Transcript Ch. 17 PPT Manifest Destiny and the U.S. Mexican War

Ch. 17 PPT
Manifest Destiny and the U.S.
Mexican War
President Harrison-Whig VP Tyler
• Whig President William Henry Harrison dies in
1841, 4 weeks into office–John Tyler = Pres.
• Pres. Tyler switched from Democrat to Whig,
BUT still held Democrat views.
• Whig Congress (Clay) put thru a bill for a
“Fiscal Bank” (new bank of the U.S.), Pres
Tyler vetoes it.
• Whig Congress tries again for a “Fiscal
Corporation”, again Pres. Tyler vetoes.
• Tyler’s entire cabinet resigned, except Sec. of
State Daniel Webster.
• Congress redrafted their tariff bill, Tyler
reluctantly signed it into law.
Maine Boundary Dispute: Aroostook War
• British wanted to build a road westward from
Halifax to Quebec, which would pass through
part of Maine.
• Lumberjacks from Maine and Canada entered
Aroostook River Valley - fights flared up –
called Aroostook War.
• London sent Lord Ashburton to talk with
Secretary Webster - agreed to compromise.
• Result: Americans keep 7,000 sq. miles –
British got 5,000 sq. miles plus route that they
wanted
Ch 17 TMWK
1. Map Pg 374 After the Aroostook War,
describe the Maine Boundary settlement
of 1842.
2. Pg 376 & 379 Describe what is
happening in both pictures. (pay
attention to contrasts in the individual
picture)
Texas
• Argument against annexation: might give more power
to supporters of slavery.
• Mexico refused to recognize Texas’s independence
• Pres John Tyler arranged for annexation of Texas in
the U.S. by a joint resolution which required a
majority vote, instead of 2/3 vote in Congress.
• 1845 Resolution passed: Texas formally invited to
become 28th state - few days before the next Pres –
Polk, came into office.
• Mexico severed diplomatic relations with U.S. and
refused to recognize Texas as US state
TMWK
3. Write down what Annexation and Manifest Destiny
means.
MANIFEST DESTINY
• Phrase used by leaders/politicians in 1840s to
explain continental expansion by U.S. – feeling a
sense of "mission,"
• They believed that God had destined them to
spread their democratic institution over the continent.
• Reason for manifest destiny: Birth rates and increase
in population, need for land
TMWK
Allegory: characters or events represent
or symbolize ideas and concepts.
7. Describe how the characters or events in
the painting represent or symbolize
ideas/concepts.
Allegorical Painting –
TMWK
4. Pg 379 Paragraph What Goals did Polk Set as
President?
5. Pg 381 Paragraph What did Polk attempt to
negotiate before the Mexican-American War?
6. Pg 381 Map The border of Oregon and Canada
was in dispute. Which was the northern most
boundary of “Oregon Country” and what
boundary line did the US and British settle
upon on the “compromise?”
Oregon Country
• Land West of Rockies to Pacific Ocean; north to the
line of 54° 40’.
• Britain, France, Russia, and Spain had claims on the
area. Spain & Russia gave up their claims to U.S.
• Now both British and US had exploration and
occupation.
• 1840’s: American population increased in the area.
By 1846 – 5,000 Americans.
• British proposed line of 49°, Polk asked the Senate to
decide and they quickly approved the 49° border line
in the 1846 Oregon Treaty.
President Polk: 4 Point Program
(Defeated Clay in 1844 Election)
1. Tariff of 1846 (Walker Tariff) for revenue:
the bill reduced Tariff of 1842 from 32% to
25%.
2. Restoration of independent treasury
(dropped by Whigs in 1841) to place govt
funds.
3. To acquire California
4. Settlement of Oregon border dispute:
British proposed line of 49°, Polk asked Senate
to decide - they quickly approved it.
54° 40’: the
claim the
U.S. had in
Oregon
Territory
49° parallel
(latitude) – the
U.S. agreed to
this border for
Oregon
Oregon
California and Texas?
