Manifest Destiny & Its Legacy
1841-1848
The American Pageant
Chapter 18
Accession of “Tyler Too”
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Harrison figure head – real Whig leaders were Webster (Sec. of State)
and especially Clay in Senate.
Webster/Clay schemes failed when Harrison died of pneumonia.
Accession of “Tyler Too” (2)
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John Tyler of VA (now presi-dent) was stubbornly princi-pled, and at
odds with Clay/ Webster over most important parts of Whig
“platform.”
Tyler was states-rights and rejected bank, tariff, etc.
President w/out a Party
 Whigs in Congress ended Independent Treasury, Tyler
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signed.
Clay engineers passage of new bank, Tyler vetoes.
Whigs referred to Tyler as “His Accidency.”
President w/out a Party (2)
 Whigs expelled “Democrat” Tyler from party, tried to impeach, all
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cabinet except Webster resigned.
Tyler vetoed 1st tariff (land money issue), reluctantly signed a lower
tariff (32%) in 1842.
War of Words w/ England
 Anti-British sentiments fostered by lack of Feds, war memories.
 Led to literary war of word through travel books, other British authors
(Dickens) who could not receive copyright royalties from US sales.
War of Words w/ England (2)
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Panic of 1837 resulted in states defaulting on British loans.
1837: American citizens’ support Canadian insurrection, Caroline
attacked on New York shore, British threaten war if attacker McLeod
executed.
Manipulating Maine Maps
 Aroostook War: lumberjacks from Maine/Canada fight over
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disputed territory.
Webster-Ashburton treaty gives US more land, but British
get desired road route.
Texas Shines Alone
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Texas afraid of Mexico.
British interested in using TX to check US expansion.
US afraid of foreign powers (FR) using British & TX vs. US conflict
to violate Monroe Doct.
Brits wanted TX for cotton.
Belated Texas Nuptials
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Due to fears, TX became campaign issue in 1844.
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1845: Texas annexed by joint resolution, Mexico angered.
Proexpansion Polk (D) defeated Clay (W), Tyler interpreted as
mandate to acquire Texas.
Oregon Fever
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Both England/US had strong claims to Oregon based on trade
/exploration/occupation.
Lewis/Clark explored in 1804-6.
1830s: missionary presence helped settle and secure south-ern part of
Oregon for US.
Oregon Fever (2)
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1818: US/Britain agreed to joint occupation.
1840s: “Oregon Fever” led to about 5,000 US settlers by 1846, only a
few hundred for Britain, British began to realize implications.
Oregon Fever (3)
 US wanted border of 49th parallel, Britain wanted Columbia
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river.
Issue overshadowed in 1844 election by debate of
annexation of Texas.
Manifest Destiny
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1844 Election: Whigs chose Clay, expansionists in Dem. party
engineered nomination of Polk, 1st “dark horse” cand.
Polk was Speaker of House, gov. of TN, backed by Jackson.
Manifest Destiny (2)
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“Manifest Destiny” was campaign issue: view that God had destined
American people, democracy to control hemisphere.
Democrats called for annexa-tion of Texas and all of Oregon.
Manifest Destiny (3)
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Whigs responded by tying Polk to slavery and Clay to liberty.
Clay hurt by straddling fence on Texas.
Polk wins, mere 5,000 votes in NY was difference, Liberty Party cost
Clay presidency.
Polk the Purposeful
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Polk develops 4-point program, achieved in under 4 years.
1st point: lowered tariff. Treasury Sec. Walker lobbied Congress for
Walker Tariff of 1846. Reduced rates (32% to 25%), but yet gave
good revenue b/c strong economy.
Polk the Purposeful (2)
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2nd point: Indep. Treasury. Achieved in 1846.
3rd point: Acquire California.
4th point: Acquire Oregon. Polk again proposed 49º, British first said
no, but realized Columbia R. not that valuable, area was “furred out.”
Polk the Purposeful (3)
 Britain agrees to 49º, Senate quickly approves, despite some
claims for “Fifty-four forty forever!”
 Vote influenced by the fact that war with Mexico had
started.
Misunderstandings w/ Mexico
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Polk & others felt Manifest Destiny included California.
1845: Pop. mostly Indians and Spanish-Mexicans, less than 1,000
Americans.
Polk wanted to buy California, but Mexico upset by damage claims,
Texas.
Misunderstandings (2)
 Texas dispute heightened by boundary dispute: Nueces R. or Rio
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Grande? Polk kept US troops out of disputed area.
Polk thought British might buy it, sent minister to Mexico City to
purchase, Mexico refused to even hear offer.
US Blood on US (?) Soil
 Jan. 1846, Polk ordered Gen. Taylor to move from Nueces R. to Rio
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Grande, but did not provoke Mexican army initially.
April/May, impatient Polk moved to declare war, but his plan worked
– Mexico started shooting, 16 US killed.
US Blood on US (?) Soil (2)
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Polk declared shedding of “American blood on American soil,”
Congress voted for war.
Congressman Abraham Lincoln suspicious, introduces “spot”
resolutions to get info about location of attacks. Anti-slavery Whigs
call Polk a liar.
US Blood on US (?) Soil (3)
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Polk provoked war to grab California, protect from British.
Southwestern expansionist also wanted war against Mexico.
But Mexico also wanted to retaliate against “bullies of the North,”
invade US, free slaves.
Mastering of Mexico
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Polk wanted limited war just to get Cal., but Santa Anna double-cross
led to larger war.
Opportunist Frémont, with local Americans, proclaimed short-lived
California republic.
Mastering of Mexico (2)
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Notable military achievements:
Zachary Taylor at Buena Vista.
Winfield Scott’s brilliant campaign to Mexico City, most distinguished
American general since Revolutionary War.
Fighting Mexico for Peace
 Polk’s rep. Trist, embarrassed by Santa Anna, finally negotiates Treaty
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of Guadalupe Hidalgo.
Terms: (1) US gets all land between Texas and Oregon, incl.
California.
Fighting Mexico for Peace (2)
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Terms: (2) US pays $15M for land, and agrees to pay damage claims
against Mexico ($3.25M).
Two problems with ratification:
1) “Conscience Whigs” got control of House in 1847, threatened to
defund war.
Fighting Mexico for Peace (3)
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(2) Man. Destiny expansionists were calling for all of Mexico,
Calhoun moderated southern greed, encouraged ratification.
Critics suggest $18.25M was for guilty conscience, but need for haste
was likely motivator.
Profit and Loss in Mexico
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War cost 13,000 US lives, most from disease (fairly cheap).
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Military success impressed British/foreign critics.
Enormous gains: US territory increased by 1/3, larger than LA
Purchase.
Profit and Loss in Mexico (2)
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After war, Latin America feared US, condemned greed.
Heightened slavery tension (“Santa Anna’s revenge”): some felt war
provoked by “slavocracy,” symbolized by failed Wilmot Proviso.