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Chapter 17. Manifest Destiny and Its Legacy, 1841–1848. I. The Accession of “Tyler Too”. Wm. H. Harrison, a Whig, was elected in 1841 Died after only four months in office Whig party platform Pro-national bank Pro-protective tariff Pro-internal improvements
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Chapter 17 Manifest Destiny and Its Legacy, 1841–1848
I. The Accession of “Tyler Too” • Wm. H. Harrison, a Whig, was elected in 1841 • Died after only four months in office • Whig party platform • Pro-national bank • Pro-protective tariff • Pro-internal improvements • John Tyler (Former VP) becomes president • Accused him of being a Democrat in Whig clothing • Had been a Democrat • Was at odds with the majority of his adoptive Whigs
II. John Tyler: A President Without a Party • Whigs political platform • Strongly nationalist program • National Bank • Passed by Whig Congress, vetoed by Tyler (twice) • Whig tariff bill • Passed by Whig Congress, vetoed by Tyler • Rewritten, passed by Congress, Tyler signed Tariff of 1842 • Whig condemned Tyler as “His Accidency” • He was formally expelled from his party • All but one of his cabinet resigned
II. John Tyler: A President Without a Party (cont.) • Tyler veto the bill on both practical and constitutional grounds • The Whig leaders tried again, passing another bill providing for a “Fiscal Corporation” • Tyler again vetoed the offensive substitute • The Democrats were jubilant • Whig extremists condemned Tyler as “His Accidency” and “Executive Ass” • He was formally expelled from his party • His entire cabinet resigned in a body, except Secretary of State Webster, who was then in the midst of delicate negotiations with England. • Proposed Whig tariff bill: • Tyler vetoed the bill • Because he saw the Whig scheme for a distribution among the states of revenue from the sale of public lands in the West • He could see no point of squandering federal money. • Chastened Clayites redrafted their tariff bill: • They chopped out the offensive dollar-distribution scheme • Pushed down the rates to about the moderately protective level of 1832—roughly 32% on dutiable goods • Tyler reluctantly signed the Tariff of 1842
III. A War of Words with Britain • Anti-British passions in the U.S.A. • Two Anglo-American wars in memory • Negative views about each country • America a borrowing nation • Borrowed from Britain for canals and railroads • (1837-38) Upper Canada Rebellion (Ontario) • U.S. citizens gave military supplies & volunteered • American steamer, Caroline, attacked • 1841 – GB gives asylum to runaway slaves on Creole
IV. Manipulating the Maine Maps • Aroostook War-Maine boundary dispute(1838-39) • Britain wanted to build an overland road • On disputed land • As a defensive precaution the British wanted to build a road westward from the seaport Halifax to Quebec • The road would go though disputed territory claimed by Maine • The Aroostook War threatened to widen the dispute into a full-dress shooting war. • Negotiations stopped conflict • Compromise on the Maine boundary • Britain got area for road • Americans got more land (Maine & Minnesota)
V. The Lone Star of Texas Shines Alone • Mexico didn’t recognize Texas’s independence • Texas forced to maintain a costly military • Looked other nations for protection • Britain wanted an independent Texas • Could serve as a check against Americans expansion • Seen as a great cotton-producing area • British abolitionists could stop the spread of slavery
VI. The Belated Texas Nuptials • Texas declared independence in 1936 • Texas a key issue in 1844 presidential campaign • Whigs against. Democrats for. Democrats won. • Tyler (Whig?) annexed Texas before he left office • Lone Star State (1845) became 28th state • Mexico angry • Britain disappointed
VII. Oregon Fever Populates Oregon • U.S. & British claims to Oregon were strong • Both nations had citizens living in the territory • The Anglo-American Convention of 1818 • “joint occupation” between Colombia River & 49’ • Oregon Trail (1820-1850) • Hundreds of thousands of American’s moved in • Hundreds of British moved to the “Oregon territory”
VIII. A Mandate (?) for Manifest Destiny • The Election of 1844 • Henry Clay chosen by the Whigs • Democrats -James K. Polk (the first “dark horse”) • The campaign was about Manifest Destiny • The idea that God gave U.S. the continent to rule • Expansionist Democrats vs cautious Whigs • 1844 Election results • Polk 170, Clay 105 in the Electoral College • Polk 1,338,464 to 1,300,097 in the popular vote • Antislavery Liberty Party (3rd party) won NY for Polk • Democrats claimed a mandate to take Texas
IX. Polk the Purposeful Polk’s four-point program • Lower the tariff - 32% to 25% (Walker Tariff) • The restoration of the independent treasury • The acquisition of California • Settle the Oregon dispute • “Fifty=four forty or fight” • Britain proposed the line of 49 (1846) • Senate agreed. Treaty with G.B. signed
X. Misunderstandings with Mexico • Faraway California was another goal for Polk • Very diverse population • Was eager to buy from Mexico • Offered $25 million ($700 M in 2014 dollars) • Quickly rejected by Mexico
XI. American Blood on American (?) Soil • Polk prepared to take Alta California • Sends troops to Texas (Jan., 1846) • Entered disputed (Nueces Strip) area ready to fight • Mexican troops crossed Rio Grande into Nueces Strip • Thornton Skirmish (American defeat) • Polk sent a vigorous war message to Congress • Congress voted for war (Lincoln’s Spot resolution) • Polk’s goal was California, not war
XII. The Mastering of Mexico • Mexican-American War (1846-1848) • American operations successful • California taken easily • Bear Flag Republic (1846) • General Zachery Taylor • Victory at Buena Vista • General Scott • Vera Cruz landing/ victory • Captured Mexico City (1847)
XIII. Fighting Mexico for Peace • The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo (Feb 1848) • U.S. gained Texas to Oregon to California • Mexico lost 1/3 of territory • U.S. paid ~ $18 million for the land and debt • Polk submitted the treaty to the Senate: • Some upset at “damnable war” • Some wanted all of Mexico • Many didn’t want to pay ‘guilt’ money
XIV. Profit and Loss in Mexico • 13,000 American died (most taken by disease) • Gained huge amounts of territory, pacific ports • Provided priceless military experience • Opposing armies gained respect for each other • Hurt relations between U. S. and Latin America • Aroused the slavery issue • The Wilmot Proviso outlawed slavery in new land • It never became federal law:
