UNIT 3 NOTES:
MANIFEST DESTINY &
THE MEXICAN WAR
PRESIDENTS SO FAR…
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George Washington (1788)
John Adams (1796)
Thomas Jefferson (1800)
James Madison (1808)
James Monroe (1816)
John Quincy Adams (1824)
Andrew Jackson (1828)
Martin Van Buren (1836)
William Henry Harrison (1840)
John Tyler (1841)
James K. Polk (1844)
MANIFEST DESTINY
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By 1850 the American population had quadrupled since the
Louisiana purchase
Many Americans took this growth for granted as evidence of God’s
grace to the virtuous republic
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During the 1840’s an expansionists group affiliated with the Democratic
party called themselves the Young American Movement
They proclaimed it was “Manifest Destiny” of the United States to
overspread and to possess the whole of the continent for the
development of the great experiment of liberty
During the 1830s and 1840s, many Americans favored expanding
Unites States territory. The term manifest destiny, meaning obvious
or undeniable fate, was applied to this goal.
PROBLEMS OF EXPANSION
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Manifest Destiny spelled doom for Native Americans
and slaves
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The division between slavery and freedom had
supposedly been settled by the Compromise of
1820
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More land meant the extension of slavery into new territories
but when the issue became the expansion of slavery into new
territories, the two-party system would have explosive debate
The first issue to test political peace regarding
expansion was the annexation of Texas, which helps
provoke the Mexican War
Texas Independence
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The U.S. renounces any claim to Texas in an 1819 treaty with Spain, but
many Americans believe Texas had been a part of the Louisiana
Purchase
 By the time the treaty is ratified in 1821 Mexico had won
independence from Spain
Mexico wants to develop Texas and encourages settlement, Missourian
Stephen F. Austin secures a land grant from Mexico to settle 300 families
there
 Despite promises of loyalty, there were Americans, and they also
brought slaves, which Mexican law had just abolished
 By 1835 30,000 Americans lived in Texas and outnumbered Texans 3
to 1
 In March 1836, delegates from across Texas met and declared Texas
an independent republic and adopted a U.S. style Constitution
Texas then begins a revolution for freedom against Mexico
 The Texas revolution took less than seven months
The Alamo
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The most famous battle is that of the Alamo
 Mexican general Santa Anna led the Mexican Army that
captured the Alamo (a former mission that was converted) in
San Antonio on March 6, 1836
 All 187 defenders were killed
 This included the legendary Americans Davy Crockett and Jim
Bowie
A few months later Sam Houston’s army captured Santa Anna and
forced him to sign a treaty granting Texas independence
The Mexican Congress nullified the treaty later but never
gathered enough strength to reclaim the territory and the Texans
elected Sam Houston president and petitioned for annexation into
the U.S.
THE ALAMO
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9dxGZhv4u8Y
Tyler Down, Polk Up
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Tyler had problems during his presidency because he was against every major Whig
platform, which were:
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Pro-bank
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Pro protective tariff
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Pro-internal improvements
After John Tyler serves his term he runs for a second term but is defeated by Democratic
Dark Horse Candidate James Polk (1844)
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Although forgotten by many, he was a fairly strong President
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He nearly went to war with Britain over Oregon, and acquired much of the present day southwest in the Mexican
American War
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Polk oversaw the opening of the U.S. Naval Academy, the Smithsonian Institute, the groundbreaking for the
Washington Monument, and the issuance of the first postage stamps in the United States
He promised to serve only one term and did not run for reelection. He died of cholera three
months after his term ended.
