Our nation’s expansion West Manifest Destiny: Our nation’s expansion West

Background to US Foreign Policy Washington’s Farewell Address Jefferson and the Barbary Pirates (1805) Monroe Doctrine (1823)

Causes of Expansion in the 1830’s and 1840’s Economic Factors: Exhaustion of good land Panic of 1837 Psychological factors Manifest Destiny “The fulfillment of our manifest destiny to overspread the continent allotted by Providence for the free development of our yearly multiplying millions.” John O’Sullivan

Manifest Destiny imagined. John Gast. American Progress. 1872

Causes Continued Attractive regions of the country: Texas, California, Oregon Advertising the West Santa Fe Traders Mountain men—fur trappers

Texas Colonization began in 1820’s under Austin Mexican independence led to restrictions Texas loyal to US

Santa Anna as Dictator Texans declare independence and establish government (1836) Santa Anna defeats Texas troops at Alamo Battle at San Jacinto Mexico recognizes Texas independence

Lone Star Republic Sam Houston: President Requests annexation by US Initially refused for fear of expansion of slavery Texas admitted in 1845

War with Mexico Causes Slidell’s mission fails Taylor and American troops sent into disputed land—attacked by Mexican forces US charges Mexico as aggressor and votes for war Dissenters are from the North

Opposition to the War Led by Northerners who opposed slavery Lincoln’s “spot resolution” challenged Polk Thoreau’s Civil Disobedience called for non-violent opposition Enlistments from some regions are low due to unpopularity of the war.

Campaigns during the War Northern Mexico—Taylor’s army won at Monterey and Buena Vista American fleet blockaded the gulf Bear Flag Revolt (1846) Americans marched to Mexico City and took capital

Results of the War Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo CA and NM territories added to the US Texas border at Rio Grande accepted US pays 15 million to Mexico Renewal of Slavery Conflict Wilmott Proviso

Oregon Territory Jointly occupied by England and the US since 1818 Missionaries and settlers Fur traders Expansionists want seizure from England 54’40” or Fight 1846—Oregon treaty sets boundary

Economic Prosperity—1850’s Railroad Building Expands Mileage increases by 1860 Expansion concentrated in the Northeast Gadsden Purchase—1853 1860—Northeast and Northwest connected Southern rails are a distinct unit

Northern Industrial Growth Market expansion for NE manufacturers Railroads Shipping California Gold Rush adds capital Expand labor supply Immigration Farmers move to cities

The South and the West Spread plantation system—slavery indispensable Cotton Tobacco Western agriculture expands The West becomes more reliant and interactive with the North

Missouri Compromise Country divided over the issue of the expansion of slavery Congress blocks Missouri’s petition for statehood Henry Clay proposes the Missouri Compromise

Slave Controversy Persists Compromise of 1850 CA applied for admission to the union following the Mexican War and the Gold Rush Admission as a free state would upset the Congressional balance The debate: Calhoun, Webster, Clay

Compromise of 1850 Actually 5 separate bills Angered extremists on both sides CA—Free state NM and Utah territories established Slave trade—abolished in DC Fugitive Slave Law

Reaction Resistance to fugitive slave law Personal Liberty Laws Underground Railroad

Kansas Nebraska 1854 Stephen Douglas proposed: Explanation Northern LA purchase will be divided in two sections MO Compromise would be repealed--popular sovereignty Explanation MO Compromise was made obsolete by the Compromise of 1850 Congress had stopped trying to prevent slavery in the territories Unstated reasons for the bill

Kansas Nebraska Act--Analysis Political consequences of the controversy Southerners support Northern Whigs against Northern Democrats are mixed Protest in the North Inspired the beginnings of the Republican Party

Bleeding Kansas Contest to gain control of Kansas Free-soilers equipped with rifles used them against pro-slavery forces Immigrants to Kansas flooded in on both sides Pro-slavery elements control 1st legislature through fraud and intimidation Free-soilers denounced the election and set up the Topeka constitution

Moving toward Disunion Election of 1856 James Buchanan Millard Fillmore John C. Fremont Buchanan wins Appeals to the South Push for slaves in Kansas Dred Scott Decision—1857 John Brown’s Raid—1859

Disruption in the Democratic Party Northern Democrats—disgusted with Buchanan Lincoln Douglas debates Party splits in 1860 Lincoln wins in 1860