Manifest Destiny  Belief that the United States is destined to spread self-advancement, civilization and democracy across the continent to the Pacific Ocean.  It contained racist ideas that it was acceptable to remove Native Americans and Mexicans from their land because they were holding up progress.

Underlying Reasons for Manifest Destiny  New Land – New Domestic Resources – Domestic Markets for Manufactured Goods  Western Ports – Access to Asian markets  Population increase – Natural & immigration Germany & Ireland – Conflicts over employment- living space  Social / Economic Pressure Valve Theory  Enthnocentrism and Entitlement – Divine Will – Free Development - Political Institutions  Social and Economic  Purely Economic

John O’Sullivan  John O’Sullivan was an editor for the United States Magazine and Democratic Review  In July 1845, O'Sullivan coined the term “Manifest Destiny” to encourage the spirit of expansionism.  Manifest Destiny claimed that it was the objective of the United States to absorb all of North America.

The Role of Land Ownership  Land is associated with wealth, political power and independence.  Americans desire it for various reasons – farming – making money – national growth – starting a new life

Social Reasons  Whites believed that they are bringing civilization, democracy and technology to the west.  Americans associate land ownership with wealth, individualism, political power and independent "self-rule.”  The United States population has grown dramatically due to European immigration. Americans feel cramped along the east coast and move out west.

Economic Reasons  Frontier land was inexpensive or free. Perfect for those starting a new life again.  Businesses seek new trade markets with countries in the Pacific region.

Political Reasons  Americans have had a history of westward movement since they stepped foot on North America.  Americans also have dreams of expanding into Cuba and Mexico.

Southern Desires for Expansion  Southerners wanted to enlarge the slave empire demanded territory.  New slave states as promised under the Missouri Compromise would also enhance the South’s political power in Washington  New slave states would also make the growing slave population profitable

Northern Desires for Expansion  East coast businesses sought more markets in the Pacific (they want to sell goods to Asia)  The ports of San Francisco would serve as a military presence along the Pacific Coast

Arguments Over Expansion  Not all Americans believed that the country should continue its drive to spread west – Many Northerners accused the South of pushing for the spread west so that the US could gain more slave states, giving the proslavery South more votes in Congress – Some Americans simply felt that it was wrong for the US to push so many different peoples off of lands that the US had no legal claim to – Some also wished for the US to maintain its long- standing policy of isolationism

The Texas Dilemma  Mexico won its independence from Spain in 1823 – In efforts to attract settlers, even American settlers, it began to offer generous terms Americans could bring slaves and could worship any Christian religion – Americans soon outnumbered Mexicans three to one – In 1829 the Mexican government banned slavery in the Texas region and stated that all migrants would have to convert to the Roman Catholic religion Americans ignored the demands and continued to migrate

The Texas Dilemma  Santa Anna overthrew the Mexican government in 1834 and declared himself dictator  He soon after stated that Mexico’s laws would now be enforced in Texas  Texans, under the leadership of Sam Houston, declared their independence by stating that Texas was now an independent republic

The Texas Dilemma  Santa Anna invaded Texas and at the infamous Battle of the Alamo killed all of the defending Texans  The Texas army, under Sam Houston, surprised the Mexican army at the San Jacinto River and captured Santa Anna  Santa Anna was forced to sign a treaty that stated that Mexico would now recognize the independence of the Republic of Texas – Texas’s southern border would also stretch all the way to the Rio Grande River

The Texas Dilemma  Sam Houston applied immediately for Texas to be annexed by the US – Jackson and Adams ignored his request They knew the North would oppose annexation because Texas would be a slave state – There was also the issue of possible war with Mexico if the US annexed Texas – President John Tyler ( ) tried to annex Texas The British were by now in talks with Texas about annexing the territory (it needed the cotton and it would protect them from the Mexicans) and Tyler wanted to block their efforts (the British having Texas would threaten US rule in America)

Manifest Destiny and the Election of 1844  The Democratic Party was somewhat unsure about what approach they should take to the 1844 election… – John C. Calhoun represented proslavery and pro- annexation (Texas) – Martin Van Buren represented the North and those unsure about the possibility of more slave states  Deadlock at the party’s convention led to them deciding on James Polk, a dark horse (unexpected) candidate – He was a disciple of Andrew Jackson and he completely embraced Manifest Destiny (expansion)

Manifest Destiny “[Mexicans] must amalgamate and be lost, in the superior vigor of the Anglo-Saxon race, or they must perish.” John L. O’Sullivan, Editor, Democratic Review

