the american pageant · 2019-11-06 · the american pageant chapter 17: manifest destiny and its...
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The American Pageant
Chapter 17:
Manifest Destiny and Its Legacy
1841-1848
Battle of Buena Vista, by Samuel Chamberlain, 1847
An American private, Samuel E. Chamberlain, made this drawing of the Battle of
Buena Vista. Present at the battle, Chamberlain watched as Mexican forces
overran an artillery emplacement. The Americans eventually turned the tide and
the battle came out a draw. Even so, troops under Santa Anna were forced to
retreat into the Mexican interior, spoiling the general's hope for a quick and easy
victory against the invading Americans. (San Jacinto Museum of History
Association)
Battle of Buena Vista, by Samuel Chamberlain, 1847
Congressional Scales, 1850
The question of how a war with
Mexico might unbalance the nation
politically weighed heavily on
people's minds as the nation
entered the 1850s. In this cartoon,
lithographer Nathaniel Currier--
who later would found the famous
graphic art company Currier and
Ives--illustrates the problem.
Trying to balance the Wilmot
Proviso against Southern Rights,
the president seeks to keep
congressional representatives from
the North and the South in balance
as well. (Library of Congress)
Congressional Scales, 1850
Daguerreotype of Soldiers in Mexican American War
This photograph shows General John F. Wool (in the center, wearing a
heavy coat) and his staff at Saltillo, the capital of the Mexican state of
Coahuila, in 1846 or 1847. Wool respected individual Mexicans as
soldiers, but noted Mexico's lack of unity. "Had the nation [Mexico] been
united," he wrote, "we could not have gained a single victory." (Library of
Congress)
Election of 1844, artist unknown
An unknown artist depicted, in rich detail, the election campaign of 1844.
A team of Polk supporters offers a campaign handbill to the seated voter.
Passions were so high and party organization was so extensive that door-
to-door politicking became the norm. (Courtesy of Nathan Liverant and
Son)
Election of 1844, artist unknown
James K. Polk by George Peter
Alexander Healy, 1846
Lacking charm, Polk bored even his
friends, but few presidents could
match his record of acquiring land
for the United States. (James K.
Polk Memorial Association,
Columbia, Tennessee)
James K. Polk by George Peter Alexander Healy, 1846
Mission San Gabriel by Ferdinand Deppe, 1832
The San Gabriel Mission was founded in 1771 in southern California,
partly with the intent of converting the local Indians, shown here settled
in a thatched hut, to Catholicism. In 1781 the Spanish governor set out
from this mission to found El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora la Reina de Los
Angeles' Porciúncula, now usually known simply as Los Angeles.
(Courtesy Santa Barbara Mission Archive-Library)
Mission San Gabriel by Ferdinand Deppe, 1832
Mission San Gabriel by Ferdinand Deppe, 1832
Using Indian labor, Franciscan missionaries transformed the dry
California coastal hill country into a blooming garden and built a long
string of missions in which to celebrate their religion. This painting of
Mission San Gabriel conveys the beauty and the awesome size of these
mission establishments. (Santa Barbara Mission Archive)
Mission San Gabriel by Ferdinand Deppe, 1832
Polk and Dallas Flag
This campaign banner celebrating the candidacy of James K. Polk and
George M. Dallas on the Democratic ticket carries a subtle message
conveying the party's platform. Surrounding Polk's picture are twenty-
five stars, one for each state in the Union. Outside the corner box, a
twenty-sixth star stands for Texas, which Polk promised to annex.
(Collection of David J. and Janet L. Frent)
Polk and Dallas Flag
1840 Election
• William Henry Harrison
– Longest Inaugural
speech- shortest term
in office
• John Tyler takes over:
he is a political
independent – chosen to
support the state’s
rights party members
• Tyler splits from the
party- he had been
added to the ticket
because he believed in
State’s rights
• He vetoes the new bank
• He is expelled from his
own party
• His cabinet resigns in
mass (except Daniel
Webster)
Trouble with Great Britain
• Literature pirating—plagiarism
• Canadian Civil War – Caroline Affair
• American steamer bringing supplies to the rebels
• Captured and burned by British
• Creole Affair 1841- British in Bahamas give asylum to 130 escaped slaves
• Aroostook War – 1837 lumber dispute on Canadian-Maine border
Webster-Ashburton Treaty 1842
• US gave up 5,000 sq. miles in Maine
• US gets 6,500 sq. miles in Minnesota
(later iron is found in the region)
• Avoided war – which seemed
unavoidable
The Lone Star Republic
• Mexico threatened that they would
attack the US if Texas is annexed
• Texas forced to provide a border defense:
– To negotiate with France & Britain
• Polk platform ―re-annexation of Texas‖
• After his victory, Tyler calls for a joint-
session of congress to annex Texas 1845
Oregon Claims
• British
• Hudson Bay Co.
