American Expansion

A. Van Buren

Aroostook War Border conflict between Maine & Canada Canadians wanted to build a road through disputed territory Lumberjacks (Ca &Am) entered the territory to claim it and a dispute erupted Not an actual war

Webster-Ashburton Treaty (1842) Negotiations to end the dispute began in 1841 Signed the Treaty in 1842 – did not just effect ME, but also MN

B. Election of 1840

William Henry Harrison The Candidates Martin Van Buren Democrat William Henry Harrison Whig

Martin Van “Ruin”

“Tippecanoe & Tyler Too” Democratic newspaper editor insulted the West: Harrison should be content with a pension, a log cabin, & a barrel of hard cider Log Cabin & Cider campaign appealed to commoners

“Stop That Barrel”

The Result Harrison won

The Death of William Henry Harrison (1841) Prominent Whigs (Clay & Webster) sought to control Harrison Problem? Harrison died 4 weeks in 1st time a president died in office Who would take over? No presidential succession

John Tyler as President A southern Democrat who didn’t like Jackson, so he ran with the Whigs On every issue, he was at odds with the Whigs Tyler vetoed every major Whig bill passed in Congress Expelled from the Whig party His entire cabinet resigned (except Webster)

C. Texas

U.S. Settlement 1821: Mexico becomes independent It wants to settle TX Easiest group willing to go… AMERICANS!! Rules from Mexico: Had to be Catholic Had to be Mexican citizens After 1830, slavery outlawed Land grant given to Stephen Austin Texans ignored all of the rules Mexico established 1835 – General Santa Anna sends army to enforce Mexican laws

The Republic of Texas Texans declare their independence in 1836 from Mexico Sam Houston led the fight against Mexico Santa Anna was captured and signed two treaties One recognized the border at the Nueces River The second recognized the border at the Rio Grande

American Annexation Texas did not want to be independent Settled by Americans who wanted to be AMERICANS Applies to be annexed in 1836 Jackson & Van Buren refuse to annex TX Why? Issue of Slavery Disputed territory could lead to war with Mexico Texas remains independent until 1845

D. Manifest Destiny

What is Manifest Destiny? The U.S. had a God given right & duty to expand the country to the Pacific Ocean Would expand Christianity Would expand Democracy In the 1840’s & 1850’s massive migration began BEYOND the Mississippi River Between 1840 and 1860, more than 250,000 people made the trek westward

Trails Westward Main destinations were Oregon & California Traveled by wagon caravans from Nauvoo, Independence or St. Louis Deadly & dangerous journey 1/10 died Oregon Trail became the country’s longest graveyard

The Oregon Trail – Albert Bierstadt 1869

The Center of Population in the Country Moves WEST

Oregon Settlement spurred by the promise of free land Created “Oregon Fever” Mainly settled in the Willamette Valley Problem: Britain also had a claim on the land Dispute arose between the U.S. and Britain over the territory

California Settlers also traveling to California Began arriving in the 1830’s Settled mainly in the Northern area (Sacramento-San Francisco) Most notorious group to travel was the Donner Party in 1846 Problem with California? It belonged to Mexico

E. Election of 1844

The Candidates James K. Polk Democrat Henry Clay Whig

Issues of the Campaign Polk running on a platform of expansionism Annexing Texas Gaining control over all of Oregon 54º 40’ or Fight! Clay was against expansion Saw sectionalism as a problem More concerned with economic issues

1844 Election Results

Texas Annexation Tyler approved the annexation of Texas before he left office in 1845 Annexed through a joint resolution in Congress Not the normal method of joining the Union Northern Congressional members worried about sectional balance & Mexico dispute

Goals of Polk’s Administration Lower the Tariff Resolve the Oregon Boundary Restore the Independent Treasury (Whigs had repealed the “Divorce Bill”) Acquire California

Oregon Treaty (1846) Polk had vowed to fight Britain for all of the territory In reality – he was unwilling to fight for it Instead, negotiated over the territory 49th Parallel extended to become the new border Northerners angered Polk willing to fight for TX, but not OR

F. War with Mexico 1846-1848

Causes Annexing TX - Mexico angry, land between Nueces & Rio Grande in dispute Bear Flag Revolt (1845) - John Fremont led a revolt in CA & declared their independence from Mexico Slidell Mission - John Slidell sent to Mexico to negotiate the border of TX & buy New Mexico and CA ( ½ of Mexico’s territory)

General Taylor - Sent to TX (1845) to defend if necessary - Initially ordered to the Nueces River - Ordered to the Rio Grande - Mexicans believe the U.S. is invading and fire on Taylor - 11 Americans killed May 13, 1846 the U.S. declares war on Mexico

Spot Resolutions Not all in Congress believe Polk’s version of events Whigs opposed Abraham Lincoln led the Whigs in the HOR to investigate the incident leading to war Wanted to know the exact spot where American blood had been spilled On American territory or Mexican territory? Known as the “Spot Resolutions” Objections overruled & war ensued

The Mexican War (1846-1848)

Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo (1848) Mexico gave up claims to Texas above the Rio Grande River. Mexico gave the U. S. California and New Mexico. U. S. gave Mexico $15,000,000 and agreed to pay the claims of American citizens against Mexico (over $3,500,000).

The Mexican Cession

Effects of the War 13,000 Americans died mainly because of disease Size of the U.S. rapidly increased Ugly turning point in U.S. foreign relations with Latin America Seen as the “Colossus of the North” Gained war experience that will be valuable in the Civil War

Wilmot Proviso (1846) Proposed by David Wilmot Proposed that slavery be banned in all territories gained from Mexico Voting not based on party affiliation, but by sectionalism Was defeated, but the battle over slavery growing

Free Soil Party New political party forms as a result of growing controversy over slavery Only issue was to stop the EXPANSION of slavery

The Gold Rush (1849) In 1849 Gold was discovered in the hills of CA Starts explosive migration to the territory Population will increase by 200,000 1850, CA applies to become state

Gadsden Purchase (1853) Land purchased from Mexico Land for a proposed RR Completed Continental U.S. expansion