American Expansion

1. American Expansion

2. A. Van Buren

3. Border conflict between Maine & Canada Canadians wanted to build a road through disputed territory Lumberjacks (Ca &Am) entered the territory to claim it and a dispute erupted Not an actual war Aroostook War

4. Webster-Ashburton Treaty (1842) • Negotiations to end the dispute began in 1841 • Signed the Treaty in 1842 – did not just effect ME, but also MN

5. B. Election of 1840

6. The Candidates Martin Van Buren Democrat William Henry Harrison Whig

7. Martin Van “Ruin”

8. “Tippecanoe & Tyler Too” • Democratic newspaper editor insulted the West: • Harrison should be content with a pension, a log cabin, & a barrel of hard cider • Log Cabin & Cider campaign appealed to commoners

9. “Stop That Barrel”

10. The Result • Harrison won

11. The Death of William Henry Harrison (1841) • Prominent Whigs (Clay & Webster) sought to control Harrison • Problem? • Harrison died 4 weeks in • 1st time a president died in office • Who would take over? • No presidential succession

12. John Tyler as President • A southern Democrat who didn’t like Jackson, so he ran with the Whigs • On every issue, he was at odds with the Whigs • Tyler vetoed every major Whig bill passed in Congress • Expelled from the Whig party • His entire cabinet resigned (except Webster)

13. C. Texas

14. 1821: Mexico becomes independent It wants to settle TX Easiest group willing to go… AMERICANS!! Rules from Mexico: Had to be Catholic Had to be Mexican citizens After 1830, slavery outlawed Land grant given to Stephen Austin U.S. Settlement • Texans ignored all of the rules Mexico established • 1835 – General Santa Anna sends army to enforce Mexican laws

15. The Republic of Texas • Texans declare their independence in 1836 from Mexico • Sam Houston led the fight against Mexico • Santa Anna was captured and signed two treaties • One recognized the border at the Nueces River • The second recognized the border at the Rio Grande

17. American Annexation • Texas did not want to be independent • Settled by Americans who wanted to be AMERICANS • Applies to be annexed in 1836 • Jackson & Van Buren refuse to annex TX • Why? • Issue of Slavery • Disputed territory could lead to war with Mexico • Texas remains independent until 1845

18. D. Manifest Destiny

19. What is Manifest Destiny? • The U.S. had a God given right & duty to expand the country to the Pacific Ocean • Would expand Christianity • Would expand Democracy • In the 1840’s & 1850’s massive migration began BEYOND the Mississippi River • Between 1840 and 1860, more than 250,000 people made the trek westward

20. Trails Westward • Main destinations were Oregon & California • Traveled by wagon caravans from Nauvoo, Independence or St. Louis • Deadly & dangerous journey • 1/10 died • Oregon Trail became the country’s longest graveyard

21. The Oregon Trail – Albert Bierstadt 1869

22. The Center of Population in the Country Moves WEST

23. Oregon • Settlement spurred by the promise of free land • Created “Oregon Fever” • Mainly settled in the Willamette Valley • Problem: Britain also had a claim on the land • Dispute arose between the U.S. and Britain over the territory

24. California • Settlers also traveling to California • Began arriving in the 1830’s • Settled mainly in the Northern area (Sacramento-San Francisco) • Most notorious group to travel was the Donner Party in 1846 • Problem with California? • It belonged to Mexico

25. E. Election of 1844

26. The Candidates James K. Polk Democrat Henry Clay Whig

27. Issues of the Campaign • Polk running on a platform of expansionism • Annexing Texas • Gaining control over all of Oregon • 54º 40’ or Fight! • Clay was against expansion • Saw sectionalism as a problem • More concerned with economic issues

28. 1844 Election Results

29. Texas Annexation • Tyler approved the annexation of Texas before he left office in 1845 • Annexed through a joint resolution in Congress • Not the normal method of joining the Union • Northern Congressional members worried about sectional balance & Mexico dispute

30. Goals of Polk’s Administration • Lower the Tariff • Resolve the Oregon Boundary • Restore the Independent Treasury (Whigs had repealed the “Divorce Bill”) • Acquire California

31. Oregon Treaty (1846) • Polk had vowed to fight Britain for all of the territory • In reality – he was unwilling to fight for it • Instead, negotiated over the territory • 49th Parallel extended to become the new border • Northerners angered • Polk willing to fight for TX, but not OR

32. F. War with Mexico 1846-1848

33. Causes • Annexing TX - Mexico angry, land between Nueces & Rio Grande in dispute • Bear Flag Revolt (1845) - John Fremont led a revolt in CA & declared their independence from Mexico • Slidell Mission - John Slidell sent to Mexico to negotiate the border of TX & buy New Mexico and CA ( ½ of Mexico’s territory)

34. General Taylor - Sent to TX (1845) to defend if necessary - Initially ordered to the Nueces River - Ordered to the Rio Grande - Mexicans believe the U.S. is invading and fire on Taylor - 11 Americans killed • May 13, 1846 the U.S. declares war on Mexico

35. Spot Resolutions • Not all in Congress believe Polk’s version of events • Whigs opposed • Abraham Lincoln led the Whigs in the HOR to investigate the incident leading to war • Wanted to know the exact spot where American blood had been spilled • On American territory or Mexican territory? • Known as the “Spot Resolutions” • Objections overruled & war ensued

36. The Mexican War (1846-1848)

37. 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).

38. The Mexican Cession

39. Effects of the War • 13,000 Americans died mainly because of disease • Size of the U.S. rapidly increased • Ugly turning point in U.S. foreign relations with Latin America • Seen as the “Colossus of the North” • Gained war experience that will be valuable in the Civil War

40. Wilmot Proviso (1846) • Proposed by David Wilmot • Proposed that slavery be banned in all territories gained from Mexico • Voting not based on party affiliation, but by sectionalism • Was defeated, but the battle over slavery growing

41. Free Soil Party • New political party forms as a result of growing controversy over slavery • Only issue was to stop the EXPANSION of slavery

42. The Gold Rush (1849) • In 1849 Gold was discovered in the hills of CA • Starts explosive migration to the territory • Population will increase by 200,000 • 1850, CA applies to become state

43. Gadsden Purchase (1853) • Land purchased from Mexico • Land for a proposed RR • Completed Continental U.S. expansion