Chapter 17 Manifest Destiny and its Legacy 1841

Chapter 17 Manifest Destiny and its Legacy 1841 -1848

The Lone Star Republic • Province in rebellion? • Threats to US • Great Britain wanted an independent Texas – Slavery issue

Texas Annexation • • Presidential election 1844 “Texas or Disunion” James K. Polk vs. Henry Clay Polk victory= popular mandate – Joint resolution by Tyler 1845 – Texas= 28 th state – Mexican reaction

Oregon Fever • Boundary disputes – Spain – Great Britain – US • Occupation of the Willamette River Valley 49° – “Oregon Fever”

Manifest Destiny • 1844: Clay vs. James K. Polk (“the dark horse) – Manifest Destiny empire building – Democrat slogans vs. Whig slogans – Polk victory (Liberty party= spoiler) mandate for Texas?

Polk’s Accomplishments • 1. Walker Tariff of 1846 • 2. Restore an independent treasury • 3. Reoccupation of Oregon (compromised boundary line) northern anger • 4. Acquisition of California

Problems with Mexico • • California coveted (Manifest Destiny!) Money owed to US Texas annexation Boundary disputes between Mexico and Texas- Nueces vs. Rio Grande • John Slidell

The Mexican-American War • General Zachary Taylor • April 25, 1846: “American blood shed on American soil” • Double crossing Santa Anna • General Stephen W. Kearny • Captain John C. Fremont- California Bear Flag Republic

The Mexican-American War • Zachary Taylor- “Old Rough and Ready”, “Hero of Buena Vista” • General Winfield Scott Mexico City 1847 • Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo negotiated by Nicholas P. Trist • Problems back home with “Mexican Whigs”

Pros and Cons of War • 13, 000 Americans died • Mexican Cession • War experience to future leaders. American military power • US= bad image to Mexico and Latin America • Slavery issues enflamed – Wilmot Proviso