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Pre-War Expansion & Tension

Pre-War Expansion & Tension. 1820-1850. Everything is big in Texas…. Mexico wins independence from Spain in 1823 Wants settlers to populate Texas, even Anglos Austin family owns large amount of land Stephen F. Austin brings 300 families By 1830, American settlers outnumber Mexicans 3 to 1.

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Pre-War Expansion & Tension

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  1. Pre-War Expansion & Tension 1820-1850

  2. Everything is big in Texas… • Mexico wins independence from Spain in 1823 • Wants settlers to populate Texas, even Anglos • Austin family owns large amount of land • Stephen F. Austin brings 300 families • By 1830, American settlers outnumber Mexicans 3 to 1

  3. …including conflicts over slavery • 1829--Mexico outlaws slavery, requires immigrants to convert to Roman Catholicism • Didn’t stop settlers from coming and ignoring the law • Change in Mexican government heightens tensions • Santa Anna becomes dictator • Insists on enforcing laws in Texas • Settlers, led by Sam Houston, declare independent Republic of Texas in March, 1836 • “The Lone Star Republic”

  4. Remember the Alamo! • Santa Anna captures town of Goliad • Captures Alamo in San Antonio, killing all American defenders • But, at Battle of San Jacinto River, Houston’s forces capture Santa Anna • Coerced into signing treaty granting Texas Independence • Mexican legislature rejects the treaty

  5. State of Denial (get it…state) • Houston applies for annexation—to be added as a new state • Denied by Jackson, Van Buren • John Tyler would like to, but couldn’t get annexation approved by Congress • until later when he gets involved in some creative legislating

  6. Meanwhile in Maine… • Border with New Brunswick (British Canada) not well-defined • Leads to Aroostook War • “battle of the maps” between lumbermen • Webster-Ashburton Treaty • Splits the disputed territory • Settles boundary of Minnesota Territory • U.S. ends up with iron-rich Mesabi range • But there are more problems with the British…

  7. Fifty-Four Forty or Fight! • In 1840s, Oregon Territory stretched as far north as Alaska • Had been claimed by four countries—Spain, Russia, Britain, and U.S. • Spain gave up claim with Adams-Onis Treaty (1819) • Excellent farming land, spurns “Oregon Fever” • Influence of Manifest Destiny • Many Americans feel that it is time to annex Texas, Oregon, and get California from Mexico

  8. Tyler leaves a mess • Democrat James Polk elected in 1844 • Outgoing President Tyler persuades Congress to pass a joint resolution that Texas should be annexed • Only needed simple majority to approve • Polk agrees to divide Oregon with Britain at the 49th parallel • Also grants Britain Vancouver Island and navigation rights on the Columbia River

  9. Jimmy Polk’s War • Polk sends John Slidell to Mexico City in spring of 1845to: • Persuade Mexico to sell California and New Mexico (offered $30 million) • Settle the Mexico-Texas border dispute • Mexico claims it was the Nueces River, U.S. the Rio Grande • At the same time, Polk orders General Zachary Taylor to move toward the rio Grande with 1,500 men • 11 Americans killed in an ensuing skirmish • Declaration of war approved on May 10, Polk claiming that Mexico had “shed American blood on the American soil”

  10. Democrats beginning to split • Wilmot Proviso passes House during first year of the war • Opens door for the “free-soil” Democrats • Not all against slavery • Some, like Wilmot, wanted territory where whites would not have to compete with black labor, slave or free

  11. A Complete Victory • War a military debacle for Mexico • American forces take Santa Fe, the New Mexico territory and southern California with a force of approximately 1,500 men • John C. Fremont leads overthrow of Mexico in California, backed by a few dozen soldiers, some navy officers, and settlers • Declares California independence • The “Bear Flag Republic” • Taylor’s army of 6,000 drives Mexicans out of Texas • Winfield Scott’s army of 14,000 captures Mexico City in September 1847

  12. Consequences of the War • Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo—Mexican Cession (1848) • Mexico recognizes Rio Grande as the border • U.S. pays $15 million for California and New Mexico • Battle over slavery intensifies • Many Whigs see it as an immoral war for the expansion of slavery • Wilmot Proviso may have been the act that ultimately led to war

  13. The expansion of Manifest Destiny • Ostend Manifesto • Polk offers to purchase Cuba from Spain for $100 million • When Franklin Pierce elected (1852), secretly sends diplomats to Ostend, Belgium, to negotiate the sale of Cuba • Leaked to the press and dropped • Walker Expedition • Southern adventurers try to establish a proslavery empire in Central America • Take over Nicaragua in 1855, recognized by US in 1856 • Coalition of Central American countries execute Walker in 1860 • Clayton-Bulwer Treaty (1850) • Britain-U.S. agree that neither would exclusively control a future canal in Central America • Gadsden Purchase • Pierce pays $10 million to buy land (now part of NM & AZ) for a railroad in the Southwest

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