• Explorations of fur trappers
• Americans
• Robert Gray 1792
• Lewis and Clark
• American Fur Co.
• Spanish/Russian claims preempted by treaty
• Marcus Whitman: Missionaries
• 5,000 settlers by 1846 Willamette Valley
1844 Election
James K. Polk
• From Tennessee
• ―Dark horse‖ candidate
• Nominated by Democrats
• Manifest Destiny –main theme
• Re-annexation of Texas
• Reoccupation of Oregon ―54 (degrees) 40’ or Fight‖
Henry Clay
• Nominated by Whigs
• Does not endorse Manifest Destiny
• Straddles the Texas Issue
• Irony: lost NY because of an anti-slavery (anti-Texas Party) led to the annexation of Texas
Polk ―Young Hickory‖
• Workaholic –unwilling to delegate
• Walker tariff –lowered rate of last -1842 Tariff from 32% to 25%
• Restored the independent treasury
• Wanted California
And the ―whole‖ of Oregon
• Tried to compromise at the 49th parallel
• British finally give up claims to Columbia and 1month into the war with Mexico settled on 49th Parallel
War with Mexico
• $3 million in claims by
US citizens in California
against Mexico (1,000
foreigners mostly US)
• Mexico had defaulted on
her payments
• John Slidell sent to buy
California
• Mexico would not accept
the $25 million offer
• It was rumored that
California may be
purchased or taken by
Britain
• Texas is now an issue
Texans claim the Rio
Grande as their
Southern Border
Texas and War with Mexico
• Texas is now an issue Texans claim the Rio Grande as their Southern Border
• Mexico claims Nueces River (120 miles difference)
• Jan 1846 Gen. Zachary Taylor sent to Rio Grande -baiting
• Polk about to declare war :– Unpaid claims
– Slidell’s rejection
• April 25, 1846 Mexico crosses the Rio Grande and attacks Taylor’s troops
• ―American Blood is shed on American Soil‖
Mexican-American War
• Now Polk has an excuse
to get Congress to
declare war
• “spot resolutions”
submitted by Lincoln,
then a junior member of
the House from Illinois
as an Anti-slavery Whig
• Stephen W. Kearny –
Santa Fe Trail to San
Diego –‖Mormon
Battalion‖
• ―Bear Flag Revolt‖ John
C. Fremont
• Gen. Zachary Taylor
Northern Mexico
• Gen. Winfield Scott
Mexico City
Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo 1848
• After Scott took Mexico City
• Nicholas Trist was to negotiate a treaty with a temporary government but Santa Anna swindled him out a $10,000 bribe
• Finally though the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo was signed:
1. Mexican cession of ½ of the country (Texas)
2. US pays $15 million to Mexico
3. US pays $3 million to US citizens
Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
• The Treaty with Mexico is contested by both
―Conscience Whigs‖ (anti-slavery and
threatening to vote down supplies for the war)
and expansionists (clamoring for ―all of
Mexico)
The treaty is ratified by the Senate 38-14 and
condemned by both groups in spite of the fact
that the Mexican Cession is greater than the
Louisiana Purchase
Wilmont Proviso
• Proposed by David Wilmont of Pennsylvania
(a member of the House)
• Stated that ―slavery should never exist in any
of the territory wrested from Mexico‖
• This passed the House 2X but was blocked in
the Senate – endorsed by all the free states
• It came to symbolize the burning issue of
slavery especially as it pertained to the
territories
Results of the Mexican-American
War
1. Slavery issue revived –
2. Military proved excellent
3. Start of bad relations with Mexico
4. Land acquired from Mexico brought on
the Civil War
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