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International Relations
Unit 2
“A Dose of Arsenic”
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Certain of superiority of their institutions and
greatness of their nation, the U.S. continued to
push out on those who restrained them during the
1830’s-1860’s
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This superiority helped push U.S. into confrontation with
independent Mexico
American Growth
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Populations continued to explode with higher birth
rate and greater immigration
Major expansion of railroads by the 1840’s
Economically, essentially self-sufficient
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However export was a major money maker
Manifest Destiny
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Expansionist thrust of the Pre-Civil War era
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Used to justify annexation of Texas, Oregon and California
Phrase men’t that “God had willed the expansion of
the United States to the Pacific Ocean, or beyond”
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Very nationalistic and arrogant
Superior design sense of inevitability by citizens made the
U.S. position “greater”
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Uniquely virtuous, thus imposing on them a God-given mission to
remake the world in their own image
Manifest Destiny (Con’t)
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Many believed they had an obligation to uplift and
regenerate “backwards” people
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Gave it a strong sense of racism
Support for Manifest Destiny
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Support was strongest in the northeast and northwest
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Weakest in the south
Democrats (Formally Jefferson’s Republicans)
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Rallied around Andrew Jackson
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Fervently believed in preservation of traditional republican values
Greatly feared rise of industrialization and urbanization
Expansion would help alleviate problems of modernization
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Thus expansion would keep the Union together
Fundamental to American character
Support for Manifest Destiny (Con’t)
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Whigs
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Fearful of consolidation of executive power by Jackson
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Harbored deep fears of uncontrolled expansion
Must consolidate order before acquire more territory
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Wanted to expand by example
Welcomed industrialization
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They believed government must promote economic growth and
improve the individual in order to help society
Slave Trade Control
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Paranoid slaveholders in the U.S. were concerned
of a conspiracy by Britain, or Abolitionist, to
destroy their slave system and economy
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Fears of Britain policing the illegal slave trade across
the Atlantic
Fear of slave uprising like the island nation of Haiti
Expansion of slavery into new territories
Slave Trade Control (Con’t)
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Britain had set out to abolish the trading of human
beings
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Began stopping ships suspected of being involved in
Atlantic slave trade
Tried to set up a multi-national ban on slave trade,
however U.S. would not sign off
Limits to Manifest Destiny
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Though nervous of Britain, U.S. began to have healthy
respect for British power
In turn, by the 1840’s, Manifest Destiny did not include
Canada
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U.S. had grow to respect Canada’s self-determination
Signed the Webster-Ashburton Treaty of 1842
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Sealed the Maine-New Brunswick boundary
Set up an extradition clause between Britain and U.S.
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Signed by President Tyler
Oregon Expansion
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Seen as a very profitable area to both British and U.S.
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Essential ports to trade with China and Japan
Also great already for natural resources
American settlers began taking the Oregon Trail from
St. Louis in order to profit from Oregon territory
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Hoped to eventually control Oregon by numbers
President Polk set the goal of adding the Oregon
territory to the Union
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Almost led to war due to diplomacy
Oregon Treaty of 1846
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Set the boundary between Canada and U.S. at the
49th parallel
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Both U.S. and Britain recognized the importance of
commercial ties and the common culture shared
Ultimately this treaty allowed U.S. an outlet to Pacific
trading, abundant territory
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including current states Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and parts
of Montana and Wyoming
Polk’s Manifest Destiny
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Polk set out early in his administration to obtain
Texas, California and New Mexico
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Texas independence was not recognized by the U.S.
for nearly 8 years
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Due to President’s fears of inability to be re-elected
Americans were torn on the admission of Texas
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Slaveholders wanted another slave state
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Before Polk, President Tyler sought to annex Texas, and it was
admitted in Dec. 1845
Mexico severed relations
California also seen as a profitable territory as well
Polk’s Manifest Destiny (Con’t)
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Border dispute between Texas and Mexico
increased tensions
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Certain of quick and decisive victory, Polk began
preparing for war with Mexico
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It was assumed the Mexico would be bullied and that the U.S.
