APUSH Lecture 4A (covers Ch. 11) Mrs. Kray Some slides taken from Suan Pojer

Trends in Antebellum America  Growing divisions between North and South  Beginning of the Industrial Revolution  New Intellectual and Religious Movements  Re-emergence of the 2-party system  Increasing federal power  Increasing nationalism which led to territorial expansion

Manifest Destiny  Name given to the belief that the U.S. would inevitably expand westward to the Pacific Ocean Coined by newspaper editor John O’Sullivan in 1845  Forces Driving Expansion Nationalism, population increase, rapid economic development, technological advances, reforming ideals  Some opposed expansion b/c they feared it would re-ignite the slave debate and threaten the Union’s stability Henry Clay

Manifest Destiny & Texas  1823: Mexico gained independence from Spain Encouraged American immigration  Stephen Austin brought 300 American families  By 1830, Americans outnumbered Mexicans in Texas 3 to 1.

The War for Texas Independence, 1836  1829: Mexico outlawed slavery & required conversion to Catholicism Many Texas settlers ignored the law  Mexico closed Texas to American immigration…but the American keep coming!  Gen. Lopez de Santa Ana came to power and insisted that Texans follow Mexico’s laws March 1836: Texas rebels under the leadership of Sam Houston

The Lone Star Republic is Born,  War for Independence Mexico defeats Texans at Battle of the Alamo Battle of San Jacinto ○ Texans defeat Mexican army & capture Santa Ana ○ Under threat of execution, Santa Ana signed treaty recognizing Texas independence  President Sam Houston applies for annexation to U.S. 3 U.S. presidents (Jackson, Van Buren, & Harrison) all put off request Feared re-igniting slave debate & angering Mexico

Manifest Destiny & Oregon  Treaty of 1818 grants joint U.S. & British occupation of Oregon Territory Hardly anyone lives there  1840s – Oregon Fever sweeps the U.S.  Between more than 250,000 Americans moved westward

The Oregon Trail  Americans traveled more than 2,000 miles over the Oregon Trail

The Reality of Life on the Trail  Wagon trains averaged 15 miles per day  Conditions were harsh Threatened by disease, depression, & Indian attacks  After months of travel, wagon trains would reach the foothills of the Rockies or face the hardships of the southwestern deserts

Americans traveled 2,000 miles over the Oregon Trail to settle in the area south of the Columbia River

 Wagon train averaged 15 miles per day  Conditions were harsh – threatened by disease, depression, & Indian attacks  After months of travel, wagon trains would reach the foothills of the Rockies or face the hardships of the southwestern deserts.

April, 1846 – April, 1847

James Reed & Wife Margaret Patrick John Breen Breen Breen Of the 83 members of the Donner Party, only 45 survived and got to CA!  Of the 83 members of the Donner Party, only 45 survived and got to CA! CANNIBALISM ! C A N N I B A L I S M !

The Election of 1844  Election was a referendum on Manifest Destiny Many Americans believed it was our destiny to take all of Oregon, annex Texas, and persuade Mexico to give up California too  Whig Party Nominated Henry Clay…again Tried to straddle the Texas issue  Democrats were divided Dark horse candidate James K. Polk gets the nomination ○ Supporter of expansion (Texas, Oregon, California) ○ Campaign slogan “54 o 40’ or Fight”

The Results  Henry Clay’s last minute support of Texas annexation alienated NY voters They bolt the Whig Party and vote for the anti-slavery Liberty Party candidate James Birney  Polk wins!!!  President Tyler sees his victory as a mandate to annex Texas, he pushed it through Congress

The Presidency of James K. Polk,  Lowered the tariff  Resolved the Oregon boundary dispute No actual “54 o 40 or fight” – divided Oregon at the 49 th parallel Some Northerners see this as a sell out to Southern interests b/c loss of potential free states  Restored the independent treasury  Acquired California

“JAME S K. POLK” by They Might Be Giants In 1844, the Democrats were split The three nominees for the presidential candidate Were Martin Van Buren, a former president and an abolitionist James Buchanan, a moderate Lewis Cass, a general and expansionist From Nashville came a dark horse riding up He was James K. Polk, Napoleon of the Stump!

Austere, severe, he held few people dear His oratory filled his foes with fear The factions soon agreed He's just the man we need To bring about victory Fulfill our Manifest Destiny And annex the land the Mexicans command And when the votes were cast the winner was Mister James K. Polk, Napoleon of the Stump!

In four short years he met his every goal He seized the whole southwest from Mexico Made sure the tariffs fell And made the English sell the Oregon Territory He built an independent treasury Having done all this he sought no second term But precious few have mourned the passing of Mister James K. Polk, our eleventh president “Young Hickory,” Napoleon of the Stump!

The Road to War  Nov. 1845: Slidell Mission Goal: gain recognition of Rio Grande as the Southern border of Texas ○ In exchange U.S. would give up American citizens claims against Mexican government Also offered to by New Mexico area for $5 million dollars and California at any price Mission failed  April 1846: “American Blood Spilled on American Soil” Polk justified the Mexican War by claiming Mexican troops had illegally crossed into U.S. territory & attacked and killed American soldiers ○ War declared in May 1846 Led by Abraham Lincoln & supported by transcendentalists like Thoreau, the Whig Party opposed the war

The Mexican American War  With a force of 15,000 Gen. Stephen Kearney takes the New Mexico territory and Southern California  June 1846: John Fremont leads a revolt in California Bear Flag Republic created  1847: Battle of Buena Vista Gen. Zachary Taylor drives the Spanish army from Texas  Gen. Winfield Scott leads invasion of Mexico Bombardment of Vera Cruz Seizes Mexico City Gen. Zachary Taylor “Old Rough & Ready” Gen. Winfield Scott “Old Fuss & Feathers”

The Mexican-American War

Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, 1848  Mexico forced to sign treaty  Gave up claims to Texas north of the Rio Grande  Mexican Cession U.S. gave Mexico $15,000,000 for California and New Mexico  U.S. agreed to pay American citizens’ claims against the Mexican government (over $3,500,000)

The United States in 1848

Opposition to the Treaty  Whig Party Saw the war as an immoral effort to expand slavery Young Whig Congressman from Illinois, Abraham Lincoln, spoke out eloquently against the war  Southern Democrats Disliked the treaty because they wanted ALL of Mexico

Effects of the War & Treaty  17 month war cost $100,000,000 and 13,000+ American lives (mostly from disease)  New territories brought into the U.S. re-ignited the slave debate  New territory upset the balance of power between North and South  Manifest Destiny partially realized  To popular generals (Zachary Taylor & Winfield Scott) would run for president as Whigs