1. Manifest
Destiny

2. Trends in Antebellum America: 1810-1860
New intellectual and religious movements.
Social reforms.
Beginnings of the Industrial Revolution in America.
More political democratization.
Increase in federal power  Marshall Ct. decisions.
Increase in American nationalism.
Further westward expansion.

3. “Manifest Destiny”
First coined by newspaper editor, John O’Sullivan in 1845.
".... the right of our manifest destiny to over spread and to possess the whole of the continent which Providence has given us for the development of the great experiment of liberty and federaltive development of self-government entrusted to us. It is right such as that of the tree to the space of air and the earth suitable for the full expansion of its principle and destiny of growth."
A myth of the West as a land of romance and adventure emerged.

4. “American Progress” by John Gast, 1872

5. US 1840

6. US 1850

7. Texas
Independence
( )

8. The Lone Star of Texas Shines Alone
Texas has gained its independence in 1836
Wants to be annexed to the United States
PROBLEM
America’s fear of opening up slavery issue
Mexico does not recognize Texas’ independence

9. Key Figures in Texas Independence, 1836
Sam Houston ( )
Steven Austin ( )

10. The Republic of Texas

11. The Lone Star of Texas Shines Alone
Texas looks to other nations for treaties (Britain/France)
Maintaining an army is very expensive.
Why would others nations be interested?
Stop America from moving South
Caribbean protection
To later get Texas to turn on America
Fragment and militarize America
Important free trade area (cotton)
Get rid of slavery

12. A Mandate for Manifest Destiny
Manifest Destiny reveals itself in Election of 1844
Henry Clay (Whigs) vs. James K. Polk (Dem.)
Polk won his nomination and election on the expansionist ticket.
The Election of 1844 Issues
Tariff
Bank
Annexation of Texas
Oregon territory
California

13. Belated Texas Nuptials
Texas is huge issue in 1844 election
James K. Polk (Expansion ticket, Democrat) v. Henry Clay (Whig – Not interested in Texas)
Polk Wins – Lame Duck Tyler sees this as a mandate to annex Texas so he pushed it through Congress to make his failed administration look good.
Mexico is extremely angry, feeling the US stole Texas from them

14. The
Oregon Country
(1840’s)

15. The Oregon Dispute: 54’ 40º or Fight!
By the mid-1840s, “Oregon Fever” was spurred on by the promise of free land.

16. Oregon Fever Populates Oregon
Anglo-American Convention 1818
“Joint Occupation” is the compromise
Oregon Fever of 1840’s
Willamette River Valley’s fertile soil attracted Americans
By ,000 Americans and only 700 British called Oregon home
British are eager to reach compromise before they are completely overtaken.

17. Oregon Fever Populates Oregon
British Ties to Oregon
US ties to Oregon
Prior Discovery
Exploration
Treaty Rights
Occupation
Hudson Bay Company
Fur Traders
Exploration
Lewis and Clark
Robert Gray names Columbia River
Occupation
Missionaries to Indians

18. The Oregon Trail – Albert Bierstadt, 1869

19. Trails Westward

20. Oregon Fever Populates Oregon
Settling Oregon Dispute
Northern Democrats wanted Oregon
(Southern Democrats had wanted annexation of Texas)
“Fifty-four Forty or Fight”
Polk offers the 49th parallel as a compromise to the British. British then offer the 49th parallel themselves.
Senate agrees quickly.
Why all of Texas but only some of Oregon?
Britain is more powerful then Mexico

21. The
Mexican War
( )

22. Misunderstanding with Mexico
Polk is very eager to buy California from Mexico – Offers $25 million
PROBLEM:
We have terrible relations with Mexico
Texas (Mexico thought we stole it)
Still a border dispute
Mexico thinks it is the Nueces River
US believes it is the Rio Grande

23. Misunderstanding with Mexico
RUMOR:
Britain was going to buy or seize California (violation of Monroe Doctrine)
Polk Sends John Slidell to buy California for $25 million.
Mexico won’t even allow him to propose it

24. American Blood on American Soil
Polk sends Zachary Taylor to the Rio Grande with 4,000 troops.
April 25, 1846 Mexican troops crossed Rio Grande and attack US troops.
Is this really the US’s soil?
Patriotic Congress says YES and declares war
Spot resolution: “Show me the exact spot on American soil where blood was shed”
Abraham Lincoln (Whig, Illinois)
Whigs fear the spread of slavery
Did Polk instigate War with Mexico?

25. The Mastery of Mexico
At the onset of the war Polk hoped to fight a limited war then pull out when California was won.

26. The Mexican War ( )

27. The Mastery of Mexico The War
Americans were 100% successful in the Southwest and California.
Captain John C. Fremont collaborated w/ navy and local Americans to capture California in rebellion from Mexico
Happened before word of American-Mexican War arrived.
California Bear Flag Republic

28. The Mastery of Mexico Zachary Taylor
“Old Rough and Ready” in charge of Northern campaign.
Buena Vista: Feb 22-23, 1847
5,000 US troops withstood 20,000 Mexican troops and Taylor is dubbed the “Hero of Buena Vista”

29. General Zachary Taylor at Palo Alto
“Old Rough and Ready”

30. The Mastery of Mexico General Winfield Scott
In command of main American effort on Mexico City
Focus for Americans is right; they try to take Mexico’s heart
Most successful General from Revolution to Civil War
While Taylor was good with small forces he struggled to command large campaigns.

31. Battle of Buena Vista (1847)
General Winfield Scott

32. General Scott Enters Mexico City
“Old Fuss and Feathers”

33. Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo, 1848
Nicholas Trist, American Negotiator

34. Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo, 1848
The Treaty was basically forced on Mexico!
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 (Had originally offered $25, 000,000 before the war (HA)

35. The Mexican Cession

36. Results of the Mexican War?
The 17-month war cost $100,000,000 and 13,000+ American lives (mostly of disease).
New territories were brought into the Union which forced the explosive issue of SLAVERY to the center of national politics * Brought in 1 million sq. mi. of land (incl. TX)
Justified West Point (Training Ground for Civil War)
Created two popular Whig generals who ran for President.
Manifest Destiny realized.

37. Unresolved Issues
&
New Opportunities

38. GOLD! At Sutter’s Mill, 1848
John A. Sutter

39. Digging for Gold in California

40. Two Views of San Francisco, Early 1850s
By 1860, almost 300,000 people had traveled the Oregon & California Trails to the Pacific coast.

41. Slavery and the Territory Issue
Abolitionists thought fighting in Mexico spread the “slavocracy”
Fight goes to Congress
Wilmot Proviso:
Bill which stated that slavery would not exist in the Mexican Cession territory. (David Wilmot, PA)
Passed the House twice but failed in Senate.
Many northern states adopted this on a state by state basis.
Polk’s Legacy:
left the nation with vast territory but ugly slavery dispute.