Transcript Chapter 17

Chapter 17
Manifest Destiny and its Legacy
(1841-1848)
Questions
2. What proof can you give of John Tyler’s unpopularity? What did
Tyler do that made the Whigs so angry with him?
3. Explain at least four causes of tension between the US and Great
Britain in the 1830’s and 18040’s.
6. Why did some hesitate to annex Texas? Why was it finally
admitted to the Union?
8. What part did Manifest Destiny play in the 1844 election?
11. Explain some of the reasons Congress declared war on Mexico.
14. What positive and negative outcomes resulted from
Mexican-American War?
John Tyler “Tyler Too” (2)
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10th president (Fourth Virginian president)
Became President after Hamilton died after 4 weeks in office
opposed nationalism and supported states' rights
sought to strengthen and preserve the U.S. through territorial
expansion
Whig Party
o pro-bank, pro–protective tariff, nationalism
o Henry Clay manipulated the candidates in order to pass Whig
legislature
was not well received by the Democratic-Republicans at first
because of his refusal to establish a centralized bank (contrary to his
own whig party)
Tyler’s dislike of his own party’s ideals and his refusal to pass a lot
of their decisions, made many people resent him and question
whether he was right for office
o he was expelled from the Whig party
o given the nickname “His Accidency” (13)
(PAGE 371)
Tension Between Great Britain and the US (3)
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By 1842, the United States still harbored a strong hatred towards
Britain
o Main Reasons
 Bitter memories from two Anglo-American Wars
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(American Revolution & the War of 1812)
 Federalist British sympathizers had all disappeared
 British travelers spoke bad of American customs
Both countries engaged in a battle of “words”
o British travel guides wrote very negative things about the
slave trade, lynching . etc. about the US in nationally read
travel guides
o America in retaliation did not have a copyright law, which
denied foreign authors royalties
Canadian Insurrection
o Canadian insurgents began to rebel against Britain, and
America began to furnish them with supplies
o The Caroline (US) was carrying supplies when British forces
set it on fire
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Maine
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A great controversy arose in the early 1840s surrounding the
Maine boundaries
As the British remembered from the War of 1812, the St
Lawrence River turns into ice and they wanted to build a road
from Halifax to Quebec as a safety precaution against the
Americans
The road ran through disputed territory claimed by Maine where
Canadian and American lumberjacks went in order to make use
of the tall-timbered Aroostook River
Due to the arising conflicts a rivalry arose which later turned into
a small scale lumberjack war which was called the Aroostook
War
In order to avert escalating the already heated situation, England
sent the conciliatory financier Lord Ashburton
He and Daniel Webster, the secretary of state, negotiated and
gave the Americans 7,000mi of the 12,000mi of the disputed land
The British received less of the land but got the Halifax-Quebec
road
Funnily enough, the British surrendered 6,500 square miles while
adjusting the US-Canadian border which was where the priceless
Mesabi iron ore of MN was
The Annexation of Texas (6)
The Lone Star of Texas Shines Alone
Texas was in a very uncertain situation with Mexico
● Texas was considered a revolting province by Mexico who
refused to give it it’s own independence
● America ran the risk of war if it protected Texas although there
were many benefits for annexing Texas
In order to protect themselves, Texas made treaties with France,
Holland, and Belgium
● Britain especially wanted relations with Texas because Britain
would have the upper hand
● Britain would be able to challenge the Monroe Doctrine
● Britain abolitionists could lead the southern states into upheaval
● They could take advantage of Texas’s surplus of resources
(PAGE 374)
The Annexation of Texas (6)
PAGE 375
The Belated Texas Nuptials
● In the presidential campaign of 1844, Texas was a leading
issue
● The Democrats were pro-expansion and wanted to annex
Texas.
● In 1845, President Tyler signed a resolution that invited Texas
to become the 28th state
● Many “conscience whigs” believed that Texas would help the
slave power’s so Tyler arranged for a joint resolution vote in
order to approve the annexation
● Mexico was angry that America was forcefully stealing
Texas, although they did not have any claim on Texas
anymore
● By 1845, Texas was a very dangerous place to be, it menaced
America and it threatened to involve America in a series of
Manifest Destiny (8)
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The campaign of 1844 was part of an emotional upsurge known as
the Manifest Destiny.
○ Many citizens in the 1840’s and 50’s believed that God had
“manifestly” destined the American people to conquer the
American continent.
○ These citizens would spread their democratic institutions over
at least the entire continent, and possibly over South America
as well.
Expansionist Democrats were strongly swayed by the Manifest
Destiny.
○ Many proclaimed for the “Reannexation of Texas” and
“Reoccupation of Oregon”.
○ Out bellowed Whigs in slogans such as “All of Oregon or
none” and Accused Henry Clay of being a corrupt barganier
and a slaveowner.
Oregon Country
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Everyone wanted the Oregon Country territory
o Spain, Russia, Britain and US all claimed Oregon Country
Spain dropped out with the Florida Treaty of 1819 (Adams-Onis
Treaty)
Russia dropped out with the treaties of 1824 and 1825 (375)
Left England and the US to fight for it
o English inhabited the north of the Columbia river, with the
Hudson’s Bay Co. also being established there
o The US inhabited the south of the Columbia river where
missionaries and other settlers made their home (helped to
gain interest and maintain place for the US)
English and Americans lived peacefully but before long an influx
of Americans with “Oregon fever” began to arrive south of the
Columbia river (around 5,000)
English realized that the best course of action in the midst of the
population imbalance was to make a peaceful treaty with the US
(376)
The Mexican War (1846 to 1848)
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The Mexican War was fought mainly because the United
States wanted California, and after offering $25 million,
Mexico didn’t take the deal.
James Polk, president at the time, was made aware that the
British wanted California, so he was in a rush to seize
California before the British were able to, whether he
bought it or forced it out of Mexico’s hands.
Both sides were itching for a fight, and both wanted to
prove how much better they were than the other. The war
was quick fought; all America wanted was Califonia.
Mexico ended up with half the land it had in the first
place, but were “grateful” for not losing all of their land to
America.
James Polk ended up still paying $18,250,000 for the land
taken.
James K. Polk
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Served as the United States 11th president, and was the last of the
Jacksonians to be President.
Known as the “dark horse” because no one expected him to
become president over the Whig Henry Clay.
Unlike prior presidents, Polk focused on foreign policies
(westward expansion and foreign trade)
Goals as President
o To lower the infamous Tariff of 1842; this made the
colonists happy and increased revenue
o Restoration of the national treasury (was not accepted by
the Whigs who were pro-national bank)
o Acquisition of California
o Settlement of Oregon dispute
When in war with Mexico, all he wanted was California, and was
only willing to go to war in order to capture the land. Once seized
he pulled out of the Mexican War.