Manifest Destiny and the Mexican War

William Henry Harrison as President – Campaign of 1840: "sit in his log cabin drinking hard cider" Did the inauguration speech kill him? He delivered the longest inaugural address in American history -- 8,444 words. It took nearly two hours to read, even after his friend and fellow Whig Daniel Webster had edited it for length. He caught a cold and died 31 days later. Hello President John Tyler.

President John Tyler From Virginia Voted against Missouri Compromise Joined the Whigs to oppose Andrew Jackson for States’ Rights reasons He vetoed much of what the Whigs in Congress (Henry Clay) proposed. The Whigs officially kicked him out of the Party All cabinet members but Sec. of State Webster resigned Congress threatened to impeach (JQ Adams) Annexed Texas as a state

Expanding Settlement,

Manifest Destiny "Our manifest destiny (is) to overspread the continent allotted by Providence for the free development of our yearly multiplying millions." John O' Sullivan "Democratic Review” 1845 Zinn pg. 152

EXPANSIONISM Texas Independence American Immigration to Texas American Immigration to Texas Independence Declared Independence Declared Battle of the Alamo Battle of the Alamo Lone Star Republic 1836 Sam Houston (Portrait Gallery)

Election of 1844 Annexation of Texas was biggest issue Clay got nomination of Whigs (opposed annexing Texas) Van Buren also opposed TX annexation, so Dems chose James Polk and Tyler threw his support to Polk as pro- annexationist

Texas Annexation 1845 –Texas /Mexico Border Dispute U.S. states Rio Grande River Mexico claims Nueces River –Mexican order to prohibit U.S. immigration to CA Bear Flag Revolt 1845

Steps to War June President Polk ordered General Zachary Taylor to take U.S. troops into disputed border region June President Polk ordered General Zachary Taylor to take U.S. troops into disputed border region Polk claims this action is to protect Texas from possible Mexican attack Polk claims this action is to protect Texas from possible Mexican attack

Steps to War Meanwhile, Polk sent diplomat John Slidell to Mexico City to negotiate the purchase California & New Mexico for $30 million Meanwhile, Polk sent diplomat John Slidell to Mexico City to negotiate the purchase California & New Mexico for $30 million Mexican officials refused to meet with Slidell Mexican officials refused to meet with Slidell John Slidell

Steps to War March 1846 – General Taylor’s troops made camp at the Rio Grande in disputed territory March 1846 – General Taylor’s troops made camp at the Rio Grande in disputed territory April 1846 – Mexican commander insisted U.S. troops must leave area and Taylor refused to move April 1846 – Mexican commander insisted U.S. troops must leave area and Taylor refused to move Mexican forces crossed the Rio Grande and attacked group of 63 U.S. soldiers Mexican forces crossed the Rio Grande and attacked group of 63 U.S. soldiers 11 Americans killed 11 Americans killed

Steps to War May 11, 1846 – Polk addressed Congress May 11, 1846 – Polk addressed Congress He declared that “Mexico has shed American blood upon the American soil.” He declared that “Mexico has shed American blood upon the American soil.” Two days later Congress declared war on Mexico Two days later Congress declared war on Mexico

Support of the War For many Americans the war led to greater national pride For many Americans the war led to greater national pride Many people who supported the war believed it would spread republican values Many people who supported the war believed it would spread republican values Many southerners supported the war, thinking any territory won would be organized into slave states Many southerners supported the war, thinking any territory won would be organized into slave states

Opposition to the War Many members of the Whig Party thought the conflict was unjustified Many members of the Whig Party thought the conflict was unjustified Northern abolitionists feared any territory gained in the war might be organized into slave states Northern abolitionists feared any territory gained in the war might be organized into slave states Illinois Congressman Abraham Lincoln wrote the “Spot Resolutions” in 1848– asking Polk to show the spot where American blood had been shed on American soil Illinois Congressman Abraham Lincoln wrote the “Spot Resolutions” in 1848– asking Polk to show the spot where American blood had been shed on American soil

The Mexican War,

The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo (1848) Forced on Santa Anna and Mexico Southern boundary of Texas set at the Rio Grande U.S. gained: –Present-day states of California, Nevada, and Utah –Most of Arizona and New Mexico –Parts of Colorado and Wyoming U.S. agreed to pay $15 million to Mexico and pay debts of Mexico to U.S. citizens

EXPANSIONISM Westward Expansion –Early Explorers Lewis & Clark Zeb Pike – Trappers Hudson Bay Co. American Fur Co. Rocky Mt. Fur Co. –Mountain Men Jed Smith Josiah Walker –Surveyors/Scouts John C. Fremont Western Trails ’s

EXPANSIONISM

Westward Expansion –The Mormons –Early Settlers/ Conestoga Wagons 1840’s to Oregon & CA –Applegates, Lassens, Bidwells, Bartlesons, Donner Party

EXPANSIONISM Westward Expansion –Oregon Territory “Joint Occupation” –The Westward Migration The Oregon Trail Growing American Settlements The Oregon Boundary, 1846

Compromise over Oregon “54’ 40” or Fight!” Britain relinquished all territorial claims 1846

EXPANSIONISM Westward Expansion –Gold Discovery in California 1848 –In ,000 would be miners set out overland from Missouri to CA –Another 25,000 made it by sea –Few became rich, but the hundreds of thousands pushed CA towards statehood