Chapter 17
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Clay and Webster’s presumptuous
assumption.
◦ Webster was Sec. of State. Clay the
leader of the party in Congress.
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Wm. Henry Harrison
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Shortest Term of any
President.
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Harrison’s reaction
Clay leads party in power and is
ready to finally put his policies
into law
Harrison dies 40 days into
presidency.
Tyler takes over.
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First vice president to take over
for a president who died in
office.
Why is he on the ticket.
Tyler is an old-school Virginian.
Why did he leave the Democratic
Party for the Whigs?
Part of the minority wing of the
Whig party that adhered to
State’s rights.
His views are quite different from
Clay and Webster.
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Henry Clay:
foiled again
Unofficial platform of the
majority of the party
Tyler’s views on
unofficial platform
Whigs accuse him of
being a Democrat in Whig
clothing
Another defeat for Clay.
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Whigs try to get their agenda enacted into
law.
Repeal Independent Treasury. Passed.
Second part: Renew the Bank of the US.
◦ Tyler’s reaction.
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“His Ascendancy”
What do Whig’s do to Tyler?
What does his cabinet do?
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British-American relationship
erupted in war of words in
1842.
◦ Causes?
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Caroline affair.
Lumberjack war—Aroostook
Valley, Maine. Maine
boundary vague
Webster-Ashburton treaty
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Texas in a precarious position.
US had spurned request for annexation.
Mexico still claims Texas as its Territory,
Threatened to take it back and threatened
war with US if US annexed.
Many European countries were courting Texas
Britain especially was very interested.
◦ Why?
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Texas becomes a leading issue in election of
1844.
Dem. James K Polk vs. Whig Henry Clay.
Democrats position.
Whigs position.
Polk wins.
What does Tyler do as a result..
Mexico angry and accuses US of theft.
Is Mexico right?
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Oregon Territory: everything North of
California, West of the Rockies up to 54-40.
Both US and Brit have claims to the
Territory.
Treaty of 1818: Joint occupation.
In 1840s,Oregon Trail.
◦ 5000 American in Oregon by 1846. Brits had
only 700
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Only a small areas really in dispute.
Columbia river north to the 49th Par.
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Election of 1844 Clay
(Whig) against James K.
Polk (Dem.).
James K Polk of Tenn.
◦ First “dark-horse” nominee
◦ Had been Speaker of the
House and governor of Tenn.
for two terms.
◦ Jackson sponsored him.
◦ Dems publicized him as a
young Jackson.
◦ Southern expansionist
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Dems expansionist. Platform was for
annexation of Texas and taking Oregon all
the way up to 54-40. “54-40 or Fight”
Dems campaigned on Manifest Destiny
◦ What is “Manifest Destiny”
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Whigs were mostly against annexation of
Texas, equating it with an expansion of
slavery, but Clay couldn’t win without votes
in the south.
◦ He tried to be both for and against annexation,
and his waffling hurt him
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Other issues: tariff, slavery, the bank and
internal improvements.
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Polk won in a close election.
New York the key state.
Clay lost there by 5000 because Liberty Party
not split the vote.
◦ Why did Clay loose votes to Liberty Party?
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Tyler saw the election results as a mandate to
annex Texas and started the ball rolling
before he left office.
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Polk not dynamic or
impressive physically.
Serious and worked very
hard.
Not brilliant, but was
dogged, shrewd and well
organized. Did not delegate
much.
Four-point program for his
presidency
Only one-term President to
make the list of Top-10.
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One: Reduced Tariff. Succeeded in reducing
the tariff from 32 to 25%.
Two: Restoration of Independent Treasury.
Accomplished.
Three: Settlement of Oregon.
◦ Polk and southern Dems. didn’t want all of Oregon,
despite platform. Why?
◦ Brits recognize that they must compromise.
 Why?
◦ Brits agree to divide at 49th Par.
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Acquiring California Polk’s
fourth goal.
◦ Why does he want it?
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US likely to get eventually
through settlement, but
Polk doesn’t want to wait.
◦ Why?
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Offers to buy from Mexico.
Mexico doesn’t want to
sell.
◦ Ongoing disputes with Mexico
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Polk’s strategy to get Mexico?
Continuing dispute with Mexico over border
of Texas. Nueces or Rio Grande?
Polk sends Zachery Taylor’s troops across the
Nueces into disputed Terr.
Mexican troops cross Rio Grande and attack
Taylor.
Polk asks for a declaration of war claiming
that US troops attacked on “US” soil.
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How did rivalry with Britain affect the
American decision to annex Texas, the
Oregon dispute, and lesser controversies of
the period?
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America catches war fever
Spot resolution.
◦ What?
◦ Who?
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Many Whigs vehemently
against the war.
◦ Why?
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Mexican’s spoiling for war,
as well.
◦ Why?
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Assessing Polk’s actions
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Santa Anna dupes the
US
Steven Kearny, Santa Fe
1846
John C. Fremont (Great
Pathfinder), Bear Flag
Rebellion
Zachery Taylor defeats
Santa Anna at Battle of
Buena Vista
Zachery Taylor
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Polk leaves Taylor where
he is. Why?
Winfield Scott (“Old Fuss
and Feathers”) Vera Cruz
and March on Mexico City.
One of the most brilliant
campaigns in US history.
Captures Mexico City.
Scott hero during the war
of 1812.
Best general produced by
US between Rev. War and
Civil War.
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2/2/1848.
Terms?
◦ American title to Texas confirmed with Rio
Grande the border.
◦ Mexico yielded Arizona, New Mexico, California,
Nevada to US. (with Texas, is about ½ of Mexico.)
Land referred to as Mexican Cession.
◦ US to pay 15 Million and assume claims of
citizens there against Mexico worth about 3
Million. (18.5 Mill compared to 25 Mill. prepared
to pay for Cal. before the war.)
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Identify the short and long-term
consequences of the war.
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What caused the Mexican War? Did Polk
provoke the Texas-boundary conflict in order
to gain California or expand slavery, as war
opponents like Lincoln charged?
What were the benefits and costs of the
Mexican War both immediately and in the
longer run of American History?
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Wilmot Proviso
Mexican American War was the opening
chapter on events that led to the Civil War
because of the new territory added.
Foreshadows the Civil War:
◦ Practice for military leaders
◦ More land to dispute over slavery