1. Topic: Assessing the “Whig Presidency” of Harrison and Tyler

2. The Presidency (and Death) of William Henry Harrison
Whig President Harrison (Election 1840)
Spoils turnover
Clay vs. Harrison (Whigs fractured)
Harrison died (shortest presidency)
Succeeded by VP John Tyler
1st death in the White House
Transfer of power
“accidental president”

3. John Tyler’s Presidency
Once a democrat, now a Whig
Retained many democrat ideas
Not fully trusted by Clay and Webster
Tyler refuses many of Clay’s Whig programs
Opposes Bank, Tariff reforms
Expelled from Whig Party
Cabinet resignations (except Webster)
Impeachment Proceedings?

4. Problems With Britain Cultural conflicts
The Caroline / McLeod incident (1837)
: Disagreement over the Canadian/Maine border
“Aroostook War”
Webster-Ashburton Treaty (1842)
Oregon: “54 40 or fight!”
Britain or US has control?
Britain's Hudson’s Bay Company
Fur Trading, Lumber
American missionaries
1840s: Oregon Fever
Conflict over Oregon?

5. Election of 1844 Tyler unpopular
Americans anxious over Oregon, Texas, Mexico
Manifest Destiny
Henry Clay vs. James Polk
Polk a “dark-horse” candidate (Young Hickory)
Polk: expansionist candidate
Polk wins
Democrats in White House again

6. Conclusion
1) Why were the Whigs hopelessly crippled, despite winning the Presidency?
2) How did the Oregon problem impact the 1844 elections? Was this Tyler’s fault?