1836-1848

Western Expansion

Ben Windle

Texan Independence, 1836• Texans win Independence in

1836 and created The Lone Star Republic

• They seek immediate American annexation but are denied by Jackson, Van Buren, Harrison

• Tyler begins annexation process after election of Polk as he deemed his election as a referendum by the people for western expansion

Why were American Presidents hesitant to annex Texas?

Manifest Destiny

• "Our manifest destiny is to overspread the continent allotted by Providence for the free development of our yearly multiplying millions". -John O'Sullivan

Democratic Review, 1845

Texas has been absorbed into the Union as the inevitable fulfillment of the general law which is rolling our

population westward....It was disintegrated from Mexico in the natural course of events, by a process perfectly

legitimate on its own part, blameless on ours....

California will, probably next fall away from...Mexico...imbecile and distracted...The Anglo-Saxon foot is already on its borders....All this without agency of our government, without responsibility of our people--in

the natural flow of events, the spontaneous working of principles....

President James K. Polk• Campaigned on the slogan

"54, 40 or Fight" Oregon Territory

• Annexes Texas

• Coveted California (San Francisco)

• Provokes Mexican American War 1845-1848

"54,40 or Fight!"

Oregon Territory (shared with British)

Provoking War with Mexico

• Mexico refused to sell California

• Polk sends troops past Nueces into disputed territory

• "American blood shed on American soil"

Polk's War Message, 1846

"Mexico has passed the boundary of the United States, has invaded our territory and shed American blood upon

American soil. She has proclaimed that hostilities have commenced and that the two nations are now at war.

As war exists, and, notwithstanding all our efforts to avoid it,

exists by the act of Mexico herself, we are called upon by every consideration of duty and patriotism to vindicate with decision

the honor, the rights, and the interests of our country."

Protesting the War

• "How does it become a man to behave toward this American government today? I answer that he cannot without disgrace be associated with it. I cannot for an instant recognize that political organization as my government which is the slave's government also."

Henry David Thoreau jailed in 1836 for refusing to pay poll tax

Mexican-American War 1846-1848

• Brief war dominated by United States

• 13,283 US soldiers killed

• Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo ended war

Mexico is paid $18 million for Ceded territory

New Question?

• Should newly acquired territory be free or slave?

• Reevaluate Missouri Compromise

Wilmot Proviso

• Rejected bill that was rejected, that proposed that all territory gained from Mexican-American War shall be free territory

• Prelude to debate of 1850's

David Wilmot, Congressman from Pennsylvania

In 1850 California applies for state

status, bringing back the Missouri

Compromise issue

Arastook War

Ostend Manifesto

Compromise of 1850