The Impending Crisis

1. The Impending Crisis Chapter 13

2. Manifest Destiny • Indians were pushed into OK, KA, and NE—known as the Great American Desert • This was so they could slowly grow into “civilized” culture • American expansion grew much faster than anticipated • As exploration occurred, Americans crossed through Native lands • Santa Fé, Overland, Oregon, and Mormon Trails • Those who were “settled” in KA and NE were forced on small reservations (and then forced to sell land altogether) when NE and KA became US territories in 1854 • OK Indians were not forced to move (yet)

3. Manifest Destiny • Natives in the west could not be “removed” due to the fact that there was nowhere else to go • Early settlers are going to just move through tribal lands to settle CA, WA, and OR • It would not be until after the Civil War that America would become involved in a series of wars that will leave the Indians on small reservations (that they are on today)

4. Manifest Destiny • Pioneering became part of the American psyche • Adventurers like Daniel Boone are immortalized as ideal Americans • How could the US rationalize expanding into the West though? • It already had more land than people could settle • To expand was to risk war with Britain (in the Pacific NW) and Mexico (in TX, NM, AZ, UT, NV, CA, and part of CO)

5. Manifest Destiny • John O’Sullivan gave the reason • It was America’s manifest destiny (God-given right) to spread democracy to others (by force, if necessary) • After all, look at the population boom, the transportation ingenuity, they American enterprising system • American challenged any nation (especially Britain) to stop them

6. Manifest Destiny • After the Panic of 1837 Americans believed that trade with Asia was necessary • Only routes available would be the Columbia and MO rivers, not easy • Some began to realize that claiming lands in CA, OR, and WA would give access to the Pacific Ocean • Manifest Destiny was also an evangelical event • Missionaries were some of the first to travel to the Far West • They attempted to destroy the old native cultures and surround them with good American example

7. Manifest Destiny • Manifest Destiny also brought to light political differences between the Democrats and the Whigs • Whigs wanted to keep within the borders to avoid conflicts such as the issue of slavery, but supported industrialization • Democrats wholehearted believed in expansion and feared industrialization • Industrialization leads to social unrest, recessions, and urban growth • Most Democrats were Southerners who needed land to continue cotton farming

8. Manifest Destiny • The Overland Trails led 5,000 to OR and 3,000 to CA • It cost about $1000 to purchase the wagon, oxen, food, clothing, and tools • The dangers of travel depended on which region the settlers moved towards • OR had dangerous mountains and river rapids • CA had no water and had to get across the Sierra Nevadas before winter came • The Donner Party got stuck in a winter snowfall forcing them to resort to cannibalism to survive

9. Overland Trails, 1840

10. Manifest Destiny • Dangers included: Indian attacks, Cholera, drownings, and children getting run over by wagons • Indian attacks had only killed 34 people compared to cholera at a rate of 1000/year • Wagon train members attempted to provide decent burials and help for survivors • By 1860 300K had traveled the trails • You can still see trails today (ruts, etc) • By 1869 the transcontinental RR was complete ending the Wagon train era

11. Oregon Trail

12. Oregon • Most of who settled OR were Midwest farmers lured by free land and patriotism (Oregon Fever) • The director of the British owned Hudson Bay Company helped the settlers survive the winter despite orders no to • The settlers drew up a constitution which banned black people (free and slave) • Slaves still came with their owners • One free, George Bush, settled in WA due to the law, and became well known for community cooperation

13. The Politics of Expansion • James Polk in his campaign for the presidency in 1844 coined the phrase “Fifty-four Forty or Fight” • Once in office he compromised with Britain and established the border at the 49th Parallel • Oregon’s Donation Land Claim Act of 1850 gave white males (18+) 320 acres and married white males 640 acres to settle in the new territory • Sense of community was strong due to natural conditions causing catastrophe • Some when even go back to last part of trail to help those who were on last leg of the trip

