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Trends in Antebellum America: 1810-1860
1. New intellectual and religious movements.
2. Social reforms.
3. Beginnings of the Industrial Revolution in America.
4. Re-emergence of a second party system and more
political democratization.
5. Increase in federal power  Marshall Ct. decisions.
6. Increase in American nationalism.
7. Further westward expansion.
“Manifest Destiny”
 First coined by newspaper editor, John O’Sullivan in 1845.
 ".... the right of our manifest destiny to over spread and
to possess the whole of the continent which Providence
has given us for the development of the great experiment of liberty and federal
development of self-government entrusted to us. It is right such as that of the tree
to the space of air and the earth suitable for the full expansion of its principle and
destiny of growth."
 A myth of the West as a land of romance and adventure
emerged.
“American Progress” by John Gast, 1872
Territorial Expansion
 In 1840’s, Territorial expansion dominated
American diplomacy and politics:
Dispute over Oregon with Britain
Clamor to annex Texas caused friction with Mexico
Desire to obtain California further strained relations with
Mexico
Finally, the Mexican War occurred from 1846-1848
Harrison and Tyler
 Remember, 1840, Harrison elected president.
However, many in his party only viewed him as an
impressive figurehead. Real leaders were Henry
Clay and also Daniel Webster.
 But Harrison contracted pneumonia and died after
only four weeks in the White House. As a result, his
vice-president, John Tyler ascended to the
presidency.
John Tyler
 A Virginian who was in many ways old-school and
driven by principal. However, he was not really a
Whig, he was a member of the minority wing of the
party. He was an ex-Democrat and in many ways a
Democrat at heart
 Critics accused him of being a Democrat in Whig
clothing.
 On every major issue, he was at odds with the ClayWebster platform.
Pro-Bank, Pro-protective Tariff, and pro-internal
improvements. Tyler against all of these.
Clay’s Reforms and Agenda
 Financial reform
End the independent Treasury (Tyler passed this)
New Bank of the United States
– Tyler was staunchly against the bank and vetoed the bill
– Tried to give a substitute bill with a “Fiscal Corporation”, Tyler
vetoed that too.
– Tyler ridiculed as “His Accidency” and “Executive Ass”
– Influenza in the country called “Tyler’s Grippe”
– Serious attempt to impeach him in House of Representatives
and the Whig Party expelled him, making him a president
without a party
Clay’s Reforms and Agenda
 Protective Tariff
As an Old Democrat, he vetoed the tariff bill.
Clay redrafted the bill and Tyler signed the Tariff Bill of
1842, which has the rate of 32% on dutiable goods.
 Clay-Webster Reforms also called for internal
improvements.
Issues with Britain
 Anti-British sentiments from many reasons:
British travelers and travel books wrote negatively of
Americans and snubbed their noses at them.
In addition, British books and magazines also launched
attacks on Americans and presented them as crude and
unsavory.
America was a debtor nation and Britain a creditor
nation. Due to Panic of 1837, many Americans did pay
back loans.
Canadian Insurrgents
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1837, a small insurrection erupted in Canada that many Americans
supported (similar to Texas)
Caroline incident: American steamer was carrying supplies to the
insurgents but was attacked on the New York shore by a British
force, who set it on fire.
American newspapers cried foul screaming that the ship plummeted
over Niagara Falls.
In 1840, a Canadian McLeod was put on trial for the Caroline
incident. British cried foul saying he should not be executed and
that would mean war. Eventually he was set free.
Creole- 130 escaped slaves captured the ship and were given
asylum by the British in the Bahamas.
Aroostook “War,” 1839
 The only war ever declared by a state.
 Between the Canadian region of New
Brunswick and the state of Maine.
 Cause: The expulsion of Canadian lumberjacks in
the disputed area of
Aroostook by Maine
officials. Also, the building of a road by
the British that went through Maine
 Militias called up and both nations marched troops to he border
 General Winfield Scott arranged a truce, and a
border commission was convened to resolve the issue.
 Webster-Ashburton Treaty- established the border of Maine from Canada. Americans got 7,000
of the 12,000 square miles of disputed forest. Also the Americans procured the rights to the
territory of the Mesabi Iron Ore in Minnesota (did not know it at the time)
Maine Boundary Settlement, 1842
Texas Declaration of Independence
Even though Texas gained
Independence in 1836, the
Mexican government regarded
Texas as a province in revolt and
did not recognize their
Independence. Mexicans
threatened war with the
Americans if they interfered
with Texas and tried to annex
it.
Key Figures in Texas Independence, 1836
Sam Houston
(1793-1863)
Steven Austin
(1793-1836)
The Battle of the Alamo
The Republic of Texas
Due to constant threat of Mexican
attack, Texans had to keep a costly
defensive military. As a result,
the Texans were driven to
negotiations with foreign nations
in hope hope of a defensive shield
as a protectorate. So, in 1839 and
1840, treaties signed with Britain,
France, and Holland.
