Manifest Destiny

1. Manifest Destiny

7. “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.

8. “American Progress” by John Gast, 1872 • Divine mission to “save” the savages. • Expand for the sake of prosperity. • Spread the goodness of Democracy. • Show how great we were and could be.

10. Manifest Destiny and the Coming of Crisis “We are all Frontiersmen” “The story of the settling of the American West, is the story of America.” EXPLAIN

11. Enduring Understanding: Sectional conflict led to bloodshed, tearing apart families, societal institutions, and the carefully-crafted union. 

12. “You’ve gotta be able to laugh at the Gadsden Purchase.”

13. D2

14. The Republic of Texas

15. The Story of Texas -Texas was established as a buffer between French claims and Spanish claims. - 1820’s Independent Mexico strengthens buffer between Indian raiders and Mexico, by granting Moses Austin land within Texas. Mexico encourages American settlement in the 20s and 30s. -Stephen Austin’s colonists (many slaveholders) pledge to become Mexican and Catholics. - Happiness was disrupted when new Centralist Mexican gov’t imposes new regulations on Texans: Outlaw slavery, restrict immigration, impose taxes. - Texans revolt.

16. The Republic of Texas - Santa Anna sent to quell “American uprising” and retakes THE ALAMO. - Sam Houston defeats Mexican forces and Santa Anna signs treaty granting Texas independence. - Mexico refuses to recognize this. Texas asks to become a state. Congress says NO WAY, too many slave states already. - Texas issue goes away until they start “courting” recognition from European powers. - ENTER ELECTION of 1844.

18. Background: 1837 Texas applies for statehood. Congress denies request. “Too many slave states.” Whigs lead this parade – “Let’s just develop the land we have.” Democrats - “We need more land.” Election of 1844

19. Tyler (WHIG PRES.) presents annexation treaty. ANTI-Slavery protests drive him out. Whigs want commitment to “NO NEW SLAVE STATES. Henry Clay (again) Non committal approach. Campaign slogan “Who’s James K. Polk?” Democrats want commitment to expansion.– Martin Van Buren (can’t get enough votes for nomination) –Non-committal. - “dark horse” candidate chosen – James K. Polk. “I want Oregan AND Texas” Election of 1844

20. A “Mandate” for Expansion . Polk will become the “Manifest Destiny” President

21. The Oregon Dispute: 54’ 40º or Fight! • GB and US both claimed Oregon by right of discovery. Agreed to “SHARE” and settle it later. • By 1840 “Oregon Fever” had struck. • This growth of Americans wanting to establish Oregon as their own caused tension between GB and US. • 3.

22. The Oregon Dispute: 54’ 40º or Fight! • The joint British-U. S. occupation ended in1846, with a compromise setting the border at the 49th Parallel.

23. Prediction: How is the Texas Revolution going to lead to the Mexican-American War?

24. The Mexican War (1846-1848) Texas granted Statehood in 1845.

25. Origins: Texas becomes a state and Mexico breaks relations with U.S. U.S. supported Texas claim of all land north of Rio Grande which led to a border dispute. Polk sends in Taylor to “defend” Texas. Mexico takes this as a threat to the rest of their Western holdings. “Manifest Destiny” poses a threat to them.

26. The Mexican War (1846-1848) Polk attempts to buy Texas border, New Mexico and California for $30 million. MEXICO says NO. Polk sends Taylor to the Rio Grande, and fighting ensues. “They attacked our men.” U.S. Declares War.

27. General Zachary Taylor at Palo Alto War wages on and protests ensue: The WHIGS protest this unnecessary war to “EXPAND SLAVERY.” Thoreau goes to jail and then a pond. “Old Rough and Ready”

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

29. Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo, 1848 • Mexico gave up claims to Texas above the Rio Grande River. • Mexico gave the U. S. California and New Mexico. (Not just the state, the whole region.) • U. S. gave Mexico $15,000,000.

30. The Mexican Cession

31. Results of the Mexican War 1. New territories were brought into the Union which forced the explosive issue of SLAVERY to the center of national politics. 2. Southwestern quadrant of U.S. opens up for more settlement. By 1849, Here comes the Gold Rush, Here come the Mormons. 3. Later would add Gadsden Purchase to help build a Southern Railroad to tie it all together.

32. WilmotProviso • Background: • During Mexican War, Northern Whigs opposed expansion on anti-slavery grounds. • Country was in support of the war, however. • BUT, what should we do with the new land?

33. WilmotProviso • David Wilmot (D-Pa) • Suggests that Congress vote to ban slavery in all territories taken from Mexico. “Leave it where it is, but don’t let it go anywhere else.” Reaction: Whigs Democrats (North/South) (North / South) Southerners against it Northerners - for it (Whigs/Dems.) (Whigs/Dems.)

34. Many historians feel that the Wilmot Proviso was the first “shot” of the Civil War. Create a political cartoon that represents how this might have been. THINK ABOUT: Characters, Perspective, Impact, Point to be made.