14. Texas • In 1821 Mexico gained independence from Spain • There were 2,240 Tejanos living in Texas • It was not uncommon for the farmers there to be faced with Comanche attacks • They were not interested in being converted or trading with others • The Mexican government granted Moses Austin 18K sq. miles of territory in TX

15. Texas • Austin died soon after leaving the land to his son Stephen F. Austin, the first American empresario (land agent) • Americans were already settling this land which didn’t belong to them • In accepting the land, he agreed that he and the other settlers would become Mexican citizens and Catholics • At a time when Americanness was defined by citizenship and being a Protestant

16. Texas • Austin had no problem finding Americans to fill his demands • Only hunters (no drunks, gamblers, swearers, idlers) • They were given 4,605 acres per family • They soon outnumbered Tejanos 2:1 • They did not intend to become Mexican citizens, Catholics or learn Spanish despite that being what Austin had promised • Only one well known person, James Bowie, became part of the Tejanos by marrying in • After his wife died, he too joined the Anglo-Texan movement and died for TX independence in the Alamo

17. Texas • Balance between the Tejanos, Americans, and Comanches was destroyed when Mexico decided to firmly control the northern territory • Americans, already displeased with the Mexican laws, threatened rebellion • Mediation efforts by Austin (who was imprisoned by the Mexicans) failed and war broke out in 1835

18. Texas • Americans captured Goliad and San Antonio from the small Mexican army that was their • Thinking they had won, they were caught off-guard by Antonio López de Santa Ana whose men stormed the Alamo • On March 6, 1836 Santa Ana’s forces overwhelmed the 187 men in the Alamo

19. Remember the Alamo!

20. Texas • On April 21, 1836 Santa Ana thought he had Gen. Houston trapped at the San Jacinto River • Taking a rest in the afternoon, Houston’s men surrounded Santa Ana’s forces and forced surrender • On May 14, 1836 Santa Ana signed a treaty recognizing the Republic of Texas’ border at the Rio Grande • The Mexican Congress refused to recognize TX independence • Pres. Andrew Jackson offered to buy the land fairly

21. Texas • Texas applied for statehood but was denied by Congress • J.Q. Adams (only President to become a Congressman afterwards) opposed the statehood • Jackson was sympathetic to TX, but didn’t want the controversy that would occur (slavery) • He did recognize the Republic of TX as a nation (less than 24 hours before he left office) • Offered toast on his last night in office to the Republic and his good friend Sam Houston, president of Texas

22. Texas • Although conquered, Texas would still be an embattled territory for years • Van Buren took a stance of non-committal on the TX issue • Tyler (who became Pres. After Harrison died) lost his chance for re-election by bringing up the issue • His party (the Whigs) kicked him out and put Henry Clay up for the 1844 election • The Democrats put up James K. Polk who was an expansionist • Polk took his win as a sign that TX should be annexed • In Dec. 1845 TX became state #28 (15th slave state)

23. The Mexican-American War • Polk lived up to his campaign promise when he acquired Oregon • Under his administration we also gain CA and NM • Polk was THE Manifest Destiny president • After TX became a state in 1845 it established a disputed border with Mexico • Mexico had broken diplomatic relations • Polk send General Zachary Taylor to the Nueces River to protest TX from a Mexican attack

24. The Mexican-American War • He secretly wanted all the land to the Pacific Ocean • He told an American consul in Monterey, CA that an peaceful takeover would not be unwelcomed • John C. Frémont appeared in CA with military men, but was asked to leave by Mexican authorities • He left, but came back to aid in the Bear Flag Revolt

25. The Mexican-American War • CA saying they were playing the “Texas game” announced independence • Polk sent John Slidell to “purchase” the rest of the Rio Grande border with Mexico • They refused • He sent Taylor in to attack • He told Congress that the Mexicans had crossed into our side • Congress declared war on May 13, 1846

26. The Mexican-American War • Many people believed that the war was unnecessary • Abraham Lincoln opposed it saying that Polk had been misleading • Others believed it was an attempt to spread slavery • Northerners began protesting in large groups and on personal levels • Henry David Thoreau (“Civil Disobedience”) went to jail for refusing to pay taxes he believed when towards the war

