The Rise of Mass Democracy and the Mexican WarCh. 13, Ch. 17 Notes

Party Evolution

•Democratic Republicans -> Jacksonian Democrats-> Democrats•National Republicans-> Whigs ->

Republicans

Panic of 1837

• Causes: • Rampant speculation with borrowed, worthless money

from “wildcat banks”• Bank War- Jackson vetoed recharter of the national

bank, removed federal funds to “pet banks”• Effects:• Left Martin van Buren to deal with the depression,

dooming him to one term.

DEMS Martin Van Buren

WHIGS William Henry Harrison

WHIGS John Tyler, VP

“Tippecanoe, and Tyler,

Too!”

“Log Cabin” Campaign Pin, 1840

A Harrison Bandana

Definitely not log cabins…• (Left) Birthplace:

Berkley Plantation in Virginia• (Below) Residence

before becoming President

Who were the Whigs?

• Henry Clay, Daniel Webster, William Henry Harrison (Won 1840 Election)• Tyler (President 1841-1844) was a minority in the

Whig party who was put on the ticket to attract states’ righters in the South.• Voter Support• New England, Mid Atlantic, Upper Mid West

• Positions:• Favored Clay’s American System (a renewed national

bank, funding of roads/canals, a protective tariff)• Opposed immorality, vice, crime

Who were the Democrats?

• Van Buren (President 1836-1840), James K. Polk (President 1844-1848)• Voter Support• Southerners, westerners, small farmers

• Positions:• Glorified the liberty of the individual• States’ Rights• Federal restraint in social/economic affairs

Common Ground

• Both shared support from the common man.• Both commanded loyalties from all social

classes.• Both geographically

diverse and willing to compromise. Significance: This would subdue the debate over slavery temporarily.

Death of President William Henry Harrison

• After only 4 weeks as President, Harrison dies of pnemonia• Tyler takes over. Whig in

name, but shares much with Democratic party. “His Accidency,” “Executive Ass”• Vetoes recharter of the

National Bank• Arranged to officially annex

Texas in 1845, nine years after Texas achieved independence from Mexico.

Dems --> James Knox Polk

“54º 40’, or Fight!”

Whigs Henry Clay

1844 Campaign Flag

“Texas Coming In”

Texas (the beast): I fear I cannot carry you into the Presidential Chair.

Polk: Dear Texas, I knew you cannot—I wish I had rode some

other horse but it is too late to repent.

1844 Election Results

1. Lower the tariff.

2. Resolve the Oregon boundarydispute. 49˚, not 54˚, 40’

3. Restore the independent treasury.

4. Acquire California.

Goals of Polk’s Administration

The Mexican War (1846-1848)

Origins of The Mexican War• Mexico had threatened war if

Texas was annexed. They did not follow through.• The US wanted California and

dispatched John Slidell to Mexico City in 1845. He was authorized to pay $25 million.• He was sent back, and Polk

orders 4,000 men under Zachary Taylor to March from the Nueces to the Rio Grande (Texas’ desired border)• He expected a clash. John Slidell

Polk sends War Message to Congress

• Despite “all our efforts” to avoid war, the Mexican army attacked on American soil. • Whig from Illinois,

Abraham Lincoln, wanted to know the exact place the class occurred. Was it really on American soil?• Did Polk provoke war?

General Zachary Taylor at Palo Alto

“Old Rough and Ready”

The Bombardment of Vera Cruz

Battle of Buena Vista (1847)

General Winfield Scott

General Scott Enters Mexico City

“Old Fuss and Feathers”

Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo, 1848

Nicholas Trist,American Negotiator

Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo, 1848

Mexico gave up claims to Texas above the Rio Grande River.

Mexico gave the U. S. California and New Mexico.

U. S. gave Mexico $15,000,000 and agreed to pay the claims of American citizens against Mexico (over $3,500,000).

The Treaty was basically forced on Mexico!

Results of the Mexican War?1. The 17-month war cost $100,000,000 and 13,000+

American lives (mostly of disease).

2. New territories were brought into the Union which forced the explosive issue of SLAVERY to the center of national politics. * America’s size increased by 1/3 (incl. TX)

3. These new territories would upset the balance of power between North and South: Slavery issue is back.

4. Created two popular Whig generals who ran for President.

5. “School room of the Civil War”- Robert E. Lee, Ulysses S. Grant

6. Manifest Destiny partially realized.

Wilmot Proviso, 1846

Provided, territory from that, as an express and fundamental condition to the acquisition of any the Republic of Mexico by the United States, by virtue of any treaty which may be negotiated between them, and to the use by the Executive of the moneys herein appropriated, neither slavery nor involuntary servitude shall ever exist in any part of said territory, except for crime, whereof the party shall first be duly convicted.

Congr. David Wilmot(D-PA)