Westward expansion –Texas, Manifest Destiny and the Mexican War

1. And its consequences Westward expansion –Texas, Manifest Destiny and the Mexican War

2. 1) To evaluate the events that led to the Annexation of Texas into the USA • 2)To understand the importance of the 1844 election in the policy of westward expansion • 2) To understand the events of the Mexican war • 3) To assess the significance of the Mexican war • 4) To understand the events leading up to the compromise of 1850 Aims-FOR THIS WEEKS LESSONS!

3. USA had claimed Texas when it acquired the Louisiana Purchase in 1803. Withdrew claim in 1819 USA made two efforts to buy Texas off Mexico but this was refused. In early 1820 the Mexican government invited American settlers into the territory of Texas 1824 Mexican government offers cheap land to American settlers Hoped settlers would become loyal to Mexico Thousands of Americans, attracted by the rich soil in Texas, took advantage of Mexico’s welcome Texas and Independence

5. Most of the land was fertile –ideal for growing crops such as Cotton. American intermediaries were hired to promote US settlers to enter Texas -1822 Steven Austin established first US settlement in Texas The great majority of Immigrants into Texas were Southerners –they brought their slaves with them Soon the American settlers outnumbered the native-born Mexicans -1834 30,000 US settlers, 7,500 Native Mexicans -1836 5000 slaves in Texas

6. Tensions between Texans and Mexico increased. Many of the US Texans looked to establish a strong relationship with the US Mexico had become increasingly concerned by US influence in Texas They also disliked slavery- 1830 they banned slavery in all their territories Austin and other US settler petitioned the Mexican government for more self-autonomy for Texas Mid-1830s Military Coup in Mexico –General Antonio Lopez De Santa Anna seized power Increased the power of the Mexican national government at the expense of its territories- Texas Santa Anna believed Texans wanted US to take the territory off Mexico

7. Important people in the War • General Santa Anna was a long-time ruler of Mexico. • He ruled with complete power as a dictator. • General Santa wanted Texas to obey him so he sent Mexican troops over a river called the Rio Grande. • He expected Texas to give in to his orders but instead this angered the settlers.

8. Key Figures in Texas Independence, 1836 Sam Houston(1793-1863) Steven Austin(1793-1836)

9. Santa Anna sent troops into Texas and arrested some prominent US-Texan settlers 1835 sporadic fighting broke out between Texans and Mexico- Texas hold convention decides to fight Santa Anna 1836 American settlers in Texas declare their independence from Mexico Volunteers and Money flowed into Texas from throughout the United States –Southern States in particular However the Mexican Army vastly outnumbers the Texan volunteers Independence!

10. General Santa Ann marched North into Texas with a large Mexican army 187 Americans occupied a fort in San Antonio –Alamo -Put up a spirited defence all the Texan defenders were killed US president Andre Jackson sympathised with Texans but sent no official help Northerners and Southerners rushed to Texas aid and formed a US-Texan Army April 1836 American-Texan Army led by Sam Huston defeated the Mexicans at the battle of San Jacinto Santa Anna was captured and forced to recognise the independence of Texas Remember the Alamo!

11. Santa Ana Signs Treaty of Velasco

12. Texas now independent • American Texans hoped for annexation by the United States- Delegation sent to Washington With an offer to join the union • Southerners supported Texas joining the Union • However Northerners apposed the annexation of Texas As it would add a large new slave territory. -It would also strengthen southern political power -Some Northerners even suggested that the Texas rebellion was part of a ‘Slave Power Conspiracy’ • US president Andrew Jackson was also against annexation –Feared annexation would cause sectional controversy and even war with Mexico • Texas remained isolated- LONE STAR REPUBLIC –unrecognised by Mexico and rejected by the USA Lone Star Republic

13. Southerners supported the annexation of Texas into the Union • The North apposed the idea • Why do you think they opposed the idea? • The North feared it would lead to the spread of slavery • Texas was so large –feared that it would be divided into 5 new slave states • -This would tilt the balance of free and slave states in the south's favour • Texas remained independent between 1836-1845