Why was Britain so interested?
British Interest in Texas
Halt southward surge of America
 Puppet Texas could be used against America
 British abolitionists wanted to eliminate slavery and
hopefully spread that idea to the South
 British merchants regarded Texas as a means to
obtain more cotton and decrease its dependence on
American cotton

Annexation of Texas
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Election of 1844, James Polk narrowly defeated Henry Clay. Tyler
took this as a mandate to annex Texas because it was a major
theme during the election.
To have it annexed, he chose to have a joint resolution, meaning a
simple majority in the both houses of Congress. This was preferred
to the 2/3 vote in Congress, which he believed would not happen due
to the “Conscience Whigs”
Resolution passed narrowly in 1845 and Texas became part of
United States
Main Motives
Too much foreign intrigue causing potential danger to the United States
Independent Texas not in the interest of the U.S., especially with other
European nations expressing interest in her.
Overland Immigration to the West
 Between 1840 and
1860, more than
250,000 people
made the trek
westward.
The Oregon Trail – Albert Bierstadt, 1869
Trails Westward
Oregon Territory
 At one point, Spain, Russia, United States, and Britain all claimed
Oregon.
 In the end, the dispute ended between two nations, United States
and Britain.
 Britain’s Claim:
North of Columbia River, very strong. Based on exploration,
discovery, treaties, and actual occupation (Hudson Bay
Company)
 U.S. Claim
Captain Robert Gray, Lewis and Clark expedition, and most importantly,
missionaries.
Oregon Territory
 Treaty of 1818 arranged peaceful “joint occupation”
dependent on future settlement. Americans wanted
to divide at 49th Parallel. British said no because of
Columbia River
 In 1840’s, Oregon Fever strikes and many go out
west to Oregon looking for free land and
opportunities.
 By 1846, 5,000 Americans to 700 British.
 British start to realize a settlement would be a good
idea.
The Oregon Dispute: 54’ 40º or Fight!
 By the mid-1840s,
“Oregon Fever” was
spurred on by the
promise of free land.
 The joint British-U. S.
occupation ended in
1846.
 Many wanted all of Oregon, but
Polk happy with 49th Parallel
because it avoided war.
The Bear Flag Republic
The Revolt  June 14, 1845
John C. Frémont
The Slidell Mission: Nov., 1845
 Mexican recognition of the Rio
Grande River as the TX-US border.
 US would forgive American citizens’
claims against the Mexican govt.
 US would purchase the New Mexico
area for $5,000,000.
 US would California at any price.
John Slidell
Wilmot Proviso, 1846
Provided, territory from that, as an
express and fundamental condition to
the acquisition of any the Republic of
Mexico by the United States, by virtue
of any treaty which may be negotiated
between them, and to the use by the
Executive of the moneys herein
appropriated, neither slavery nor
involuntary servitude shall ever exist
in any part of said territory, except for
crime, whereof the party shall first be
duly convicted.
Congr. David Wilmot
(D-PA)
The Mexican War (1846-1848)
Anti-Catholic Feelings
General Zachary Taylor at Palo Alto
“Old Rough and Ready”
The Bombardment of Vera Cruz
Battle of Buena Vista (1847)
General Winfield Scott
General Scott Enters Mexico City
“Old Fuss and Feathers”
Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo, 1848
Nicholas Trist,
American Negotiator
Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo, 1848
The Treaty was basically forced on Mexico!
 Mexico gave up claims to Texas above the Rio
Grande River.
 Mexico gave the U. S. California and New Mexico.
 U. S. gave Mexico $15,000,000 and agreed to pay
the claims of American citizens against Mexico
(over $3,500,000).
Results of the Mexican War?
1. The 17-month war cost $100,000,000 and 13,000+
American lives (mostly of disease).
2. New territories were brought into the Union which forced the
explosive issue of SLAVERY to the center of national politics.
* Brought in 1 million sq. mi. of land (incl. TX)
3. These new territories would upset the balance of power between
North and South.
4. Created two popular Whig generals who ran for President.
5. Manifest Destiny partially realized.
Free Soil Party
Free Soil!
Free Speech!
Free Labor!
Free Men!
 “Barnburners” – discontented northern Democrats.
 Anti-slave members of the Liberty and Whig Parties.
 Opposition to the extension of slavery in the new
territories! WHY?
The 1848 Presidential Election Results
√
The Mexican Cession
GOLD! At Sutter’s Mill, 1848
John A. Sutter
California Gold Rush, 1849
49er’s
Digging for Gold in California
Two Views of San Francisco, Early 1850s
 By 1860, almost 300,000
people had traveled the
Oregon & California
Trails to the Pacific
coast.
Territorial Growth to 1853
Westward the Course of Empire
Emmanuel Leutze, 1860
Expansionist Young America in the 1850s
America’s Attempted Raids into Latin America