VAN BUREN TO POLK

1. VAN BUREN TO POLK MANIFEST DESTINY 1837 to 1845

2. The Panic of 1837 • Causes: War on the Bank • The Species Circular • Over speculation on western land.

3. Van Buren’s response • The Divorce Bill • An Independent Treasury • Whigs want to re-charter the Bank of the United States. • The Economic collapse is blamed on Van Buren.

4. Election of 1840 Harrison v. Van Buren • Whig slogan: “Tippecanoe and Tyler Too!” • Clay and Webster want Harrison as “figurehead President.” • Issue no platform.”Cider and Log Cabin Campaign.” • Van Buren banded as Aristocrat. Harrison as a man of the people.

5. Harrison wins 234 to 60 • First Whig victory in 16 years. • Clay and Webster expect to run the administration. • Harrison promises to defer to Congress. Makes Webster his Sec. of State. • One month later April 4 Harrison dies.

6. John Tyler Becomes President. • Tyler is a Democrat in Whig’s clothing. • A states’ rights supporter, not a Whig nationalist. • Vetoes Clay’s Fiscal Bank Bill • Vetoes Fiscal Corporation Bill • Whigs call Tyler “His Accidency.”

7. A war of word with Britain. • Roots of anti British feelings • 2 wars, British attitude of superiority • British are creditors. We owe them money • British bitter about American failure to pay after Panic of 1837.

8. Maine and the War of the Maps. • The Aroostook Valley war. • Boundary in dispute since 1783 • British want to protect Halifax road. • Private diplomacy-- Lord Ashburton • 12,000 square miles in dispute. • U.S. gets 7,000 & British take 5,000

9. Battle of the maps. • Ashburton and Webster produce phony maps. • Use them to convince Parliament and Congress • The trick works and war is averted.

10. Texas on its own 1836 to 1844 • Jackson and Van Buren feared annexation would re-open slavery issue. • Mexico threatened war if we annexed Texas. • Texas sought treaties with France, Holland, & Belgium

11. More… • The South demanded annexation in 1844. “Texas or Disunion!” • The election of 1844 Polk for the Democrats v. Clay for the Whigs. • Polk was an expansionists. Slogan: “54, 40 or Fight!” • Polk wins 170 to 105

12. More… on election of 1844 • but only 38,000 votes out of 2.6 million difference between the candidates. • The Liberty Party polled 60,000 votes. • Tyler the “Lame Duck” claims a mandate to annex Texas. • Calls for a “Joint Resolution” from Congress. Texas becomes 28th State.

13. “Young Hickory’s goals as President: • Resolve Oregon boundary • Lower tariff rates. • Walker Tariff 1846 cuts rate to 25% • Restore the Independent Treasury (dropped in 1841 by Whigs) • Acquisition of California.

14. Oregon Boundary Dispute. • US want 54,40. British claim 42nd parallel. • Oregon valued for fur trade. • Basis of American claim: Robert Grey discovered Columbia River 1792 • Lewis & Clark • Oregon Trail 1846 Willamette Valley

15. Polk promised 54,40 or fight during the election • Gives the nation neither. • Compromise extends 49 parallel line to the Pacific.

16. California acquisition would complete our Manifest Destiny. • MANIFEST DESTINY: US to overspread the continent • President Polk wanted California. • By legal means if possible. If not by legal means he would take California.