Manifest Destiny Ch. 11

The Importance of an Idea The United States had a God-given right and responsibility to rule the heart of North America. Spread of Jacksonian Populist Democracy and Protestant Christianity. “I do not believe the God of Heaven…designed that the original States should be the only abode of liberty on earth. On the contrary, he only designed them as the great center from which civilization, religion, and liberty should radiate and radiate until the whole continent shall bask in their blessing.” -Rep. John Wentworth (D-IL), 1845.

The Importance of an idea Selfish reasons – land speculators, railroad promoters, farmers saw capital growth in the west. Workers saw an ever-expanding country and growing population as job security. Religious leaders wanted Protestant America, and not Catholic Mexico, to become the continent’s main power.

The importance of an idea Whig opposition, led by Henry Clay, wanted not a larger, but better- developed country. Anti-slavery groups opposed because expansion guaranteed new slave states. Nativist groups feared that making Mexicans into citizens would shift power away from white Protestants.

Florida In 1795, America and Spain established the border between Georgia and Florida. By 1810, Americans were the majority in the western part of Florida. They declared independence and joined the United States.

Florida Meanwhile, East Florida had become a haven for runaway slaves. They would be welcomed by the Seminole Indians. The Seminoles would also fight against white settlements in the region.

Florida An American general was sent to deal with the Seminole threat. That general was Andrew Jackson. In 1818, Jackson crossed into Florida, burned Seminole villages, captured Spanish towns, and was in control of all of northern Florida within a few weeks.

Republic of Texas America and Spain signed the Adams-Onis treaty in 1819, defining their border. Mexico became independent from Spain around 1821 after a 10-year struggle. The Sabine River became the border between the two countries.

Republic of Texas Before independence, American settlers had been invited to colonize, settle, and bring civilization and economy to Texas. Their leader, Stephen Austin, declared allegiance and was given a huge land grant and the title of empresario, or colonizing agent.

Republic of Texas Mexico offered protection and tax breaks to immigrants who would settle Texas. As their numbers grew, the immigrants demanded more political control and guarantees on slavery. They wanted the same rights that they had in America.

Republic of Texas The Mexican government closed the border to immigration from America, but they continued to come anyway. Americans in Texas declared independence. Mexican General Antonio Lopez de Santa Ana rose to dictator, and challenged the independence of Texas.

Republic of Texas They fought several decisive battles: Mexico won at the Alamo, but Santa Ana was captured by Texans at San Jacinto and forced to sign a treaty giving Texas their independence. Mexico’s Congress refused to recognize the treaty but did not pursue more fighting with Texas.

California and Oregon As late as the 1830’s, California was a sleepy and distant outpost of the Republic of Mexico. Few Mexicans and even fewer Americans lived there. Beginning in the 1840’s, American settlers moved in greater numbers in an effort to make it a part of America.

California and Oregon American settlers moved into northern California in the years before the war with Mexico. Before the war, those settlers declared independence and proclaimed the California Republic. Once the war began, US ships based in the independent nation of Hawaii, and Army forces under John C. Fremont, met up in northern California and declared it a part of the United States.

California and Oregon Oregon attracted American settlers as the 1830s, as word of its natural beauty had reached the east. Since the John Quincy Adams administration, America and Britain had agreed to jointly govern Oregon. The 1842 Webster - Ashburton Treaty extended the border along the 49th parallel – if allowed to continue to the Pacific, it would split Oregon in two.

California and Oregon In his 1844 campaign, Polk promised to get Oregon all the way up to the Alaskan border, at 54°50’ latitude. The Polk administration eventually compromised with the British to extend the 49° line up to Vancouver Island, and give that to Canada. This would free up American resources to “thrash Mexico into decency at our leisure,” as the Democratic New York Herald wrote in that year.