Scholars have ranked him favorably on the list of greatest presidents for his ability to set an
agenda and achieve all of it. Polk has been called the "least known consequential president“
of the United States
The Mexican War, 1846-1848
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In 1845 Polk sends an envoy to try and purchase California and
New Mexico for $30 million
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On May 9 1846 Polk drafts a war message asking Congress for
a declaration of war due to Mexican defiance on the border
issue
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Mexico declines
He sends General Zachary Taylor to the disputed border in January
1846
That night he learns Mexicans have crossed the Rio Grande and attacked
an American patrol, he revises his war message on May 11 and it easily
passes
Though outnumbered is most battles, American forces will win
every battle and the war in a lopsided dominating fashion
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They had better morale, a more established stable government, better
weapons, leadership
THE FIRST TWO PHASES
The war was carried out in 3 phases:
 1 - Zachary Taylor fought most battles along the Rio Grande
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2 - The second phase of the strategy was New Mexico and California
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His victories make “Old Rough and Ready” a hero; which he rides to the presidency in a few years
later
Iron will; unsoldierly appearance
The were led by General Stephen Watts Kearney who led an army of 1500 from Fort
Leavenworth
He marches through New Mexico with little resistance and takes Sante Fe in August of 1846
Kearney was then supposed to meet up with Captain John C. Fremont in California
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Before news of the war had reached California, settlers there declared an independent Republic
of California.
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The uprising became known as the Bear Flag Revolt after the bear pictured on the new
republic’s flag.
Kearney arrived in December 1846 but most of the work was already done
THE FINAL PHASE
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The final phase involved invading Mexico itself
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In a revolt Santa Anna had been exiled to Cuba
Someone convinced Polk that if they let Anna return to power,
he would make peace on American terms for $30 million
Anna is allowed to return to power, and instead speaks not of
peace, but raises an army to attack Taylor’s army near
Monterrey
In the meantime Polk had chosen Winfield Scott “Old Fuss
and Feathers” to lead the third phase of the war
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“Old Fuss” due to his resplendent uniforms and strict discipline
Under Scott’s command, on September 14, 1847, Americans
captured Mexico City, the capital of Mexico and the war ends
THE TREATY OF GUADALUPE
HIDALGO
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The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo ended the
Mexican War with substantial gains for the
United States. (1848)
 Mexico
gave up its claims to Texas, California, and New
Mexico in return for $15 million.
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Five years later, Mexico sold more land to the
United States. (1853)
 This
Gadsden Purchase included land that became
southern New Mexico and Arizona.
RESULTS OF THE MEXICAN WAR
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The Mexican War, together with the Gadsden
Purchase and the 1846 division of Oregon,
established the borders of the continental
United States as they are today.
 Oregon
of 1846
was acquired from Britain in the Compromise
WILMOT PROVISO
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Another important effect of the Mexican War was its role in bringing the
question of slavery to the forefront of American politics.
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The Wilmot Proviso, first attached to an 1846 bill, stated that slavery
would be forbidden in new territories acquired from Mexico.
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Congress faced a decision about whether or not to allow slavery in the newly acquired
territories. Its decision could tip the balance of political power toward either the North
or the South.
It passes in the House but not in the Senate and exemplifies the growing
division and sectionalism in the U.S.
It marked a split between Whigs and Democrats and a split between northern
and southern Democrats
The Wilmot Proviso never became law. However, it revealed the growing
gap between the North and the South over slavery.
James Polk Biography
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cmAMZShNqXg
THE ELECTION OF 1848
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The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo did nothing to settle the slavery question in
the new territories
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Mexico had abolished slavery, would America reintroduce it?
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Many figured the 1848 election would help decide the matter
Senator John P. Hale (New Hampshire)
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Liberty Party
Position of those determined to bar slavery from all territories
Supported the Wilmot Proviso
John C. Calhoun (South Carolina)
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Southern Democrat
“southern-rights” position
Challenged Wilmot Proviso
Introduced resolutions in Feb. 1847 affirming rights of slave owners to take their
human property into any territory
Constitution protected rights of property; slavery should be legal in all territories
ELECTION (CONT.)
