During the 1800s, which group was best known for assisting runaway slaves in the United States? A Quakers B plantation owners C Puritans D Southern politicians

Polk and the Mexican-American War

1844 Election Shortly after his inauguration, President W. H. Harrison died and the very unpopular John Tyler became President Tyler tried to annex (take over) Texas but Congress refused to make a deal that Tyler supported In the 1844 election, Tyler was not re-nominated. Instead, the Whigs chose Henry Clay to run against the Democrat, James K. Polk Polk wanted the US to expand, annex Texas, and kick Great Britain out of the Oregon Territory Clay’s platform focused on pro-business policies and tariffs Polk won a close election, and became President After Polk’s election, the House of Representatives passed a bill to annex Texas The Senate soon approved it, and President Tyler sent it to Texas for approval

Annexing Texas When Polk was inaugurated, he urged Texas to agree to the treaty Texas said yes, and became the 28th State Texas had a border dispute with Mexico Mexico claimed that the southern border of Texas was the Nueces River Texas claimed the southern border was the Rio Grande Polk sent a secret diplomat, John Slidell, to Mexico Gave permission to pay $25-30 million to buy California & other land $684 million to $821 million in today’s money Mexico refused the offer, angering Slidell

War Breaks Out Following independence and the Texas Revolution, Mexico’s government and army were weak Because of this, the US and Britain both sent men to California to make a claim on it US sent army Captain John C. Fremont Fremont would later be arrested and put into military court (court martial) for leading Californians in a rebellion against the US and declaring their own country, the Bear Flag Republic He was pardoned by President Polk due to his military bravery during the war Polk then sent General Zachary Taylor to the Rio Grande This provoked a dispute because of the border disagreement Mexican army attacked and killed 11 US troops on patrol, starting war

Question 1 Discuss with a partner how you think the US will fare in the war (how will we do) and why, then write down your answer

The Mexican-American War US troops in Texas, lead by Zachary Taylor, won most battles Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna wrote the Mexican government, saying he would lead the army as a general again With control of the army, he declared himself President of Mexico Despite Santa Anna’s skill, the Mexican forces were not well equipped and the government could not afford the war The war went so poorly for the Mexican army that Santa Anna’s wooden leg (he had his real one shot off in a war with Spain) was stolen by US troops from Illinois, where the leg still is today Fremont led troops in California, and had similar levels of success The US navy and marines then invaded central Mexico Lead by General Winfield Scott, they quickly marched to Mexico City and forced a surrender

Opposition to War Many Americans supported the war, but some were opposed Author Henry David Thoreau refused to pay taxes to support the war Arrested, wrote “Civil Disobedience” after jail Congressman Abraham Lincoln said that Americans must be shown where blood was shed on US soil to justify war Was later beaten when running for re- election due to unpopularity of his view Others, such as Frederick Douglass, feared that new lands would expand slavery This could cause a bigger fight in the US

Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo The entire war lasted less than 2 years (1846-1848) The war was officially ended by the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo The Treaty gave the US lots of land Mexico gave up California, Nevada, Utah, and parts of Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico, and Wyoming The Treaty also established a set border at the Rio Grande People’s patriotism in the US surged Polk became even more popular, as did General Zachary Taylor Polk chose not to run for a 2nd term Taylor did run for president, and was elected in 1848

Question 2 How do you think the outcome of the Mexican- American War and the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo could have either lead to or prevented the start of the Civil War?

Oregon Treaty In the Oregon Territory, Polk had campaigned on the idea of “54⁰40’ or Fight!” Was willing to go to war with Britain for Oregon However, instead of having to fight two wars, Polk negotiated a treaty with Great Britain Great Britain got the land north of the 49th parallel, the US got the land south of it The modern border with Canada Some Americans were angry we didn’t get more land, but they were later satisfied by the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo

Wilmot Proviso Some anti-slavery Americans were not happy with all the new land added from Mexico Most of it was south of the Missouri Compromise line Therefore, it could have slavery Pennsylvania Congressman David Wilmot proposed an amendment to the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo Called the Wilmot Proviso, it said that all lands gained by the US from Mexico would not allow slavery Passed by the House of Representatives, denied by the Senate Although the Proviso never became law (the Senate never passed it), Wilmot added it to dozens of bills between 1848 and 1850 This added to growing conflict over the role of slavery in the US