14. Jacksons successors- Martin Vann Buren and William Henry Harrison both refused to deal with the Texas issue • Annexation of Texas was the political ‘hot potato’ that no one wanted to deal with • Texas instead began to look to Europe for Support. Britain and France recognised Texas and concluded trade treaties • 1844 New US president John Tyler encouraged Texas to apply for statehood again • Northern congressmen rejected the application • Advocates of Westward expansion pressed For Texas’s annexation –Texas became the main issue for the 1844 presidential election -This forced the candidates to resolve the issue of Texas • 1845 outgoing president John Tyler secured a resolution in congress in favour of annexation of Texas –In December 1845 Texas entered the Union as a single state

15. TASK You will be given a list of statements which explain the events of Texas achieving its independence. You are to arrange the statements into the correct order You are to then stick them down onto the sheet provided Recap-Texas and Independence

16. The election of 1844 and ‘Manifest Destiny’

17. Manifest Destiny • Ideology that existed in the United States • -idea comes from Monroe Doctrine • -Phrase coined by democrat John O’sullivan in 1839 • “it is Americas manifest destiny to spread and possess the whole continent” • Manifest destiny became a rallying cry throughout America • Used as justification for Westward Expansion • Americas rightful destiny- God given right to spread the American experiment throughout the continent • Would become a dominant issue in the 1844 Presidential election

18. 1844 Presidential election the candidates -James Knox Polk -Democrat -Tennessee -Henry Clay -Whig -Kentucky • Supported Annexation of Texas the acquisition of Oregon Territory and California • Supported idea of ‘Manifest Destiny’ and westward expansion • Opposed high federal tariffs • opposed the annexation of Texas and the extension of slavery • Favoured protective tariffs Third Candidate – James Birney – Liberty Party

19. The result Polk narrowly wins the election Most Southerners and Westerners Supported Polk Most saw the result as a mandate for the annexation of Texas and further westward expansion Northerners also supported this as they hoped to gain the Oregon Territory Polk and the Democrats appealed to both Northern and Southern expansionists

20. TASK- Answer questions on 1844 election

22. By March 1845 Congress had already approved Texas Annexation The Republic of Texas hopes annexation will solve the republic’s financial & military problem Remains a independent Republic between 1836-1845 Texas becomes the 28th state in December of 1845. Mexico reacts by cutting off all diplomatic ties with the U.S. Recap- Texas Annexation

23. Westward Expansion and The US Mexican War

24. Oregon territory- jointly occupied by Both Britain and USA 1818-1844 • Neither sides could agree to break up the territory • Polk stated that America had a right to the whole ‘territory of Oregon’ • 1845 5000 Americans had settled in the region compared with 1000 Britain's • Polk wanted to acquire all territory up to 54,50 line • Compromise was reached – America got territory up to 49th parallel line

25. Texas and U.S. claim that the Rio Grande marks the southern border of Texas • Mexican government rejects this idea and argues that the real southern border is the Nueces River Boundary Dispute

26. Rio Grande boundary -US Claim Nueces River boundary -Mexican Claim

27. June 1845- President Polk ordered General Zachary Taylor to take U.S. troops into disputed border region • Polk claims this action is to protect Texas from possible Mexican attack • But was this a deliberate move by Polk? `

28. Polk sends US troops into the disputed region between Texas and Mexico Why do you think he would do this? d Polk wanted to provoke Mexico into retaliating hoping this would lead to a war and the annexation of California and New Mexico

29. Meanwhile, Polk sent diplomat John Slidell to Mexico City to negotiate the purchase California & New Mexico for $30 million Sends John Fremont to lead army expedition to map rivers within US borders to California Mexican officials refused to meet with Slidell Strong anti-U.S. sentiment meant that Mexico would not accept offer Steps to War John Slidell

30. March 1846 – General Taylor’s troops made camp at the Rio Grande in disputed territory April 1846 – Mexican commander insisted U.S. troops must leave area and Taylor refused to move Mexican forces crossed the Rio Grande and attacked group of 63 U.S. soldiers 11 Americans killed Steps to War

31. May 11, 1846 – Polk addressed Congress He declared that “Mexico has shed American blood upon the American soil.” Two days later Congress declared war on Mexico Steps to War

