Chapter 17Manifest Destiny and its

Legacy

Summary Territorial Expansion dominates

American politics in the 1840s Settlers swarm into still disputed

Oregon Territory upsetting tensions with G.B

Annexing Texas frustrated Mexico Looking at California also upsets

tensions between the U.S and Mexico Newly gained lands raise questions

about the spread of slavery

Presidential Harrison contracts pneumonia very

early in his presidency in 1841 He dies after only 4 weeks in the

office John Tyler is the next in line for office

A “Virginia gentleman of the old school, yet stubbornly attached to principle”

Tyler He previously resigned from the

Senate rather than accept “distasteful” instructions from Virginia legislature

He could not stand the “dictorial tactics” of Jackson

An ex-Democrat who was still largely a Democrat at heart

John Tyler

Gone to Texas Texas was a lead issue in the

Presidential campaign of 1844 Foes of expansion assailed

annexation, while southern hotheads cried “Texas or Disunion”

Pro-expansion Democrats under James K. Polk triumphed over Whigs and Henry Clay

Tyler’s work Tyler wanted so secure Texas and did

not want to get two-thirds vote in the Senate

So he arranges for annexation by a joint resolution

Only need a simple majority now in both houses of Congress

It passed Resolution passes in 1845 and Texas

is invited to become the 28th state

Tyler as president video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lw

4eIsgp5Is&safety_mode=true&persist_safety_mode=1

Manifest Destiny “The idea that the nation had a God-

given right to all of North America” Term was first used by a newspaper

editor John L. O’Sullivan

Most Americans gave little thought to how manifest destiny would affect peoples already living in regions to be added to the United States

Tyler: A President without a party

Whigs get big victory and their platform is one of nationalism

Financial reform comes first Whigs wanted to pass a law ending

the independent treasury system

What did we learn about James Polk and what he later wants to do?

Clay next drives through Congress a bill for a new Bank of the United States

Tyler does not want this however, and he vetoes the bill on practical and constitutional grounds

A drunken mob gathers late at night near the White House and wants the to do away with the vetoe

Whigs are stunned by his veto So Whigs pass another bill providing

for a “Fiscal Corporation” But the president vetoes this as well!

Democrats are very happy about this Whig extremists condemn Tyler and

he even gets death threats

A serious attempt to impeach him was brought to the House of Representatives

Another bill is passed on tariffs and Tyler does not like a protective tariff, but he knows theres a need for additional revenue

So he signs it into law in 1842