1. Chapter 17 ~ Manifest Destiny &
It’s Legacy

2. “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.

3. Territorial expansion dominated American
diplomacy and politics in the 1840s.

4. With Harrison’s presidency the Whig
leaders Webster and Clay felt they
could control the presidency.

5. Harrison died 4 weeks after taking
office ~ pneumonia.

6. John Tyler become president. He was
a democrat at heart and vetoed many
Whig plans like the Bank.

7. Whigs tried to bring nationalist changes.
Financial reform ~ Fiscal Bank was
vetoed by Tyler.
2.Tyler signed a protective tariff in 1842.

8. C. During the 19th Century, there was
much hatred of Britain.  This sparked
the “Third War with England.”

9. Fought on paper. (war of words in
magazines)

10. 2. When a small rebellion broke out in
Canada against Britain the U.S. gave
arms and supplies.

11. In 1837, the British burned the U.S.
steamer Caroline in New York.

12. 4. Britain also harbored VA slaves who
rebelled and captured the ship Creole
in 1841.

13. Aroostook “War,” 1839 The only war ever declared by a state.
Between the Canadian region of New Brunswick and the state of Maine.
Cause: The expulsion of Canadian lumberjacks in the disputed area of Aroostook by Maine officials.
Congress called up 50,000 men and voted for $10,000,000 to pay for the “war.”
General Winfield Scott arranged a truce, and a border commission was convened to resolve the issue.

14. D. Manipulating the Maine Maps ~
In 1842, the British wanted to build a
road westward from the seaport of
Halifax to Quebec, running through
disputed territory also claimed by Maine. 

15. The British sent Lord Ashburton to
Washington to settle the dispute. 

16. 2. He and Daniel Webster negotiated and
gave the Americans 7,000mi of the
12,000mi of land in dispute.

17. E. The Lone Star of Texas Shines Alone ~
In the 8 years since 1836, Mexico
considered Texas as a province in revolt
and refused to recognize Texas’s
independence.

18. Mexico threatened war if the America
protected Texas.

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

20. 2. Texas made treaties with France,
Holland, and Belgium.

21. 3. Britain wanted to have relations with
Texas because Britain could try to
make Texas tear America apart. 
(Independent ally)

22. F. The Belated Texas Nuptials ~
Texas became a leading issue in the
presidential campaign of 1844. 

23. The Democrats were pro-expansion
and were for annexing Texas.

24. 2. President Tyler signed a resolution in
1845 that invited Texas to become the
28th state in America.

25. G. Oregon Fever Populates Oregon ~
Four nations claimed Oregon Country
at one time: Spain, Russia, Britain,
and the United States. 

26. Spain dropped out of America with the
Florida Treaty of 1819 and Russia
dropped out with the treaties of 1824
and 1825.

27. The Oregon Dispute: 54’ 40º or Fight!
By the mid-1840s, “Oregon Fever” was spurred on by the promise of free land.
The joint British-U. S. occupation ended in 1846.

28. 2. Britain controlled the portion north of
the Columbia River.  By 1846, about
5,000 Americans settled south of the
Columbia River.

29. 3. Oregon Trail was a common route to
Oregon in the 1840s (over 2000 mi long)

30. Overland Immigration to the West
Between 1840 and 1860, more than 250,000 people made the trek westward.

31. Trails Westward

32. The Doomed Donner Party
April, 1846 – April, 1847

33. The Doomed Donner Party
CANNIBALISM ! !
Margaret Patrick John Breen Breen Breen
Of the 83 members of the Donner Party, only 45 survived to get to California!
James Reed & Wife

34. II. A Mandate for Manifest Destiny ~
In the election of 1844, the Whig party
chose Henry Clay, and the Democrats
chose James K. Polk.
Polk Clay

35. James K. Polk was the Speaker of the
House of Representatives for four years
and governor of Tennessee for two
terms. He beat Henry Clay to win the
election of 1844;

36. “Young Hickory”; said he would protect
Texas; he avoided the issue of slavery.