32. For many Americans the war led to greater national pride • Many people who supported the war believed it would spread republican values • Advocates of Westward expansion and Manifest destiny supported the war- U.S would gain new territory • Many southerners supported the war, thinking any territory won would be organized into slave states Support of the War

33. Many members of the Whig Party thought the conflict was unjustified Northern abolitionists feared any territory gained in the war might be organized into slave states Illinois Congressman Abraham Lincoln wrote the “Spot Resolutions” in 1848– asking Polk to show the spot where American blood had been shed on American soil Many people in the North felt that Polk purposely provoked a war with Mexico in order to gain new territory –Slave Power Conspiracy Opposition to the War

34. Forced on Santa Anna and Mexico • Southern boundary of Texas set at the Rio Grande • U.S. gained: • Present-day states of California, Nevada, and Utah • Most of Arizona and New Mexico • Parts of Colorado and Wyoming • U.S. agreed to pay $15 million to Mexico and pay debts of Mexico to U.S. citizens • Polk unhappy with treaty-wanted more territory The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo (1848)

36. Texas annexation 1845 -Disputed territory between Texas and Mexico • Mexico refused to pay debts to US citizens • Polk had ambitions to gain California -Attempts to buy both California and New Mexico for $30 million -New Mexican government refused to sell • Polk changes his tactics • Sends US envoy to California to incite pro American sentiment • Sends in military troops into Texas in hope of Provoking a war Causes of the Mexican War-A Summary

38. The Aftermath of The Mexican War

39. Aims • 1) To understand the events of the Mexican war • 2) To assess the significance of the Mexican war • 3) To assess how the Mexican war cause sectional tension between North and South • 4) To evaluate the effectiveness of the Wilmot Proviso, Calhoun Doctrine and Popular Sovereignty

40. TASK • Watch the video clip on the causes of the US-Mexican War • Answer the questions Key Points you need to get from the Video • How did the war begin • What role did Polk play in the outbreak of War

41. Task Complete worksheet on the events of Mexican war

42. Questions-US-Mexican War 1. Why did the prospect of Texas’s entry into the United States divide American opinion? 2. Why did the Texas question dominate the presidential election of 1844 what were the beliefs of both of the candidates? 3. What territories did James Knox Polk want to be annexed into the USA? 4. What is meant by the term ‘Manifest Destiny’? 5. What were the main issues which caused tensions between the USA and Mexico? 6. How did Polk attempt to acquire the territories of New Mexico and California? 7. How did the political situation in Mexico prevent Polk from achieving his aims? 8. Why did Polk send US troops into the disputed region between Mexico and Texas? 9. What was Mexico response to Polk’s action? 10.Why did the onset of war with Mexico divide opinion in the United States? 11. What factors contributed to the USA victory in the Mexican War. 12. What were the terms agreed upon at the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo? 13. What problems do you think will occur as a result of the Mexican war?

47. Complete Map showing the land American gained as a result of the Mexican secession TASK 1

48. Task/Homework Using the Textbook answer the questions on the Aftermath of the Mexican war Extension Activity You are a British diplomat who has been sent to America to try and resolve the issue of what should happen in the newly acquired territories (Mexican cession). What compromise would you suggest?

49. Task 2 (30 minutes) • Group Work -You will be divided into FOUR groups a) Southerners b) Northerners c) Compromisers d) Abolitionists What are your views on the spread of slavery into the territories gained from the Mexican war? -You must follow the instructions on the handout provided -You will present your findings to the class

50. The Calhoun Doctrine The Wilmot Proviso David Wilmot Democrat-Pennsylvania John C Calhoun statesman from South Carolina • Southern reaction to the Wilmot proviso • 1847 Calhoun issued a series of resolutions - • Questioned the constitutional authority of congress to regulate or prohibit slavery • Citizens had every right to take their ‘property’ to any territory • No restrictions should be placed on slavery in the territories • If north continued to deny rights of southerners, the southern states had a right to secede from the Union • 1846 Proposed that Slavery should be excluded from any territory gained from Mexico • Believed President Polk was pursuing pro-southern polices • e.g. Annexation of Texas • Believed that Congress had the power to stop slavery from the territories • Wanted white settlers/farmers to settle in the new territories • Northern Democrats and Whigs voted for the Proviso- It was blocked by the south in the Senate