• 1845: Pop. of California mixed – 13,000 Spanish
Mexicans, 75,000 Native Americans, less than a
thousand “foreigners.”
• 1845: Pres Polk sent John Slidell to Mexico City to
offer $25 million for California and land to the east.
Mexican govt refused the proposal.
• Southwestern border of Texas = Nueces River, but
Texans were claiming the more southerly Rio
Grande River as the border instead.
• When US annexed Texas, Mexico severed
diplomatic relations with US and refused to
recognize Texas as part of U.S.
Texas Border Dispute: Between U.S. and Mexico:
Nueces River or Rio Grande River???
TMWK
8. In your opinion, did Polk provoke war
with Mexico? Why or why not?
9. Pg 383 MAP Name two victories by the
Americans and two victories by the
Mexicans during the Mexican War. (U.S.
vs. Mexico over Texas)
Polk Provokes War?
• Jan 1846: Pres Polk ordered 4,000 men under
General Taylor to march from Nueces River to
Rio Grande River.
• Pres Polk wanted to ask Congress to declare
war on Mexico for 1) unpaid claims ($3 Million)
2) Rejection of Slidell.
• Is this reason enough for Congress to declare
war on Mexico?
• April 1846: Mexican troops crossed Rio
Grande and attacked General Taylor’s troops –
16 American casualties.
• Pres Polk cried “shedding of American blood
on American soil.’” How was this bending the
truth?
• Congress then voted for war against Mexico.
Palo Alto
5/8/1846 – First major battle and victory for U.S.
Displayed U.S. advantages - artillery
US Conflict with Mexico
• Whig Congressman, Abraham Lincoln,
introduced resolutions requesting information
on the precise “spot” on American soil where
American blood had been shed. Lincoln push
the “spot resolutions” with persistence.
• Did Polk provoke War? Polk wanted
California, but Mexico wasn’t selling it- only
way was to use force or revolt.
• Dethroned Mexican dictator Santa Anna was
exiled in Cuba. Polk permitted him to go back
to Mexico if he would help U.S. acquire
California. But when Santa Anna returned to
Mexico, he rallied to defend Mexico’s land
claims.
Mexican-American War
• 1846: American General Kearney captured
Santa Fe.
• Captain John Fremont collaborated with
American naval officers to overtake California.
• General Zachary Taylor fought his way across
Rio Grande into Mexico. At Buena Vista, in
1847, Taylor’s troops of 5,000 men went up
against 20,000 Mexican troops. Americans
won. (Taylor = Hero of Buena Vista)
• 1847: American General Winfield Scott wins
and takes Mexico City.
Santa Anna
Buena Vista
TMWK
10. Pg. 384 Paragraph What did U.S.
get in the Treaty of Guadalupe
Hidalgo?
1848 Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
• Mexico recognized American claim to
Texas
• US acquired lands of present-day CA,
Nevada, Utah; and parts of Colorado,
Arizona, New Mexico, Wyoming.
• US agreed to pay $15 million for the
Mexican lands
• US agreed to assume the debts Mexico
owed to the U.S. = $3,250,000
• Treaty approved by Senate: US paid total
of $18,250,000 for all the lands.
Treaty of
Guadalupe
Hidalgo
TMWK
11. Pg 388-389 Paragraph What is the
Wilmot Proviso? Did the Wilmot
Proviso pass?
Post Mexican-American War
• America increased in size by one-third
• Representative David Wilmot introduced
amendment - the Wilmot Proviso:
• Wilmot Proviso: stipulated that slavery
shouldn’t exist in any of the territory
acquired from Mexican War. Proviso passed
in the House, but NOT Senate (twice), so
never became federal law.
• Reputation of ““Old Rough and Ready” Taylor –
reputation would earn him presidency
• New territories brought into the Union will
upset the balance of slave slates vs. free
states – forced the issue to the forefront.
(can’t be ignored)