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Manifest Destiny: 1823-1848

Manifest Destiny: 1823-1848. Chapter 7 . Manifest Destiny. What was it? Belief that the United States was “destined” to settle the entire North American continent from Atlantic to Pacific Oceans What caused it?

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Manifest Destiny: 1823-1848

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  1. Manifest Destiny: 1823-1848 Chapter 7

  2. Manifest Destiny • What was it? • Belief that the United States was “destined” to settle the entire North American continent from Atlantic to Pacific Oceans • What caused it? • Louisiana Purchase—made the possibility of coast to coast settlement realistic for the first time • Economic motives—more land to be settled by farmers, lots of natural resources to be exploited by others • Racial motives—belief that European Americans were racially superior to the American Indians/Mexicans who currently occupied the West • Religious motives—God wanted the US to spread its divinely inspired government, civilization, and Protestant religion to the uncivilized west

  3. Focus of US Westward Expansion 1830-1848 • Texas, Oregon, California • American Expansion into Texas 1820-1845 • 1820s Mexico gained its independence from Spain • 1823 Mexican govt began offering large tracts of land in Texas to American settlers who agreed to populate the area (Stephen Austin) • 1835 30,000 Americans living in Texas • American-Mexican tensions • Slavery, religion, illegal immigration, local governance • 1835 self government for Texas repealed • 1836 Independence declared, war for independence 1836 • Texas as independent country 1836-1845 • Why no immediate US annexation in 1836? • Became issue in 1844 election

  4. Oregon and California • Oregon Country • Area of modern day Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and British Columbia • Originally claimed by Spain, Britain, US, and Russia—by 1820s only US and Britain • 1840s American immigration to Oregon increased rapidly • 1846 5,000 Americans living in Oregon Country, not that many British • Became election issue in 1844 • California • California was sparsely populated by Mexican citizens • Home to lots of good farmland and valuable ports • US wanted to buy California from Mexico • Became election issue in 1844

  5. Politics 1840-1844: Tyler and Polk • William Henry Harrison (Whig) elected 1840 • John Tyler became President 1841 • President without a party—didn’t get along with the Whigs • Expelled from the Whig party • Election of 1844 • James k. Polk (Democrat) “Who is James K. Polk?” • Expansion: pro-annexation of Texas, pro-annexation of Oregon, pro-annexation of California • Henry Clay (Whig) • Anti-expansion: build up the land that the US currently has, afraid of the debate over the spread of slavery • Polk won by a large margin • Tyler—annexed Texas in his last weeks in office 1845

  6. Polk Presidency • Goals of Polk • Annexation Texas—completed by Tyler before Polk took office • Lower tariffs—achieved in 1846 • Renew of the independent treasury (Democratic party’s alternative to the national bank)—achieved in 1846 • Annexation of Oregon • Polk threatened war with Britain, “54-40 or Fight!” (all of modern day British Columbia) • Settled at the 49th parallel—modern US-Canada border • So no 54-40 and no fight either • Annex California • Polk wanted to buy California from Mexico, but the Mexicans weren’t selling, why? • Polk’s other options??

  7. Mexican American War 1846-1848 • Causes • Polk wanted to take control of California • Disputes between US and Mexico over the Texas border • Mexico upset about US annexation of Texas • Start of War • Polk sent soldiers to disputed zone between US and Mexico • Soldiers stayed there until Mexicans attacked—several weeks • “American blood on American soil!” • Small but important opposition to the war—conscience Whigs • War Declared 1846 • War 1846-1848 • US quickly conquered California—Fremont, New Mexico—Kearny, and most of Mexico—Zachary Taylor and Winfield Scott • Peace treaty—Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo (1848)—ended the war

  8. Impact of Mexican American War • US gained almost all of the modern day American southwest • Modern-day states of California, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Wyoming, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Kansas, Nebraska, Oklahoma • US gained access to all the raw materials and natural resources in those areas (what was discovered in California in 1848-1849?) • Damaged US-Mexican relations until the present day • How do you think Mexicans think of this war? • Should this war alter our attitudes toward immigration into the Southwest from Mexico? • “Dress rehearsal” for the Civil War • Key figures in Mexican American War would be the key figures in the Civil War as well • Most importantly—would set off a chain of events that would help divide the country and lead to the Civil War in 1861 • Question: Would there be slavery in the newly acquired territories?

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