35. Free Soil Party Free Soil! Free Speech! Free Labor! Free Men! • “Barnburners” – discontented northern Democrats. • Anti-slave members of the Liberty and Whig Parties. • Opposition to the extension of slavery in the new territories! Protect interest of whites.

36. The 1848 Presidential Election Results √

37. Significance: • Biggest issue of the election, “What to do about slavery in the new territories.” • -Taylor – “mmmmmmmmmmuuuuuuuuuuummmmm’s” • -Cass- “What he said” “Could someone come up with a plan of what to do with this issue, PLEASE?

38. America at Mid-Century • Grown from 16 to 31 states. • 23 million people (4 million slaves) (2 million new immigrants) • More than half of population lived west of Appalachians. • Southern cotton (principle export, but smaller role in domestic economy.) Northern industry and Western Agriculture was pulling us into a major economic player. • North- “Just how valuable is the South to us?” • South- “Do they not think we are still valuable to them?”

39. Compromise of 1850 BACKGROUND: -Whigs and Democrats unable to solve the issue of the New Territories. -Sectional interests were tearing apart National political parties, rendering them helpless to do much. -However, the issue raised by the Wilmot Proviso could not go away. -Taylor would have stood strong and forced Southerners to work it out…but he died. -FillMORE, who followed him, did much LESS. -So…to Congress it goes.

40. The Grand Triumvirate • John Calhoun – SOUTHERN VIEW • We can still leave the country if this doesn’t go well for us. • Congress has no constitutional right to prohibit slavery in the territories. • Southerners had right to “property” no matter where they took “it.” • Anything BUT full access to the territories was unconstitutional and unacceptable.

41. Not a Massachusetts man, Not a Northern man, AN AMERICAN • Daniel Webster – Northern view • Peaceable secession is not possible. • Abolitionists must compromise to preserve the Union. But, fear of the growing “SLAVE POWER” was difficult to overcome. - Conspiracy of Southern elite to control the Federal gov’t.

42. Henry Clay – The West and all moderate minded people. • Both sides need to work for a compromise. • I have organized a plan I think will work.

43. The View from the North • We are not opposed to expansion, just expansion for slavery’s extension sake. • Small slave owning class dominated the South, living off of slave labor. Hurting white Americans. • Slavery is immoral. • Slavery is weighing the nation down, by contradicting basic economic and political principles. Economically backward. • William Seward (NY) it worked against the “intelligence, vigor, and energy” that our country was based on.

44. The View from the South Southern cotton is the driving force of American economic growth. We don’t need your education, your railroads, your cities, your immigrant labor. Slavery is a blessing to an inferior race. Northerners are hypocritical with their “wage slaves.”

45. The Compromise • California is ready, it will be FREE. Other Mexican territories, let the people their decide. (Popular Sovereignty) • Texas will give up land to New Mexican territory. (Slave or Free TBD later) • Slave trade in District of Columbia was ended, but a stronger Fugitive Slave Law will be enforced. Be careful what you wish for? A more stringent Fugitive Slave Law was something Southerners had wanted for awhile, how did it end up hurting their cause?

46. FUGITIVE SLAVE LAW ABOLITIONISTS RESPOND • Denounced by Abolitionists • Harriet Beecher Stowe’s, Uncle Tom’s Cabin is published • Abolitionists refuse to enforce the law • Underground Railroad becomes more active

47. Fugitive Slave Law FUGITIVE SLAVE LAW RESPONSE BY ABOLITIONISTS “An immoral law makes it a man’s duty to break it, at every hazard. For virtue is the very self of every man. It is therefore a principle of law that an immoral contract is void, and that an immoral statute is void. The Fugitive Slave Law is a statute which enacts the crime of kidnapping, a crime on one footing with arson and murder. A man’s right to liberty is as inalienable as his right to life……” Ralph Waldo Emerson “3 millions of the American people are crushed under the American Union! The government gives them no protection– the government is their enemy, the government keeps them in chains! The Union which grinds them to the dust rests upon us, and with them we will struggle to overthrow it! The Constitution which subjects them to hopeless bondage is one that we cannot swear to support. Our motto is, ‘No Union with Slaveholders’….We separate from them, to clear our skirts of innocent blood….and to hasten the downfall of slavery in America, and throughout the world!” William Lloyd Garrison

48. FUGITIVE SLAVE LAW SOUTHERNERS RESPOND • Southerners threatened secession and war • Believed it should be enforced because the Constitution protects property and Federal law is over State law. • 5th Amendment • Supremacy Clause

49. Explain why the Compromise of 1850 was only a temporary solution to a much bigger problem?

50. Kan. & Neb Act KANSAS AND NEBRASKA ACT • Build a transcontinental RR connecting California to the East Coast either in the South or North • Stephen Douglas wanted the railroad built in the North but had to convince the South.