37. 2. In the 1840s and 1850s, many
Americans felt that God had “manifestly”
destined the American people to spread
their democratic institutions over the
entire continent and over South America
as well.

38. 3. Democrats strongly supported the idea
of Manifest Destiny.

39. B. Polk had four main goals for his presidency –
A lower tariff.  ~ the Walker Tariff of 1846, a
reduced the rates 1842 from 32% to 25%
(ad valorem ~ according to value)

40. 2. Restore the independent treasury, which the
Whigs dropped in 1841 because the Whigs won
the presidency.

41. 3. The acquisition of California.

42. Settlement of the Oregon Territory. A
compromise divided the terr. at the 49’ par.

43. C. The population of California in 1845 consisted
of Spanish-Mexicans and Indians. 

44. Polk wanted to buy California (The Bear Flag
Republic) from Mexico but relations with Mexico
were poor due to the annexation of Texas.

45. The Bear Flag Republic
The Revolt  June 14, 1845
John C. Frémont

46. 2. John Slidell- due to rumors of Britain preparing to
buy California, was sent to Mexico City in 1845
by Polk to buy California for $25 million-the offer
was rejected.

47. The Slidell Mission: Nov., 1845
Mexican recognition of the Rio Grande River as the TX-US border.
US would forgive American citizens’ claims against the Mexican govt.
US would purchase the New Mexico area for $5,000,000.
US would California at any price.
John Slidell

48. D. American Blood on American Soil ~
On January 13, 1846, Polk ordered 4,000 men
under General Zachary Taylor to the Rio
Grande. 

49. On May 9, 1846, Polk asked Congress to
declare war on Mexico of the basis of unpaid
claims and Slidell’s rejection of the purchasing
of California.

50. 2. Rather, Mexican troops attacked American troops
that night and war was declared.

51. E. The Mastering of Mexico ~ Polk wanted
California, not war.  But when the war came, he
hoped that America could pull out with California.

52. The Mexican War ( )

53. Generals in Mexican-American War:
a. General Stephen W. Kearny- led 1,700 troops
to Santa Fe.

54. b. General Zachary Taylor- won many victories
including a great victory over a large Mexican
force at Buena Vista ; future President

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

56. c. General Winfield Scott- succeeded in battling
his way up to Mexico City by September 1847;
1st choice of President Abraham Lincoln to
lead the Union army in the Civil War.

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

58. F. Fighting Mexico for Peace ~
Nicholas P. Trist- chief clear of the State
Department; signed the Treaty of Guadalupe
Hidalgo on February 2, 1848.

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

60. The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
a. gave to America all territory from Mexico
to California north of Rio Grande
(Mexican Cession)
b. Paid Mexico $15 million. 

61. 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 the claims of American citizens against Mexico (over $3,500,000).

62. 2. The Mexican War provided field experience
for the officers destined to become generals in
the Civil War, including Captain Robert E. Lee
and Lieutenant Ulysses S. Grant.

63. 3. The Mexican War brought about the conflict of
slavery between the states. 
Wilmot Priviso ~ David Wilmot- proposed the
amendment that stated that the territory from
Mexico should remain slave-free.  Never
passed.

64. Congr. David Wilmot (D-PA)
Wilmot Proviso, 1846
Provided, territory from that, as an express and fundamental condition to the acquisition of any the Republic of Mexico by the United States, by virtue of any treaty which may be negotiated between them, and to the use by the Executive of the moneys herein appropriated, neither slavery nor involuntary servitude shall ever exist in any part of said territory, except for crime, whereof the party shall first be duly convicted.
Congr. David Wilmot (D-PA)

65. 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)
These new territories would upset the balance of power between North and South.
Created two popular Whig generals who ran for President.
Manifest Destiny partially realized.

66. The 1848 Presidential Election Results√

67. The Mexican Cession

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

69. California Gold Rush, 1849
49er’s

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

71. Territorial Growth to 1853

72. Westward the Course of Empire Emmanuel Leutze, 1860

73. Expansionist Young America in the 1850s
America’s Attempted Raids into Latin America