A BOUNDLESS AMERICA CHAPTER 13: AN AGE OF EXPANSION

NO SUCH THING AS A SOLID BORDER: From 1783 to 1848 the borders of the United States were fluid. Rivers used to mark the borders, but rivers could be confused with other rivers. Land acquired from another country had to be researched, many claims were disputed. The “What If’s” of boundaries and expansion. The Spirit of Young America.

MOVEMENT TO THE FAR WEST: Uncertain lines often led to encroachment onto Mexican or even British claimed land. Borderlands of the 1830’s: The dream of owning Canada comes to an end with the Webster- Ashburton Treaty. Sites turned to the Oregon Territory as well as New Mexico and California. The Texas Revolution: Texas was owned by Mexico, but this didn’t stop slaveholders from the South from moving in. “Anglos” as they were called never accepted the rule of Mexico and clashes take place in 1835.

REMEMBER THE ALAMO: The Republic of Texas: In March of 1836 a convention of Texans declare independence. A short but brutal war is fought and Santa Anna is forced to sign a treaty. Texas spreads to the Rio Grande, but annexation is delayed. Trails of Trade and Settlement: The Santa Fe Trail is closed off by Mexico. The Oregon Trial cuts through the Rocky Mountains to reach the West. Settlers want joint occupation to end. The Mormon Trek: Founded by Joseph Smith in 1830 the Mormon religion went outside the box of conventional faith. Facing anger for their belief they moved westward. They found the country of Deseret, through hard work they turn the area into working farm land. Brigham Young accepts governorship of Utah as opposed to going to war.

MANIFEST DESTINY AND THE MEXICAN-AMERICAN WAR. Tyler and Texas: John Tyler was a member of the Whig party that they never saw being President. By 1844 he breaks with the Whig party and hopes to get the Southern vote by bringing in Texas as a slave state. Senate wont ratify. The Triumph of Polk and Annexation: James K. Polk gets the nomination in 1844 and gets northern support by promising to get the Oregon country. Defeats Henry Clay of the Whig party and Congress sees the need for expansion. Texas is in. The Doctrine of Manifest Destiny: First used in 1845 it stands on 3 grounds: 1) God wanted his chosen nation to be stronger. 2) Made the new areas free and democratic. 3) Population required more land. How far would they go and what methods would be used.

CONTINUED: Polk and the Oregon question: The United States and Great Britain face off once again over land. In 1846 Polk advised the British that they were no longer going to share the land. A Treaty is drawn up that gives the U.S. the Puget Sound in the Pacific Northwest. Polk condemned for not getting all of it. War with Mexico: The annexation of Texas led to border disputes. Skirmishes lead President Polk to declare war on May 13, Seen as an opportunity to seize New Mexico and California. General Zachary Taylor and General Winfield Scott drive out the Mexicans and take Mexico City by Settlement of the Mexican-American War: With the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo America gets the Rio Grande as the southern border, also California and the Southwest. Northerners mad because they feel the war only helped the slave South. America increases by 20%.

INTERNAL EXPANSIONISM: Triumph of the Railroad: By the 1840’s and 1850’s the railroad begins to take the place of the canal. It was cheaper and easier, stimulated the iron industry, but most of all it drove finance to a whole new level. Railroads required lots of capital which created the bond, the preferred stock, and government subsidies. The Industrial Revolution Takes Off: Mass production and the division of labor make things more efficient. The work was done by the factory system and even farming was became more mechanized. All the advances lead to a stronger economy.

CONTINUED: Mass Immigration Begins: Jobs attract immigrants. Between 1840 and 1860 over 4 million Europeans, mostly Irish and Germans, flood the U.S.. Many came looking for higher paying jobs, but were willing to take less paying jobs in port cities leading to disputes. Immigrants could only afford sub standard housing which lead to urban slums. The New Working Class: Men began to enter the factory work force by 1840 and that is when conditions began to go down. Employers became less involved with workers, they respond by forming unions. Immigrants began working in factories and resented the discipline. They clung to traditional work habits.