1. Polk and Expansion

2. Background: Texan Independence
1824: Mexico granted empresarios (Austin) large land grants, abolished slavery
Many Americans moved to Texas, with slaves, violating Mexican law
1835: Santa Anna invaded Texas; Alamo defeat, massacre
1836: Houston & Texans defeated Santa Anna: recognition of Independent Texas
Border agreement was not clear: Which river was the border?
Key question for Americans: Would slavery in Texas cause slavery to spread Westward?

4. James Polk Stiff, politically astute, energetic work ethic
Promised to expand US to fulfill Manifest Destiny
Promised to serve only one term
Polk cleverly used circumstances to add Oregon, Texas, California, southwest territories to US

6. Annexation of Oregon
Andrew Melrose, westward the star of empire takes its way--near Council Bluffs Iowa, 1867
Before 1846, Northwest territory administration was shared between US and Britain
Extreme believers in Manifest Destiny demanded US control up to 54°40’; rest of US-Canada border suggested 49°
Polk knew 54°40’ would require war; knew that UK couldn’t afford war
Polk ended joint occupation: gave UK year to negotiate
1846: UK chose negotiations over war: 49° treaty

8. Mexican American War: Causes
Mexico failed to pay $2 million owed to US citizens
Alamo massacre stirred American patriotism
Polk’s election increased strength of pro-annexationists
1845: Congress voted to annex Texas, but Texas refused, fearing Mexican invasion
Polk promised Texas to extend border to Rio Grande
Mexican government politically could not make concessions to US, so refused to negotiate
Polk ordered General Taylor to move troops to Rio Grande “border”, baiting Mexico to attack

9. Mexican American War: Events
When Mexico attacked, Polk claimed to Congress that war had already started
Anti-war Whigs had little choice but to support Polk (remember Federalists in 1812)
US artillery, weapons, training easily defeated Mexico, despite fewer troops
1847: Mexico City taken, Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo by which US paid $15M and assumed debt to US citizens

11. Mexican American War: Results
US territory expanded to Rio Grande
Texas annexed into US
California became US territory (gold rush soon to follow)
Southwest became US territory (including western Colorado)
Polk achieved goals of dramatically enlarging country