Harrison’s DeathHarrison’s Death

• “Tyler Too” John Tyler – More a Democrat, but he was a Whig only b/c he didn’t like Jackson.– Disagreed with party on almost ever major issue

• Whigs were pro-bank, pro-protective tariff, and pro-internal improvements – Tyler, not so much

• Clay (Senate) and Webster (SofS) pull out Whig platform– Legislation ending the Nat’l Treasury (set up under Van Buren)

– Tyler signs

– Legislation establishing a new BUS• Tyler Vetoed (Democrat in Whig clothing)

– Expelled from party, entire Cabinet resigned (except Sof S Daniel Webster—busy with British negotiations)

BritainBritain

• 1837 - Canadian insurrection against the British– Americans provide military supplies and helped fight

even though fed. Gov attempted to uphold neutrality

• 1837 ~ Caroline – U.S. ship carrying supplies to Canadian insurgents across Niagara River.– Attacked by British on New York shore– Unlawful invasion of American soil

• 1841 ~ British offer asylum to 130 escaped slaves – Captured Creole

MaineMaine

• 1842 ~ Maine Boundary Dispute– British wanted road from Halifax to Quebec

• Plans ran through disputed territory

– “Aroostook War” – lumberjack clash– “Split-the-difference” – Webster-Ashburton

Treaty Line• Americans got a bit more land, but British secured

the road route.

TexasTexas

• Not recognized by Mexico as independent

• Threatened war against U.S. if annexed

• To maintain protection (costly), Texans were forced to enter negotiations with Britain and France for protectorate status– Why are the British interested?

British Interest in TexasBritish Interest in Texas

• British Interested in Independent Texas – puppeted by Britain– Check Southern movement of America– Abolition

• If successful in abolishing in Texas, maybe insight rebellion by slave in southern U.S.

– Cotton – less dependence on American cotton

Manifest DestinyManifest Destiny

• Sense of mission• Almighty God had “manifestly” destined the

American people to spread democracy over the entire continent (and perhaps South America)

• Annexation of Texas became primary issue of 1844 Election– Democrats (pro-expansion)– James K. Polk --

wins– Whigs – Henry Clay

Annexing TexasAnnexing Texas

• Texas – Tyler believed he had a “mandate” from the people to annex Texas (pro-expansionist platform)– Election results

– Desire to “save” his troubled presidency• Not really clear “mandate” – Tyler (Democrat in Whigs clothing)

signed 3 days before leaving office

• Mexico unhappy• Was America justified?

– 1836 vs. 1845?

– Could Mexico reclaim?

– Threatening Foreign interest?

OregonOregon• 1818 – Americans want to divide @ 49th parallel• British wanted Columbia River – vital trade

– Joint Occupation

• 1840s -- U.S. settlement increases– Oregon Trail– British are losing the settlement race – look for negotiations

• Issue tossed into election of 1844– Polk offers 49th parallel (again)– 1846 -- British accept

• (Columbia River not as vital as once thought)• Americans might take over ALL of Oregon someday… “get while the

gettin’s good.”

James K. PolkJames K. Polk

• 4 point program– Lower Tariff – 32 to 25% w/ Walker Tariff of 1846

– Restoration of Independent Treasury – dismantled by Clay (signed by John Tyler)

– Settlement of Oregon dispute – agreed on 49th Parallel

– Acquisition of California• Polk wanted to buy California from Mexico – Manifest Destiny and

San Francisco bay– Problem: Diplomatic ties had been severed after annexation of Texas by

Tyler right before leaving office

• Sends John Slidell with $ 25 million

• Mexican government refuses to allow Slidell to present offer

MexicoMexico• Polk orders 4,000 men from

the Nueces River to the Rio Grande under General Zachary Taylor

• April 25, 1846 – Mexican troops crossed the Rio Grande and attack– 16 causalities

• Polk calls for war – “American Blood on American Soil!”– ???

Did Polk Provoke War?Did Polk Provoke War?

• Bent the truth to bend Am. Public toward war.

• Mexicans had good reason to regard Mexico as their own

• Mexico would not sell California – his plan

• Haste – British might lay claim

MexicoMexico

• Polk wanted California, but not war– When war came he wanted to limit

• Main thrust from General Zachary Taylor “Old Rough and Ready”– 5,000 against 20,000

– Became “Hero of Buena Vista”

• On to Mexico City (1847)– General Winfield Scott

• “Old Fuss and Feathers”

– Inadequate #s, terrain, enemy, disease

PeacePeace

• Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo (1848)– U.S. acquires Texas and area westward to Oregon and the

Pacific (including California) = 1/2 of Mexico– U.S. pays $15 million

• Needed congressional approval quickly– Anti-slavery Whigs were threatening– Some expansionists were calling for ALL of Mexico

• Policing• Anti-slaveryites

• Slidell = $25 million• War = 18,250,000 (usually winners don’t pay)

ResultsResults• U.S. increased land holdings by 1/3

– Greater than the Louisiana Purchase

• Experience for officers that would later fight in the Civil War– Lee, Grant

• Increased respect of American military• Relations with Latin America deteriorated

– “Colossus of the North” – greedy and untrustworthy bully

• Issue of Slavery Resurfaced– Wilmot Proviso – Slavery should never exist in any of the

territory gained from Mexico.• Never became federal law