Manifest
Destiny
and Its
Legacy
AP U.S. History
Chapter 17
• Sam Houston – “Americans
regard
this continent as their
birthright.”
• Indians/Mexicans – make room for our
“mighty march”
• In less than 1,000 days:
– U.S. increased land by 50%
– # of immigrants (1840s – 1850s) exceeded the
nation’s entire population in 1790
• Immigration/Territorial Expansion were
linked
– Immigrants were Democrats – voted Democrat
in 1844 election (Polk)
– Anti-immigrant feelings???
– Solution for class/ethnic conflict??
• Also – best solution for reducing conflict
between sections
– Oregon
– Texas
The Whig Ascendancy
• 1840 Election: Harrison (Whig). Whigs also majorities in
both houses of Congress
• Harrison died - John Tyler president
• Whig program – American System – Bank, “Revenue”
tariff, $ from tariff to states
• Tyler - Jacksonian in philosophy
– Hated "American System" – vetoes everything
(including bill for creation of a 3rd national bank)
– Vetoed more bills than any single-term president in U.S.
history.
• Talk of impeachment!
A War of Words
with Britain
• Caroline incident - U.S ship set on fire,
sunk by British; one American dead
• Creole incident - British in Bahamas
offered asylum to 130 Virginia slaves who
had rebelled, captured the U.S. ship Creole
- Southerners wanted compensation
• Maine boundary dispute
– WebsterAshburton Treaty
(1842) Webster-Ashburton
Treaty with Great Britain
that settled the boundary
between Maine and New
Brunswick.
• Significance: improved
U.S.-British relations
The Lone Star of
Texas Shines Alone
• Republic of Texas lasted 9
years
• Mexico - refused to
recognize Texas
independence since 1836
• Threatened war if U.S.
should try annexation
• Britain interested…
• Texas - leading issue in
1844 campaign (Polk v.
Clay)
The Belated Texas
Nuptials
• Democrat Southerners supported annexation slave states (could be divided into 5 states).
Northern Whigs opposed it - another slave state
would disrupt the power. Also worried about
slavery extending into Mexico, Cuba, etc. Both
sides - annexation would lead to war with Mexico.
• 1845 - Tyler got joint resolution in Congress for
annexation (required only majority)
• Mexico claimed U.S. had unjustly taken Texas;
refused to recognize annexation
The Election of 1844
• Democrats – James
K. Polk
• Whigs – Henry
Clay
– Polk – annex TX and
Oregon
– Clay sent conflicting
messages on TX
issue, lost support to
third (Liberty) party
• Polk wins 170-105
• Immigrants played huge part
in election, voted Democrat
Manifest Destiny
• Obvious or undeniable fate – God’s
will - America was destined to expand
across North America – from sea to
sea. The people believed no other
nation should keep the U.S.
from fulfilling its destiny.
• John L. O’Sullivan
• See California as gateway to Asia
• Guarantees land for farmers – alternative to
factories or we will be like Britain –
“bloated wealth” and in “terrible misery”
Factors that helped Manifest
Destiny:
1. Pressures of migration/settlement
2. New outlets for trade (California and Oregon)
3. Technology, communication, and transportation
4. Politics – Democrats (Southerners) were in favor
of expansion
Oregon Fever
Populates Oregon
• Spain, Russia, Britain, & U.S.
• Spain - Florida Purchase Treaty, 1819
• Russia retreated to 54-40’ line due to 182425 treaties with U.S. & Britain
• American migration into Oregon region (south of
Columbia River)
• Oregon Trail - 2,000 mile trail; average of
17 deaths per mile for pioneers
– Trail began at Independence, Missouri or Council
Bluffs, Iowa
• By 1846, 5,000 U.S. settlers lived south of
Columbia River; British had only 700 people
living north of river
• British concerned about
large U.S. migration into
the region
• Disputed area between
Columbia River (British
wanted it for access to
Pacific Ocean) and 49th
parallel
• Polk Campaign – “54
40’ or Fight!”
• Now President – Britain
has to negotiate or go to • Oregon Treaty: U.S.
received Oregon territory south of
war over territory…
49th parallel
Origins of the Mexican
War
• Mexico owed $2 million in debts to
American citizens
• Alamo/Goliad memories
• TEXAS
• Mexico – viewed U.S. in awe/aversion
Cause #1 - Texas
• TX annexed in 1845
• Polk – supported Rio Grande
as border (greatly increased
TX territory, not the TX that
gained independence from
Mexico!)
• Jan. 1846, Polk ordered Gen. Zachary
Taylor to march just across Nueces
Cause #2 - California
• Polk wanted CA for its harbors
• Polk sent John Slidell to Mexico
City in late 1845 to buy California for $25
million
–Mexico refused
American Blood on American (?)
Soil
• Polk ordered Taylor to move further South…
• April, Mexican troops crossed Rio Grande and
attacked Taylor; 16 casualties.
• “American blood has been
shed on American soil!”
• Polk sent war message to Congress, asks for $10
million to fight war
“Mr. Polk’s War”
• Polk wanted California.
Mexico would not give
it to him under any
conditions. The only
way to get it was to
provoke war or wait for
an internal revolt. He
provoked the war by
sending Taylor to the
Rio Grande.
The Mastering of Mexico
• 3-pronged attack
• California - Capt. John C. Fremont - Bear
Flag Revolt
• Gen. Stephen W. Kearny - Santa Fe
• Gen. Zachary Taylor victorious at
Monterey and Buena Vista
• Gen. Winfield Scott captured Mexico City
-Robert E. Lee and Ulysses S. Grant
Treaty of Guadalupe
Hidalgo
• Feb.2, 1848
• Provisions:
– U.S. gained CA, and modern-day NM, AZ, UT and NV
– U.S. to pay $15 million and assumed claims of U.S.
citizens against Mexico of $3,250,000
– Mexico gave up its claim to Texas, recognized the Rio
Grande as southern border.
• Gadsden Purchase (1853) – Mexico sold southern
New Mexico and Arizona to the U.S. for $10 million.
Results of Mexican
War
• Slavery or not in new
territories?
• Wilmot Proviso, 1848 David Wilmot - Slavery should
never exist in any of
territory gained from Mexico
– Twice passed House but not
Senate
- Showed the growing gap
between the North and the South.
• U.S. territory increased by 1/3
• Sentiment for Manifest Destiny increased
• ALLOWED FOR A LARGE WAVE OF
MIGRATION WEST
Polk’s Domestic
Policies
• Restored Independent Treasury (dropped by
Whigs who wanted the Bank)
• Tariff of 1846 – slashed tariffs to minimum
necessary for revenue (25%)
– Made a lot of $$ b/c of heavy imports…
• Vetoed Internal Improvement bills
Questions
• 1. Analyze several factors that led to
American expansion in the 1840’s.
• 2. To what extent did American
expansionists achieve their goals between
1840 and 1848?