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James Buchanan
Moderate Democrat
 Endorsed idea of extending the Missouri Compromise 36, 30 line to
the Pacific
 Polk does not seek re-election
 James Buchanon does; he was Secretary of State
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Senator Lewis Cass
Democrat
 Became known as the “Popular sovereignty” position
 Let the settlers of each territory decide for themselves whether to
permit slavery
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No matter the candidate, and although no group would
admit it – slavery was the only significant issue in late 1840’s
politics
WHIGS & THE FREE SOIL PARTY
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The Whigs nominated Zachary Taylor
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A coalition of defected Whigs who were unhappy with the nomination
of Zachary Taylor and anti-slavery democrats met in a convention in
August 1848
The Free Soil Party proclaimed slavery as a barbaric and a
social and moral evil
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They nominated former President Martin Van Buren
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The Free Soil Party did not win any states in the presidential election of
1848, but did win some seats in Congress
Whig candidate Zachary Taylor wins the 1848 election
He was a war hero from the Mexican War
 He was a slave holder which helped him carry 8 out of 15 slave
states
 He dies 16 months into office from gastroenteritis (July 1850)
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Zachary Taylor
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PUWEJW91_E
w&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xAY1W6zUq2
Q
LEADING TO COMPROMISE
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Prigg v Pennsylvania (1842) had relieved states of the
responsibility of any obligation to return fugitive slaves
 Southerners
demanded a strong national fugitive slave law
 The new expansion issue threatening disunion was over Texas
and New Mexico
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2 issues are threatening disunion: how fugitive slaves are
returned, and what to do the New Mexico territory
The Compromise of 1850
Clay Proposes a Compromise
In 1849, Senator Henry Clay of Kentucky proposed what would become known
as the Compromise of 1850 as a middle ground on the slavery debate.
Terms of the Compromise
As part of the Compromise, California would become a free state, New Mexico
and Utah would decide their own slavery status, and a Fugitive Slave Act
would order United States citizens to help return enslaved people who had
escaped.
The Compromise of 1850—Map
FUGITIVE SLAVE LAW
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The Compromise of 1850 outlined for the first time detailed
measures on how escaped slaves would be returned
It created a federal commission who could issue arrest warrants
of fugitives
 To prove ownership all they needed was an avadavat from a
slave state court or a white witness
 Those who harbored fugitive slaves could be fined or imprisoned
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Northerners detested this law
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Many passed new personal liberty laws in defiance of the south
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These laws did not make it impossible to recover slaves, but they made it
very expensive and time consuming
Many uprisings started to free black captives from fugitive courts
 The failure of the north to honor the Fugitive Slave Law became a
bitter grievance of the south and many would later state it as
reasons for seceding in 1861
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DECLINE OF THE WHIGS
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Millard Fillmore (1850 – 1853)
Becomes President when Zachary Taylor dies; former VP
 Last Whig President
 Slavery supporter; considered in bottom 10 of Presidents
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The slavery issue divided the Whigs, as northern
Whigs became disgusted with Whig leaders’
willingness to compromise on slavery.
Issues such as banks, which had once been central to
the Whig Party, had been resolved, and many Whig
leaders were dead or dying.
By the end of the 1850s, the Whig Party had largely
disappeared.
Millard Fillmore
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WW1NpSQBCc
Y&feature=related
FRANKLIN PIERCE
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Franklin Pierce would be elected in 1852 to
inherit a bitter and growing divide between
the North and the South
 Democrat
from New Hampshire
 A northern man with southern principles
 Supported annexing Cuba, which would uphold
slavery
 Offered Spain $130 million and supported Cuban
revolution
DECADE THEMES FOR UNIT 3
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1810 – 1820: War of 1812; Era of Good Feelings
1820 – 1830: Era of Good Feelings; Age of Jackson
1830 – 1840: Jacksonian Era
1840’s – Territorial Expansion Dominates the 1840’s
1850’s – Expansion of Slavery is key issues
PRESIDENTS SO FAR…
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George Washington (1788)
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Thomas Jefferson (1800)
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John Tyler (1841)
James K. Polk (1844)
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Martin Van Buren (1836)
William Henry Harrison (1840)
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John Quincy Adams (1824)
Andrew Jackson (1828)
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James Madison (1808)
James Monroe (1816)
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John Adams (1796)
Zachary Taylor (1848)
Millard Fillmore (1850)
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Franklin Pierce (1852)