CHAPTER 3: THE GROWTH OF A YOUNG NATION AMERICA EXPANDS IN THE FIRST HALF OF THE 19 TH CENTURY

MANIFEST DESTINY: SECTION 3 In the 1840s Americans became preoccupied with expansion Many believed that their movement westward was predestined by God Manifest Destiny was the belief that the U.S. would expand “from sea to shining sea”

MANIFEST DESTINY AND ITS LEGACY, manifest: clear or obvious destiny: future or fate

John O’Sullivan & Manifest Destiny “Our national birth (and the Declaration of Independence) was the beginning of a new history, which separates us from the past and connects us only with the future”

John O’Sullivan & American Exceptionalism “We are the nation of progress, of individual freedom, of universal enfranchisement (the right to vote). Our future history will be to establish on earth the moral dignity and salvation of man – the undeniable truth and goodness of God. American has been chosen for this mission among all the nations of the world, which are shut out from the life- giving light of truth.”

John O’Sullivan & American Exceptionalism “Her high example shall put an end to the tyranny (cruel & oppressive government) of kings, and carry the happy news of peace and good will to millions who now endure (suffer) an existence hardly better than that of beasts of the field. Who, then, can doubt that our country is destined to be the great nation of the future?” (1839)

John O’Sullivan & Manifest Destiny The time has come for everyone to stop treating Texas as an alien, and to stop thwarting (opposing) our policy and hampering (slowing down) our power, limiting our greatness and checking the fulfillment of our manifest destiny to overspread the continent allotted (given) by Providence (God) for the free development of our yearly multiplying millions.” (1845)

I. Texas Fights for Independence from Mexico (1836) A. Context: Mexican Independence from Spain (1821)

MEXICO CONTROLS TEXAS After 300 years of Spanish rule, Mexican settlers felt at home in Texas territory Mexico won their independence from Spain in 1821 and Texas was theirs Mexican officials offered land to Americans to make the area more stable Americans soon outnumbered Mexicans in Texas – trouble started

American Settlement in Texas 1823 Mexico grants a huge tract of land to Stephan Austin. Mexico’s conditions on settlers – No slavery – Convert to Catholicism Americans come, but largely ignore the two conditions. “Moses” Austin

TEXAS INDEPENDENCE Stephen Austin established a colony of Americans in Texas Conflicts intensified between Mexicans and Americans in Texas One issue was the slaves many Americans had brought with them Mexico had outlawed slavery in 1829

American Settlement in Texas 1835, 30,000 Americans in Texas. Davy Crockett, Sam Bowie and Sam Houston. Tension between Mexico and Texans Slavery issue Mexico’s policies to regain control Santa Anna Sam Houston. First Governor of Texas

REMEMBER THE ALAMO Mexican President Santa Anna was determined to force Texans to obey Mexican law Santa Anna marched his troops toward San Antonio – at the same time Austin issued a call to arms for all American Texans American forces moved into a mission known as the Alamo in 1836 After 13 days the Mexican troops scaled the walls and slaughtered all 187 Americans THE ALAMO IN SAN ANTONIO

Texas Revolution Early 1836, Texas declares its independence with Sam Houston as commander in chief. Santa Anna attacks the Alamo Goliad Santa Anna defeated at San Jacinto Santa Anna captured and forced to sign treaty under duress. Rio Grande Santa Anna quickly repudiated the treaty, but doesn’t have power to attack again.

The Texas Revolution,

Texas an International Derelict Texas could not have won its Independence without US help. Unofficial help, but also very tangible. Both men and supplies. This increased Mexico-US tensions. Texas causes political tension in US. Why?

Texas Shines Alone Texas in a precarious position. US had spurned request for annexation. Mexico still claims Texas as its Territory, Threatened to take it back and threatened war with US if US annexed. Many European countries were courting Texas Britain especially was very interested.

Texas an International Derelict Texas wanted diplomatic recognition from US. Jackson was reluctant to recognize Texas as an independent republic. On last day of office he does recognize Texas. Texans want to be part of the US and request annexation. Why was annexation by US politically complicated?

II. The US Annexes Texas A. The Dangers of an Independent Texas

Election of 1840 Van Buren nominated by the Dems in 1840; no strong alternative. Whigs passed over Clay and Webster and nom. William Henry Harrison. Why? – John Tyler of Va. is his VP Harrison platform vague.

HARRISON & TYLER Whig William Henry Harrison defeated Democrat Van Buren in the election of 1840 Harrison, known as “Tippecanoe” for a battle he won against natives, died a month into his term His VP, John Tyler became president HARRISON 1841 TYLER

THE ACCESSION OF “TYLER TOO” Clay and Webster’s presumptuous assumption. – Webster was Sec. of State. Clay the leader of the party in Congress. Harrison’s reaction Clay leads party in power and is ready to finally put his policies into law Harrison dies 40 days into presidency. Tyler takes over. Wm. Henry Harrison Shortest Term of any President.

John Tyler First vice president to take over for a president who died in office. Tyler is an old-school Virginian. Part of the minority wing of the Whig party that adhered to State’s rights. His views are quite different from Clay and Webster.

