Manifest Destiny

Go West Young Man Go West

The Beginning of Expansion

Louisiana Purchase 1803

Florida Purchase from Spain

Webster-Ashburton Treaty• Settled the disputed boundary between Maine and

Canada

Manifest DestinyElection of 1844

James K Polk• Campaigned on the idea of Manifest Destiny

Base on These Ideas• Anglo-Saxon racial superiority

• extend free government and free enterprise

• the will of God

• specially ordained mission in the world

Mexico and TexasPolicy of the government of Mexico toward Texas

• It encouraged American settlement in 1820's and early 1830's.

Conflict between Mexico’s government and settlers

• import duties• abolish slavery in its territory• acceptance of the Catholic faith• power of General Santa Anna

Texas Annexation

Delay in annexing Texas • Opposition in Congress to adding slave states

• Southerners strongly supported annexation

Mexico charged U.S. had unjustly taken Texas; refused to recognize annexation

Acquisition of TX helped remove the Europeans from U.S. southern border

Mexican WarPolk sought to buy California from Mexico but tensions prevented such a purchase • California gateway to the Pacific

• Texas’ annexation issue caused Mexico to sever diplomatic relations

Boundary dispute: Original boundary was the northerly Nueces River; Texans claimed southerly Rio Grande

Mexican WarU.S. claimed against Mexico $3 million in damages to U.S. citizens & property • Mexico had formally agreed to assume this debt

but defaulted

Polk sent John Slidell to Mexico City in late 1845 to buy California for $25 million • Mexico refused to allow Slidell to present his

proposition

Congress declares war on Mexico

Mexican WarMajor Consequences

• Long-term Mexican resentment

• Securing Texas’ southern border

• Increased sectional tensions

• Cession of California and New Mexico

Mexican War ResultsTreaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo (Mexican Cession)

• $15 million to Mexico

• Boundary at the Rio Grande

• California

• New Mexico territory

Important military experience that would be put to use in the Civil War

Opposition to the Idea of Manifest Destiny

Members of the Whig party in Congress during the Mexican War

Oregon Territory54º40' or Fight • Slogan in getting Oregon Territory

Polk negotiated a treaty with Britain• 49º became northern boundary of US

• Polk abandoned campaign pledge of a 54-40 boundary; "54-40 or fight!" • Didn't want to ruin fragile north-south political

balance with new additional northern states.

James K Polk

Song

James K. Polk – They Might Be GiantsIn 1844, the Democrats were split

The three nominees for the presidential candidate

Were Martin Van Buren, a former president and an abolitionist

James Buchanan, a moderate Louis Cass, a general and expansionist

From Nashville came a dark horse riding up He was James K. Polk, Napoleon of the Stump

Austere, severe, he held few people dear His oratory filled his foes with fear

The factions soon agreed He's just the man we need

To bring about victory Fulfill our manifest destiny

And annex the land the Mexicans command And when the votes were cast the winner was Mister James K. Polk, Napoleon of the Stump

In four short years he met his every goal He seized the whole southwest from Mexico Made sure the tariffs fell And made the English sell the Oregon territory He built an independent treasury Having done all this he sought no second term But precious few have mourned the passing of Mister James K. Polk, our eleventh president Young Hickory, Napoleon of the Stump