1. Manifest Destiny and Its Legacy
Chapter 17

2. Gone to Texas Americans want Texas, remote backwater of Spanish Empire
US abandoned claim in 1819
1823- new Mexican government gives land to Stephen Austin to bring settlers
2 conditions settlers had to become Mexican citizens, become Catholic
Ignored by settlers, annoyed by presence of Mexican soldiers and government
Settlers typical American individualist, did not want to be pushed around
Slavery an issue, outlawed in Mex., settlers brought slaves anyway
1836 Mex. Leader Santa Ana attempts to repress Texans independence

3. The Lone Star Rebellion
Early 1836 Texans declare independence
Santa Anna attacks Alamo and Goliad become rallying cries for Texans, galvanized Americans behind Texas cause
Gen. Sam Houston lures Mexicans east to San Jacinto (near present day Houston), and defeats Santa Anna
Forces Santa Anna to sign treaty giving land to Rio Grande to Texas and removing troops from region
Mex. Does not recognize agreement
Texas becomes an independent republic but wanted to be part of the United States
Refused admission, abolitionists did want new slave state
Seen as a plot against slavery to Southerners

4. I. The Accession of “Tyler Too”
1840’s territorial expansion dominated politics, diplomacy
War with Mexico, gained territory from Texas to California and questions of status of slavery
1841 William Henry Harrison (Whig) elected and died in office
Real leaders of Whigs Clay, Webster tried to push agenda, thwarted by John Tyler (VP, now president)
Tyler supporter of states rights
Clay and others tried to push nationalistic political agenda
Whigs pushed for new bank, tariffs; all vetoed by Tyler

5. II. War of Words with Britain
British looked down on Americans, increased tension with America
Americans borrowed extensively from British banks (many defaulted on loans during Panic of 1837)
1837 Caroline incident with Canada, 1841 slaves offered asylum in Bahamas (southern fear of Caribbean becoming haven for escaped slaves), 1842 border disputes in Maine (settled by Webster- Ashburton Treaty)

6. III. Texas and Oregon
1836- Texas achieves independence, not recognized by Mexico
Britain, France interested in Texas as place for cotton production, check American power
Texas as independent nation threatened US
Presidential campaign 1844 issue of expansion
Texas annexed by joint resolution of Congress 1844
James K. Polk won election on expansion platform
Texas became state 1845
Oregon country enormous wilderness
Claimed by many different countries until 1825, then only US and Britain
British claims based on occupation
American claims based on exploration and occupation
1830’s American missionaries settle Willamette Valley, stimulates interest of Americans
1840’s number of Americans increases, came over Oregon Trail
British had few settlers, weaker claim than Americans

7. IV. Manifest Destiny and the Election of 1844
Election of 1844 between Henry Clay and James Polk
Major election issue Manifest Destiny
Feeling that America’s duty was to spread ideals of democracy across continent (idea of expansion and liberty)
Expansion ignored national boundaries, came at the expense of others
Expansionist Democrats won election felt they had a mandate to take Texas and Oregon
New President James K. Polk had 4 point program – lower tariff, create independent treasury, acquire Oregon and California
1846 US and Britain compromise on Oregon territory border (dying fur trade made British lose interest in Oregon)

8. V. War with Mexico
Americans wanted San Francisco and San Diego Bays as ports on Pacific and to expand American trade to Asia
Americans saw weakness in Mexican control of borderlands
Polk eager to buy California, Mexicans would not sell
Wanted California to balance admission of Texas with a free state
US/Mexico issues over boundary of Texas
Mexican claim was boundary at Nueces River, American claim was Rio Grande
Rumors of British wanting to purchase California, could not be tolerated under Monroe doctrine
1846 Polk sends troops to Texas, march from Nueces River to Rio Grande
April 1846 US soldiers killed and Polk asks for war, Congress overwhelmingly supports it

9. V. War with Mexico
Many northerners and Whigs saw this as a land grab and war for extension of slavery
Lincoln (then Rep. from Illinois) pushes “spot resolutions” to show where blood was shed on American soil
Both sides wanted war, America to teach Mexicans a lesson, Mexicans saw US a bully to the north
South and West supported war
The US unprepared for the war. Ill equipped volunteers filled the American army
Advantages over the Mexican military that had outdated equipment and little motivation to fight.
American industrial base to prepare and equip an army, superior leadership
United States won easily over the Mexican forces in 1847
California- John Fremont led a revolt against Mexican rule and declared the state “The Bear Flag Republic”

10. V. War with Mexico 1848- War ended with Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
Gave US vast new territory, paid Mexico $15 million dollars for land
Many Americans thought that US should not stop with Mexico
European countries had new respect for American military
The Mexican American War was a blatant war of conquest that would have occurred through migration eventually
The war also trained the next generation of generals (Lee, Grant) to fight America’s next war – the Civil War
Turning point in US relations with Latin America, became suspicious of “Colossus of the North”
War aroused issue of slavery and its expansion
1846- David Wilmot tries to introduce amendment that slavery should not exist in new territory, never passed the Senate but symbolized issue of slavery in territories (Wilmot Proviso)