A Mandate For Manifest Destiny Election of 1844 Clay (Whig) against James K. Polk (Dem.). James K Polk of Tenn. – First “dark-horse” nominee – Had been Speaker of the House and governor of Tenn. for two terms. – Jackson sponsored him. – Dems publicized him as a young Jackson. – Southern expansionist

Issues in 1844 Dems expansionist. Platform was for annexation of Texas and taking Oregon all the way up to “54-40 or Fight” Dems campaigned on Manifest Destiny Whigs were mostly against annexation of Texas, equating it with an expansion of slavery, but Clay couldn’t win without votes in the south. – He tried to be both for and against annexation, and his waffling hurt him Other issues: tariff, slavery, the bank and internal improvements.

Polk Wins Polk won in a close election. New York the key state. – Clay lost there by 5000 Tyler saw the election results as a mandate to annex Texas and started the ball rolling before he left office.

Polk The Purposeful Polk not dynamic or impressive physically. Serious and worked very hard. Not brilliant, but was dogged, shrewd and well organized. Did not delegate much. Four-point program for his presidency Only one-term President to make the list of Top-10.

Polk’s Four Goals One: Reduced Tariff. Succeeded in reducing the tariff from 32 to 25%. Two: Restoration of Independent Treasury. Accomplished. Three: Settlement of Oregon. – Polk and southern Dems. didn’t want all of Oregon, despite platform. Why? – Brits recognize that they must compromise. – Brits agree to divide at 49 th Par.

A War Of Words With England British-American relationship erupted in war of words in Lumberjack war—Aroostook Valley, Maine. Maine boundary vague Webster-Ashburton treaty

Maine Boundary Settlement, 1842

Oregon Fever Oregon Territory: everything North of California, West of the Rockies up to Both US and Brit have claims to the Territory. Treaty of 1818: Joint occupation. In 1840s,Oregon Trail. – 5000 American in Oregon by Brits had only 700 Only a small areas really in dispute. Columbia river north to the 49th Par.

Map 17.2: The Oregon Controversy, 1846

FAMOUS TRAILS WEST No highways existed, thus wagon trails served as the roads to the West Santa Fe Trail ran from Independence, Missouri to Santa Fe, New Mexico Oregon Trail stretched from Independence to Oregon City, Oregon Mormons especially utilized the Oregon Trail on their way to Salt Lake City

California Acquiring California Polk’s fourth goal. US likely to get eventually through settlement, but Polk doesn’t want to wait. Offers to buy from Mexico. Mexico doesn’t want to sell. – Ongoing disputes with Mexico

CALIFORNIA GOLD RUSH After gold was discovered at Sutter’s Mill, migration to California rose from 400 in 1848 to 44,000 in 1850 Folks who rushed to San Francisco in 1849 became known as Forty-niners By 1857, the total amount of gold mined in California topped $2,000,000,000

MEXICAN-AMERICAN WAR 1844 presidential election winner, James Polk, eagerly wanted to annex Texas as part of the U.S. Negotiations failed and U.S. troops moved into Mexican territory in 1845 America victories soon followed, and in 1848 Mexican leader Santa Anna conceded defeat Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo was signed – U.S. gets (larger) Texas, New Mexico & California MEXICAN PRESIDENT SANTA ANNA

American Blood On American Soil Polk’s strategy to get Mexico? Continuing dispute with Mexico over border of Texas. Nueces or Rio Grande? Polk sends Zachery Taylor’s troops across the Nueces into disputed Terr. Mexican troops cross Rio Grande and attack Taylor. Polk asks for a declaration of war claiming that US troops attacked on “US” soil.

C. Nueces or Rio Grande? US Annexation of Texas & the Border Dispute (1845)

D. Spotty Lincoln: American Blood on American Soil?

Going to War America catches war fever Many Whigs vehemently against the war. Mexican’s spoiling for war, as well.

Mexican-American War Steven Kearny, Santa Fe 1846 John C. Fremont (Great Pathfinder), Bear Flag Rebellion Zachery Taylor defeats Santa Anna at Battle of Buena Vista Zachery Taylor

Capturing Halls of Montezuma Polk leaves Taylor where he is. Winfield Scott (“Old Fuss and Feathers”) Vera Cruz and March on Mexico City. One of the most brilliant campaigns in US history. Captures Mexico City. Scott hero during the war of Best general produced by US between Rev. War and Civil War.

Treaty Of Guadalupe Hidalgo 2/2/1848. Terms? – American title to Texas confirmed with Rio Grande the border. – Mexico yielded Arizona, New Mexico, California, Nevada to US. (with Texas, is about ½ of Mexico.) Land referred to as Mexican Cession. – US to pay 15 Million and assume claims of citizens there against Mexico worth about 3 Million. (18.5 Mill compared to 25 Mill. prepared to pay for Cal. before the war.)

B. The Impact 1. The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo (1848), The Gold Rush & American Expansion

2. The Wilmot Proviso & the Beginning of the Sectional Crisis

Wilmot Proviso – Proposal that slavery be forbidden in any territory obtained from Mexico – Passed House of Reps; failed in Senate Mexican American War was the opening chapter on events that led to the Civil War because of the new territory added.

The clock is Ticking