What Caused the Mexican War?  Americans are determined to move westward from sea to shining sea  Texas is annexed by the United States in 1845 and becomes the 28 th state in the union  Mexico argues that theboundary is still the Nueces River not the Rio Grande  The U.S. Army provokes the Mexican army to attack them along the Rio Grande River

America Divided?  Northerners feel that the war is taking money away from improvements to the nation  Northerners feel that Polk wants to take over all of Mexico. They are right!  Taxes for the war effort increase. Some Americans are against more taxes.  Senator John C. Calhoun is against acquiring Mexico because it will “taint” the U.S.

The Election of James Polk 1844  James Polk runs a campaign of expansion and pledges to expand the United States if elected  When elected he interprets this as a mandate to expand the nation from the people

Mr. Polk’s Little War  Polk orders General Zachary Taylor to send troops to provoke the Mexicans  American troopers are attacked and with this Polk goes to Congress to get approval for war

Polk before Congress “Mexico has passed the boundary of the United States, has invaded our territory and shed American blood upon American soil…War exists by the act of Mexico herself” President James Polk Speech before Congress 1846

Civil Disobedience  In 1847 Illinois congressman Abraham Lincoln questions Polk’s account of the border incident  He goes on to accuse Polk of misleading Congress and starting a war for territory  Writer Henry David Thoreau is arrested for failing to pay taxes that he believes support the war  He writes an essay “Civil Disobedience”

The Opposing Armies The Mexican Army  Mexican officers do not go to military school  Old weapons, cannons and disorganization  It is an army of men forced to serve as soldiers The American Army  College educated West Point officers  Horse mounted “Flying Artillery” units (good cannons)  The army was a volunteer army comprised of many immigrants

General Winfield Scott  Hero of the War of 1812 who is known for his strict discipline  Commander of the U.S. army during the Mexican War who marches onto Mexico City and ends the war

General Zachary Taylor  Veteran soldier of Indian Wars and plantation owner  American general who is “not afraid of blood or to get bloody”

Santa Anna  A talented politician but his ego is his downfall  President of Mexico who leads the Mexican Army to defeat because of poor leadership

A soldier’s view of the war “The shells thrown from our battery were constant and regular discharges, so beautiful in their flight and so destructive in their fall. It was awful! My heart bled for the inhabitants. The soldiers I did not care so much for, but it was terrible to think of the women and children.” Captain Robert E. Lee Corps of Engineers

The Cost of War  1,700 killed  11,000 die of diseases  Millions will be spent on the war effort  The Mexican War will serve as a training ground for Civil War generals

Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo  United States pays Mexico $15 million dollars an additional $3 million will paid to Mexican citizens who make claims against the United States military  Texas, California, Nevada, New Mexico, Arizona and Colorado are ceded to the U.S.  Ceded, is the act of legally giving up territory to another nation  Mexicans in the region overnight are to become Americans. It is estimated that 100,000 Mexicans will become American citizens

Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo “In the said territories, property of every kind, now belonging to Mexicans not established there, shall be inviolably respected. The present owners, the heirs of these, and all Mexicans who may hereafter acquire said property by contract shall enjoy with respect to it guarantees equally ample as if the same belonged to citizens of the United States.” Article VIII, Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo

The Mexican Cession

Second Class Citizens  The Spanish language and Mexican culture will not be accepted and this leads to Mexican Americans not being accepted  Mexican Americans will be subjected to low wages and minimal work  In response to such actions Mexican Americans choose to deal with these issues in many ways

Isolation  Mexican Americans isolate themselves from Americans  Maintain a sense of community and tend to be small farmers  Are loyal to the region they are from as opposed to being proud Americans

Accommodation  “Gente Decente”  Maintain their social and political positions by working with/or for Americans  Most tend to be the middle class and seek to keep their land holdings

Assimilation  Elites and middle class intermarry with Anglos to protect their interest  Anglos gain land holdings and Mexicans keep their land through marriage

Resistance  Fight back against Anglo racism after the Mexican War  “Social bandits”, protect the poor and fight back against Anglos and the wealthy  Juan Cortina, Brownsville, Texas 1859

Dramatic Land Loss  After the war Mexican Americans lose more land than any period of American history  Reasons for land loss – Anglos do not recognize Mexican ownership – Texas Rangers – Fraud and intimidation – Gambling debts – Chicanery from American lawyers