soldiers would be welcomed as liberators
Also fears Britain or France would make a move for
Texas or California
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Polk reinforced the Monroe Doctrine
Mexico-American War 1846
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War resulted due to U.S. impatience and
aggressiveness and Mexican weakness
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Polk fearful of European intrusion and U.S. strength
propelled him to make the decision to fight
Mexico had been politically instable and had a
“Yankeephobia”
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Afraid of cultural extinction
Mexico-American War 1846 (Con’t)
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U.S. did have smashing military successes, however
peace was difficult to maintain
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Mexico fought a guerrilla war
Peace could have been obtained earlier, however Polk
continually switched out negotiator and generals for
fear of political rivalry
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Peace ultimately came through, Trist ignored the President’s
request and established a peace agreement
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Favorably voted by Congress and by a frustrated President Polk
Consequences of Mexican-American War
• Americans had the opportunity to overtake all of
Mexico
– However fear of Mexican cultural takeover subsided that
desire
• Partially driven by racism of Mexican inferiority
• Mexican government driven to bankruptcy due to
cost of war and lose of substantial land
Consequences of Mexican-American War
(Con’t)
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U.S. gained substantial amount of land and
ultimately profit
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Citizens saw war as a great event in history
Also setup the bigger dispute of slave vs. nonslave state admittance
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Stepping stones to Civil War
Pacific Ocean Trading
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Trade drove the U.S. to expand across the Pacific Ocean
toward East Asia
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Commercial expansion was essential to domestic well-being and
international stability
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All based on Jeffersonian ideals
Hawaii sought to protect itself from westernization
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Tyler Doctrine of 1842
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Recognized Hawaiian independence
Also saw it as a vital link connecting U.S. to East Asia
Pacific Ocean Trading (Con’t)
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Hawaiian significances was tied to Chinese and
Japanese trade
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China was opened up by Britain, however U.S. was able to
get Most-Favored-Nation trade, so it benefitted as well
Japan was opened up by U.S. through commodore Perry
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Tried to use a show of force to open the reclusive country to trade
Future diplomats were able to open Japan more to trade
All of these helped set the U.S. on solid ground of
trade in the Pacific Ocean
1850’s Manifest Destiny
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Despite very little actual territorial increases, U.S.
remained very active in spreading it’s ideals, if by force
when necessary
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The military actions of unsanctioned militias hurt the image of
U.S. throughout Central and South America
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Cuba and Panama area started to become of greater
significance in U.S. foreign policy and trade
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President’s did little to compensate for the actions of the militias
Polk to Buchannan, sought to buy Cuba from Spain, however
unsuccessful
While U.S. preeminence increased throughout Latin America,
Britain began to withdraw
Ultimately the expansion of the 1840’ through 50’s was
suppose to unite the Union, it helped to undermine their
unity
“Last Best Hope”
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The American Civil War was a significant world
event
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Europeans torn between the possible demise of U.S. to
fearing a spread of slavery
During the 1860-80’s, many other countries were fighting
for their national identity
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U.S. was still trying to develop their identity
Importance of Diplomacy
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Diplomacy for the Union and Confederacy was
vital
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Union, though less experienced, faired much better at
European diplomacy
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Diplomacy was designed by Secretary of State William Seward
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Consistently able to warn off European intervention by
demonstrating the dangers of sticking their noses in America’s
troubles
Could mean high price after war
Lincoln had all the right people, in all the right spots
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Eloquent speeches also pivotal to Diplomacy
Importance of Diplomacy (Con’t)
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Diplomacy for the Union and Confederacy was
vital (Con’t)
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Confederacy, with more experience, neglected and
fumbled their diplomacy with Europe
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Assumed “King Cotton” would force Europeans to back their
cause
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80% of England’s cotton and 90% of France’s cotton came from
Southern States
Unsung Friend
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Russia, from the beginning of the American Civil
War, allied with the Union
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The only European power to do so
Allied with the Union due to U.S. support during the
Crimean War
Russia also saw the U.S. as a significant balance
against the British
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During the final stages of American Civil War, placed
ships in U.S. harbors, giving Union higher morale
Other European Powers
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England was torn
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Liberals loved the U.S. due to it’s anti-slavery and prodemocracy
Conservatives saw the U.S. as a dangerous economic
foe, that would be easier to handle if divided
French
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Napoleon III saw the Monroe Doctrine as a major
obstacle to his grand scheme for restoring national glory
and French empire in Mexico
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However tended to side with British decisions during war
Other European Powers (Con’t)
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Generally, the Europeans recognized the
importance of U.S. trade to their economy and
refused to jeopardize
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Neutrality was thus the obvious choice, though easier
said than done
Recognition of Confederacy
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Europeans struggled to recognize Confederacy or
not
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By Recognizing Confederacy, they would incite anger by
Union, possibly war
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Virtually siding themselves with Confederates
By not Recognizing Confederacy, unable to take
representatives from Confederacy
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Virtually siding themselves with Union
Recognition of Confederacy (Con’t)
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Though considered changing throughout the war,
the Europeans maintained relative neutrality, thus
not offending both sides
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However they did tend to favor Union due to the
Confederacies stigma of slavery
Both Union and Confederacy propagandists
shrewdly worked throughout Europe, hoping to
sway to their side
Union Blockade
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The Union initiated a blockade on the Confederacy
that lasted throughout the war
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Though imperfect, over the long haul it was successful at
limiting Confederacy trade and diplomacy
Europeans did not challenge the blockade
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Though they did black market trading with Confederates
Union Blockade (Con’t)
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Blockade and boarding of ships by Union captains
created turmoil that almost instigated war with
British
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Continually through situations, Lincoln and his cabinet
would speak publicly loud, and softly in negotiations
Confederacy Diplomatic Blunders
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Overestimated the significance of King Cotton
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Year before Civil War broke out, Britain gained an
abundant crop of cotton
Eventually Europe began getting Egyptian and Indian
Cotton
European connection to Union was just as
significant as Confederacy
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Britain heavily invested in Union canals, railroads, banks,
etc.
