Manifest Destiny James K Polk and American Expansion

Manifest Destiny James K. Polk and American Expansion

Dark Horse- James Polk • Election of 1844 – Whig-Henry Clay – Democrat- James K Polk • Key Issues: – Should the United States add Texas? • This would upset the balance of slave/free states – Polk says yes – Clay says no – Further Expansion (Manifest Destiny) • Polk wants to continue expanded aggressively • Clay believes in a more cautious approach

Oregon Country Mexican Cession Texas Gadsden Purchase Annexation

Texas Annexation

• Texas Annexation of Texas occurred on February 28, 1845. • Annex means “add on. ” • Approve the annexation of Texas (took 10 years) – Reason • 1 - Mexican dictator Antonio López de Santa Anna warned that annexation would be "equivalent to a declaration of war. ” • 2 - Northerners opposed annexation over the slavery issue • Results – Mexican War

Mexican War

Mexican War • Mexican War Timeline – January 1846 - Zachary Taylor crosses the Nueces River into the disputed border between Mexico/United States. – April 1846 – Mexican troops cross the Rio Grande into the disputed border with Mexico/United States. – April 1846 – Mexican and United States troops skirmish with losses on both sides – April 1846 – U. S. declares war on Mexico

Taylor’s Forces Bang Nueces River Mexican Forces Rio Grande River

Mexican Cession Mexican War Continued… • May 1846 – January 1848 - Fighting on many fronts • January 1848 – Mexico City is captured • Results: • Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo ends the Mexican War – Mexico Cedes all of California and New Mexico to the United States. » Cede means “gives” • Created the New Mexico Territory and California

Oregon Country

Oregon Country • Oregon Country originally shared by four powers – 1. United States – 2. Great Britain – 3. Spain – 4. Russia

Oregon Country • Oregon Treaty of 1846 – Divided Oregon at latitude 49 degrees North. • Great Britain got the land north of the line • United States got the land south of the line • The states of Oregon (1859), Washington (1889), and Idaho (1890) came out of our portion

Gadsden Purchase

Gadsden Purchase • In 1853, the United States paid Mexico $10 million dollars for a strip of land in Arizona and New Mexico • Purchased this land to complete the building of a railroad.

Native Americans

Native Americans • Three ways the U. S. dealt with the Native American “Problem” – 1. War/Force – 2. Assimilation – 3. Segregation/Reservations

Segregation/Reservations • Explanation: Designate areas for the Native Americans to live • Example: The Reservation System • Reason: Native Americans needed to be moved off land wanted by the United States • Positives: – Control Native Americans – Don’t have to fight them again and again • Negatives: – Resources needed to provide for the Native Americans

War/Force – Explanation: Fight the Native Americans for their land – Example: Battle of Wounded Knee – Reason: Native Americans wouldn’t move – Positives: • Don’t have to pay the Native Americans – Negatives: • U. S. soldiers killed • Native Americans killed (is this a disadvantage) • Native Americans may retreat and fight again

Assimilation • Explanation: Bring the Native Americans into “American” society and culture • Example: Carlisle Indian School • Reason: “Civilizing” the natives • Positives: • Native Americans could help the country • No loss of life for U. S. soldiers • Negatives: • Many Native Americans refused to give up their culture • Only a small portion of the Native American population was able to have schooling