27. The Mexican-American War • The war became known as “Mr. Polk’s war” • He planned strategy despite lacking military background • Despite capturing a large part of their territory, Mexico refused to negotiate • Gen. Scott took soldiers into Mexico City • Throughout the path, they murdered, robbed and raped Mexican citizens • By Sept. 1847 Gen. Scott had captured Mexico City

28. The Mexican-American War • The resistance ended leading Nicholas Trist to deliver the terms of peace • The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo includes: • Mexico cede CA, UT, AZ, NM, NV, and CO • The Rio Grande will be the official border in TX • The US will pay $15M plus assume $2M in debt in citzien claims against Mexico • Polk was furious with Trist because Polk had recalled him so that the US could demand more • Trist ignored the demands • Polk had wanted to claim “All Mexico!”

29. The Mexican-American War • Two groups opposed the idea of taking over Mexico • The Whigs viewed it as a poison • The Southern Democrats viewed it as danger since “half-breeds” would be on the same playing field of white • A final purchase after the treaty called the Gadsden Purchase ($10M) completed the land needed to connect the South from east to west

30. The Mexican-American War • The Mexican American War is the first to have on-the-scene reporters • Thanks to telegraphs and the penny press war news was a nightly occurrence • This new led to the fame of Gen. Taylor and Gen. Scott

31. California and the Gold Rush • CA was a remote location with few Americans until 1849 • The Russians had been the first to settle area previous occupied by Spain • Mexico had forbidden the Califorinos to trade with outsiders • This resulted in illegal trade with Americans and Russians • The trade alliance built with Russia created a brief Russian-Californio connection until 1841

32. California and the Gold Rush • Johann Sutter, a Swiss, with an amazing land grant built a large estate and welcomed American settlers • Rather than assimilating to Mexican culture, they were determined to take it over • In the Bear Flag Revolt, they declared their independence from Mexico • The American acquisition of CA wouldn’t occur until the treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo in 1848

33. California

34. California and the Gold Rush • James Marshall found flakes of gold in 1848 • The secret was out and before long the most men work working in the mines • Once news reached the East farms and jobs were abandoned to earn a fortune • They were called the “forty-nines” because that is the year that most traveled out for the Gold Rush • The quite ranching paradise was now filled with miners

35. California and the Gold Rush • Chinese miners moved to CA in search of wealth • They developed “Chinatowns” • They were viewed as a threat to the economic prosperity of Americans, thus Chinese immigration was limited • Levi Strauss learned that money was easily made in feeding and caring for the miners • His pants (now named after him) were tough work pants in the fields

36. California and the Gold Rush • Most miner towns (unlike SF) disappeared after a few years • While the miners were there, it was a dreary place without adequate housing • The only “entertainment” they had was gambling, drinking, and prostitutes • Most miners were young and unmarried and unsuccessful • Only a small percent struck gold • Most gold was too far down (needed machinery to access it) • Most had to give up their independent status to become wage workers for mining companies like the Comstock Lode in Virginia City, NV

37. California and the Gold Rush • Most women were prostitutes • Respectable women worked as keepers of boardinghouses • Discrimination (especially racial) was common • Miners would claim they were “jumped” then kill the other miner and keep his claim • Really high taxes were placed on foreigners for being foreign

38. California and the Gold Rush • When the gold dried up, the people left, leaving ghost towns • The Gold Rush left CA with a larger population, especially in SF • It was more diverse and cultural than other cities • The state had a great deal of racial animosity towards Chinese (we’ll see this again) • CA would not be the only state to see rushes • CO, MT, ID, SD, and AZ would soon have same fate

39. The Politics of Manifest Destiny • Between 1845-1848 American grew 70% • The manifest destiny concept controlled politics • American pride pushed us to own the continent, and the swift victory over Mexico “proved” we were deserving • Pres. Pierce sent Commodore Matthew Perry to Japan to open trade (successfully) • “We shall have the boundless Pacific for a market in manifest destiny. We were born to command it.”

