Manifest Destiny, Oregon, and the War with Mexico

Manifest Destiny  A national “mission”  The belief that the United States has a divine right to expand its territory to the Pacific Ocean.  John O’Sullivan, stated it was America’s “manifest destiny to overspread and to possess the whole of the continent which Providence has given us.”  Leads to the belief that America should have sole ownership of Oregon

Texas  1819—Adams-Onis Treaty—US drops claims to Texas. US gains Florida.  Spain offers land grants in order to promote growth of Texas  Mexico declares its independence and confirms first land grant  Stephen F. Austin

Texas  Mexico passes Colonization Laws  Low prices, large tracts of land, no taxes for 4 years  By 1830 most “Texans” are Americans  1830—Mexico issues a decree that:  Stops all immigration  Places a tax on all imported goods from the US

Texas  American settlers call for independence  1833—General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna becomes president of Mexico

The Struggle for Independence  Santa Anna becomes dictator and overthrows Texas Mexico’s constitution  Centralizes power—greater control over

The Struggle for Independence  Unrest and open conflict at San Antonio  Santa Anna marches north, furious at the loss of San Antonio

The Alamo  Santa Anna finds a small Texan force barricaded in a nearby mission in San Antonio  12 day defense with little ammunition  Texans eventually defeated and most are killed including Davy Crockett  They bought Texans some much needed time!

Independence  March 2, 1836  Sam Houston—commander-in-chief  Battle of San Jacinto  Surprise attack on Santa Anna  “Remember the Alamo”  Killed 600, captured Santa Anna  Treaty—May 14, 1836

Texas Becomes a State  Sam Houston as president wanted US to annex Texas  Jackson refuses  It would upset the balance of slave/free states  Van Buren and Tyler put off or fail to annex  Election of 1844—Polk v Clay  North wants Oregon, South wants Texas  Polk endorses, Clay opposes  Polk wins—Texas becomes a state 12/29/1845

New Mexico and California  New Mexico: Region between Texas and California  (New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, parts of Utah and Colorado)  Both controlled by Mexico  Polk offers to buy….twice!  Believes in Manifest Destiny  Decides war is the only way

War with Mexico  Strained relations  Believed annexation was illegal  Disputes over Texas-Mexico border  General Zachary Taylor ordered to march across disputed border and built a fort  Taylor’s soldiers attacked 1 month later  Congress declares war on Mexico

War with Mexico  Americans divided over the war  Democrats and newspapers support  Whigs and Northerners oppose (Lincoln and Frederick Douglass)  Polk’s Plan:  Drive Mexican forces out of border area  Seize New Mexico and California  Take Mexico City

War with Mexico  New Mexico falls  California:  Sonoma taken  Navy captures the ports in Monterey, San Francisco, and eventually San Diego  By 1847 California completely controlled  Mexico City captured

Results  Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo (Feb 1848)  Mexico gives up all claims to Texas  Establishes Rio Grande as the border  Mexican Cession: Mexico ceded(gives) California and New Mexico to US for 15 million  Gadsden Purchase 1853—10 million for strip of land at present day Arizona and New Mexico  Would eventually provide a route for the southern transcontinental railroad

Oregon Country  1818—joint occupation  1000s of mountain men move to Oregon  Trappers, traders, guides  The Oregon Trail  Begins in Independence, Mo.  1843—large scale migration by “wagon train”  5-6 month, 2000 mile journey  Scarce supplies, difficult terrain, hard work, limited fresh water, disease

The Northwest—Oregon Country  The area between the Pacific Ocean and the Rocky Mountains, north of California  (Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and parts of Montana and Wyoming)  4 nations claimed the Oregon country  US, Britain, Spain, Russia  Key site due to its location near the Pacific Ocean  Only Britain would remain to challenge American control of Oregon

Oregon and the Election 1844  Polk(Democrat) v. Clay(Whig)  Polk supports the claims for sole ownership of Oregon  “Fifty-four Forty or Fight”  Clay does not take a strong stand  Polk wins  June 1846—compromise—boundary would be at 49 degrees