico City and becomes president (wooden leg)
Santa Anna suspects plans of rebellion, and is confirmed when Texas asks for more independence from Mexico
Why do states seek independence?
Austin was later imprisoned for these views and Santa Anna revokes local powers in Texas
Why do localities want to keep local gov’t?
Texans get upset and begin push for independence

7. Texan Independence
1836, Santa Anna marches 2000 troops to San Antonio and trap 187 Texans in the Alamo (old Spanish mission)
Military mistake?
Inflict major casualties upon Mexicans but eventually get inside and kill all men
Texas officially declares independence
Sam Houston made head of military
Battle of Jacinto-“Remember the Alamo”

8. The Texas Question
Santa Anna gives up and Texas becomes independent country
Treaty of Valasco
Republic of Texas w/ Sam Houston as Pres.
1838, Texas wants to be annexed into U.S.
Why do you think?
Jackson & Van Buren fail to do so, why?
Britain likes independent Texas (Why?); South does not (Why?)

9. John Tyler as President
Harrison nominated by Whigs in 1840 with Tyler (VA) as VP (get South support)
Clay not happy he was not picked
Harrison dies, Tyler assumes P (“His Accidency”)
Henry Clay’s “American System”
Infrastructure (What? Why important?)
Increased Tariff
Renew Bank of the United States
Tyler refuses to be Clay’s puppet; he vetoes Bank bill

10. Tyler (continued)
After veto, Tyler’s Whig cabinet resigns (except for Sec. St. Webster)
Webster-Ashburton Treaty (Important?)
Tyler behaves more like Democrat
Tyler tries to start his own party, but fails
No party nominates him in 1844 Election

11. Tyler and Texas
Tyler shared South’s concerns over Texas and Britain’s influence there
Webster resigns in 1843; replaced with Abel P. Upshaw
Upshaw negotiates treaty to annex Texas, but dies before he signs
USS Princeton accident
Calhoun appointed (Review?); Treaty does not get 2/3s (Why?)
1845-Before Tyler leaves office, he gets Congress to approve treaty by way of joint resolution (simple majority)