40. The Politics of Manifest Destiny • Southerners expansionist wanted more land • Polk tried to get Congress to intervene in the Mexican civil war • J. C. Calhoun, Sen. S.C., reminded everyone that they were duped into the Mexican War • (True) Rumors in Washington included Polk’s offer of $100M for Cuba from Spain (Called the Ostend Manifesto) • Spain declined • The issue of acquisition of land fueled sectionalism even further

41. Sectional Debate • Northerners feared, rightfully so, that expansionism would open the slavery issue again • Ironically, a Democrat from PA, David Wilmot added a provision to a military bill banning slavery in the territory to be acquired from Mexico • The Southern Whigs joined the Southern Democrats in voting against it • The Northern Whigs and Democrats also came together to vote for it

42. Sectional Debate • The controversial provision, now called Wilmot Proviso, was removed from the bill • After the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo the issue was unavoidable • Neither party could get a majority to get a law passed • Fist-fights broke out as tension levels raised • Party unity was now being threatened

43. Sectional Debate • Wilmot introduced the proviso because of a rising third party called the Liberty Party • They were strong abolitionists who were taking key votes away from both parties • The Liberty Party wanted to end interstate slave trade, forbid slave owners from political office, and end use of slave labor for federal projects • The party was too uncompromising and thus a new party emerged out of them called the Free-Soil Party

44. Sectional Debate • The Free-Soil Party was willing to let slavery exist where it was (but didn’t agree with it) but was unwilling to let it expand • They feared the expansion of slavery would make it too hard for northern and western farmers to compete with the southern farms • When they said “antislavery” they meant “antiblack” • They sought to ban black people in any new territory (like in OR and now IN, IL and IA)

45. Sectional Debate • The Free-Soil Party was blasted by William Lloyd Garrison, calling it “whitemanism” • Northerners may have been against slavery, but they were not for equal rights • Sec. of State James Buchanan suggested extending the MO Compromise line • Not accepted by the Free-Soil Party (and not seen as equitable by the Southerners given how far south the line is)

46. Sectional Debate • In 1848 the election swirled around the issue of slavery • Lewis Cass (Democrat) ran instead of Polk who was in bad health • He proposed popular sovereignty • Whigs passed over Henry Clay and chose war hero, Gen. Zachary Taylor • “Old Rough and Ready”, very homespun type • Privately, he opposed expansion of slavery, in public he dodged the issue by playing up a war hero record and a non-party kind of guy

47. Sectional Debate • Van Buren, mad about being dumped in the `44 election ran as the Free-Soil candidate and stripped enough votes from Democrats so that Taylor won • Taylor also died in office, killing the ability to maintain national unity

48. Compromise of 1850 • As unrest grew stronger, a compromise was going to be needed to head off a war • Henry Clay would step up to the challenge • He knew that all the issues plaguing the country would have to be addressed if the compromise was going to be successful • The Compromise of 1850 contained: • California comes in as a free state • NM and AZ were established as territorial governments with no restrictions on slavery • Abolition of slave trade in D.C. • New Fugitive Slave Act

49. Compromise of 1850 • The debate raged on with the usual suspects • Henry Clay, Daniel Webster, and John C. Calhoun • Clay and Calhoun died before the Compromise could be agreed upon and Webster became Sec. of State taking him out of the debate • A new, vibrant crowd emerged to fight the battles in Congress • William Seward (NY)—no slavery • Jefferson Davis (MS)—slavery is an economic issue • Stephen A. Douglas (IL)—Not really concerned with either side, but was concerned about getting railroads in IL

50. Compromise of 1850 • With the new leaders (mostly Douglas) they decided to break the bill down into its individual parts and pass them one by one • Through backroom deals and bargaining each part of the Compromise was passed • Millard Fillmore, President after Taylor died suddenly, signed the law saying “in its character final and irrevocable.”