1. During the 1800s, which group was best known for assisting runaway slaves in the United States?
A Quakers
B plantation owners
C Puritans
D Southern politicians

2. Polk and the Mexican-American War

3. 1844 Election
Shortly after his inauguration, President W. H. Harrison died and the very unpopular John Tyler became President
Tyler tried to annex (take over) Texas but Congress refused to make a deal that Tyler supported
In the 1844 election, Tyler was not re-nominated.
Instead, the Whigs chose Henry Clay to run against the Democrat, James K. Polk
Polk wanted the US to expand, annex Texas, and kick Great Britain out of the Oregon Territory
Clay’s platform focused on pro-business policies and tariffs
Polk won a close election, and became President
After Polk’s election, the House of Representatives passed a bill to annex Texas
The Senate soon approved it, and President Tyler sent it to Texas for approval

4. Annexing Texas
When Polk was inaugurated, he urged Texas to agree to the treaty
Texas said yes, and became the 28th State
Texas had a border dispute with Mexico
Mexico claimed that the southern border of Texas was the Nueces River
Texas claimed the southern border was the Rio Grande
Polk sent a secret diplomat, John Slidell, to Mexico
Gave permission to pay $25-30 million to buy California & other land
$684 million to $821 million in today’s money
Mexico refused the offer, angering Slidell

5. War Breaks Out
Following independence and the Texas Revolution, Mexico’s government and army were weak
Because of this, the US and Britain both sent men to California to make a claim on it
US sent army Captain John C. Fremont
Fremont would later be arrested and put into military court (court martial) for leading Californians in a rebellion against the US and declaring their own country, the Bear Flag Republic
He was pardoned by President Polk due to his military bravery during the war
Polk then sent General Zachary Taylor to the Rio Grande
This provoked a dispute because of the border disagreement
Mexican army attacked and killed 11 US troops on patrol, starting war

6. Question 1
Discuss with a partner how you think the US will fare in the war (how will we do) and why, then write down your answer

7. The Mexican-American War
US troops in Texas, lead by Zachary Taylor, won most battles
Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna wrote the Mexican government, saying he would lead the army as a general again
With control of the army, he declared himself President of Mexico
Despite Santa Anna’s skill, the Mexican forces were not well equipped and the government could not afford the war
The war went so poorly for the Mexican army that Santa Anna’s wooden leg (he had his real one shot off in a war with Spain) was stolen by US troops from Illinois, where the leg still is today
Fremont led troops in California, and had similar levels of success
The US navy and marines then invaded central Mexico
Lead by General Winfield Scott, they quickly marched to Mexico City and forced a surrender

8. Opposition to War
Many Americans supported the war, but some were opposed
Author Henry David Thoreau refused to pay taxes to support the war
Arrested, wrote “Civil Disobedience” after jail
Congressman Abraham Lincoln said that Americans must be shown where blood was shed on US soil to justify war
Was later beaten when running for re- election due to unpopularity of his view
Others, such as Frederick Douglass, feared that new lands would expand slavery
This could cause a bigger fight in the US

9. Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
The entire war lasted less than 2 years ( )
The war was officially ended by the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
The Treaty gave the US lots of land
Mexico gave up California, Nevada, Utah, and parts of Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico, and Wyoming
The Treaty also established a set border at the Rio Grande
People’s patriotism in the US surged
Polk became even more popular, as did General Zachary Taylor
Polk chose not to run for a 2nd term
Taylor did run for president, and was elected in 1848

10. Question 2
How do you think the outcome of the Mexican- American War and the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo could have either lead to or prevented the start of the Civil War?

11. Oregon Treaty
In the Oregon Territory, Polk had campaigned on the idea of “54⁰40’ or Fight!”
Was willing to go to war with Britain for Oregon
However, instead of having to fight two wars, Polk negotiated a treaty with Great Britain
Great Britain got the land north of the 49th parallel, the US got the land south of it
The modern border with Canada
Some Americans were angry we didn’t get more land, but they were later satisfied by the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo

12. Wilmot Proviso
Some anti-slavery Americans were not happy with all the new land added from Mexico
Most of it was south of the Missouri Compromise line
Therefore, it could have slavery
Pennsylvania Congressman David Wilmot proposed an amendment to the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
Called the Wilmot Proviso, it said that all lands gained by the US from Mexico would not allow slavery
Passed by the House of Representatives, denied by the Senate
Although the Proviso never became law (the Senate never passed it), Wilmot added it to dozens of bills between 1848 and 1850
This added to growing conflict over the role of slavery in the US