Lincoln
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Believed that America’s mission could be best
carried out by demonstrating rather than
expanding
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Seward was the opposite, seeking to expand
Used actions to persuade Europeans that U.S. was
seeking the moral high ground
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Recognized Haiti and Liberia in 1862
Allowed British to search ships in order to end slave
trade
Lincoln (Con’t)
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Though originally believing slavery was supported
by the Constitution, Lincoln changed once
President to see slavery as a necessity to preserve
U.S. as a beacon of freedom
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Passing the emancipation was a military necessity after
military successes
Allowed former slaves to travel to European to persuade
them of the horrors of slavery
European Waffling
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By 1862, Europeans became increasingly
concerned about ending war based on economic
and humanitarian reasons
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Economies in European had become increasingly hurt
by blockade and lack of trade
Every battle was closely watched by Europeans in
order to side itself with the ultimate winner
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As the war dragged on, and with no clear winner,
Europeans tended to remain neutral
European Waffling (Con’t)
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Union victory at the Battle of Antietam Creek,
allowed Lincoln to issue the Proclamation
Emancipation
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Used as a tool to solidify Europeans support toward
neutrality and end of slavery
By late 1863, turmoil in Central Europe, helped
persuade Europeans to remain neutral
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Ultimately the caution used by Europeans allowed the
Union to slowly defeat the Confederates
British Ships
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British had built ships for Confederates, that
became raiding ships to disrupt Union trade
Due to Confederacy success with the raiding ships,
it brought about it’s own demise
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Lincoln demanded an end to British actions, and
ultimately British did stop building the ships
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British afraid of precedent for future wars
This was the final straw that brought the defeat of
the Confederacy
Union Victory and Beyond
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With the surrender at Appomattox, Union victory
reinforced the faith in the superiority of their ideals
and institutions
After Lincoln’s death, President Johnson continued
the anti-expansion agenda
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Only expansion was Seward’s purchase of Alaska from
Russia
U.S. sought to pressure French out of Mexico by
reinforcing Monroe Doctrine
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Napoleon III unpredictable began leaving Mexico
Seward’s Foreign Policy
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Signed the 1871 Treaty of Washington
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Agreed to ease border disputes along the U.S. Canadian
border
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Specifically regarding fisheries
U.S. recognized the new status of a self-determined
Canada
Seward’s Foreign Policy (Con’t)
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Worldwide Expansion
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Helped to establish bases and cooling stations
throughout the pacific
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Including Midway, Hawaii, and Fiji islands
Negotiated treaties toward building a canal in Central
America
Sought to open trade with Korea
Seward’s Foreign Policy (Con’t)
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Seward’s reach exceeded the nation’s grasp
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President Johnson impeachment limited Seward’s ability
to achieve his goals
Grant and Fish
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U.S. sought control of Cuba, however still unable
to pry it from Spain
President Grant, pushed by American
businessmen, expanded influence in pacific
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Especially in Hawaii, in order to maintain a base for
protecting trade and for developing sugar plantations
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Thus setting up a reciprocity treat with Hawaii
Established a treaty with Samoa in the Pacific
End of Continental Manifest Destiny
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Late 1877 brought an end to Continental
expansion in the U.S.
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Many of the major issues on which U.S. foreign policy
had focused throughout much of the 19th century were
resolved
Next three decades brought about to a desire for
overseas expansion