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Chapter 17
Manifest Destiny and Its Legacy
“American Progress” by John Gast, 1872
This painting shows "Manifest Destiny" (To expand the United States from the Atlantic Ocean
to the Pacific Ocean).
In 1872 artist John Gast painted a popular scene of people moving west that captured the
view of Americans at the time. Called "American Progress" and widely distributed as an
engraving portrayed settlers moving west, guided and protected by a goddess-like figure and
aided by technology (railways, telegraphs), driving Indians and bisons into obscurity.
William Henry Harrison
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He was the first president
to die in office.
He served one month,
the shortest term of any
president.
He gave the longest
inauguration speech of
any president.
He was the first
candidate to have a
campaign slogan--"Tippecanoe and Tyler,
Too."
John Tyler
Became president after the
death of Harrison
Former Democrat turned
Whig due to dislike of the
dictatorial tactics of Jackson.
He was against almost
everything Whigs were for.
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National Bank
Protective Tariff
Internal Improvements
His entire cabinet resigned,
except for Webster.
Tyler had 15 children, the
most of any president.
Caroline Affair
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The Caroline was an
American steamship that
had been aiding rebels in
Canada. Canadian militia,
on orders of the British,
seized the Caroline in
American waters. They
set the ship on fire, and
sent it hurling over the
Niagara Falls. These
actions strained US
relations with Great
Britain almost to the point
of war.
Aroostook War
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Feb.–May, 1839, border conflict
between the United States and
Canada. In 1838, Maine and New
Brunswick both claimed territory left
undetermined on the U.S.-Canadian
border, including the valley of the
Aroostook River. Maine farmers were
interested in the valley's farmlands,
and when New Brunswick sent
Canadian lumbermen to do logging
there, Maine authorities raised a force
to eject them. New Brunswick asked
for British regular troops and full-scale
fighting seemed imminent, but Gen.
Winfield Scott, who had been sent to
the area with a small U.S. force,
managed to reach an agreement
(Mar., 1839) that prevented trouble.
The boundary was later settled by the
Webster-Ashburton Treaty (1842).
www.state.me.us/.../
history/fortkent/war.gif
Webster-Ashburton Treaty
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The Webster-Ashburton
Treaty, signed August 9, 1842,
settled the dispute over the
location of the Maine-New
Brunswick border between the
United States and Canada as
well as the location of the
border (at the 49th parallel) in
the westward frontier up to
the Rocky Mountains and the
shared use of the Great Lakes.
It also called for a final end to
the slave trade on the high
seas, to be enforced by both
signatories.
The Lone Star Republic
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After Texas won their
independence from Mexico it
remained an independent
country. (Lone Star Republic)
Texas asked the United States
to grant them statehood but
the U.S. refused because of
fear of war with Mexico and
fear of inflaming the slave
issue.
Due to fear of an attack by
Mexico Texas made treaties
with France, Holland, and
Belgium.
When Texas began
negotiations with Great Britain
the U.S. was forced to act.
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James Polk responded by
becoming the candidate
in favor of national
territorial expansion. Polk
avoided trouble over his
desire to annex Texas
(which would become a
slave state) by proposing
to add Oregon as a free
state.
New Yorkers opposed the annexation of Texas in this
petition.
Election of 1844
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Whigs – Henry Clay
Third run at the presidency
Leading spokesman for the Whig Party
Desperate to become president
Democrats – James K. Polk
A dark-horse candidate who had been picked because the Democrats
couldn’t agree on anyone else.
Called “Young Hickory”
He and the Democrats advocated “Manifest Destiny.”
Plan: Annex Texas and annex the Oregon Territory and whenever a
slave state was added from the south a free state would be added
from the north.
Clay desperately tried to promote the same plan and he
contradicted himself and lost the election; thus becoming a three
time loser for the presidency.
Annexation of Texas
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After the landslide victory
of James Polk, who ran
on a ticket supporting
annexation of Texas,
Congress approved the
annexation by joint
resolution.
In years past, Congress
had blocked the Tylers'
treaties for
these annexations.
Oregon Territory
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The Oregon territory
stretched from the northern
tip of California to the 54°
40’ line.
Once claimed by Russia,
Spain, England, and the U.S.
England had good reasons
for its claims north of the
Columbia River, since it was
populated by British and by
the Hudson’s Bay Company.
Americans had strong claims
south of the Columbia River
due to the voyage of Robert
Grey and the population
explosion as a result of the
Oregon trail.
Oregon Trail
By the middle of the 19th century, the Oregon Trail had become the main
route to the American Northwest. Thousands traveled the route, which
took six months by covered wagon. Deeply rutted roads cut by wagon
wheels can still be seen today in many places along the trail.
A Man and Woman With a Covered Wagon, Prospect, Oregon, George E. Nichols, photographer,
1913.
54º40' or Fight!
Compromise
The 1844 Democratic presidential
candidate James K. Polk ran on a platform
of taking control over the entire Oregon
Territory and used the famous campaign
slogan, "Fifty-four Forty or Fight!"
 Through negotiations with the British after
James K. Polk's inauguration, the
boundary between the U.S. and British
Canada was established at 49°
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James K. Polk
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Polk promised to lower the
tariff and he delivered by
reducing the tariff from 32% to
25% despite complaints by the
industrialists.
He also restored the
independent treasury in 1846
and wanted to acquire
California and settle the Oregon
dispute.
President Polk was the first
president in office to have his
photo taken (1849).
Polk had ruined his health from
overwork while in office. He
died of exhaustion only 3
months after his term ended.
Polk’s Desire for California
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Polk had a strong desire for California
but Mexico refused to negotiate due to
the annexation of Texas.
The U.S. then sent John Slidell to Mexico
City with instructions to buy California
for $25 million, however, once he
arrived, the Mexican government refused
to see him.
This angered Polk to the point of war.
American Blood on American (?)
Soil
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A frustrated Polk now forced a showdown, and
on Jan. 13, 1846, he ordered 4000 men under
Zachary Taylor to march from the Nueces
River to the Rio Grande, provocatively near
Mexican troops.
Congress refused to give Polk a declaration of
war unless Mexico fired the first shot. As
events would have it, on April 25, 1846, news
of Mexican troops crossing the Rio Grande and
killing of wounding 16 Americans came to
Washington.
Polk received his declaration of war
Spot Resolution
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Congressman Abraham
Lincoln’s demand to
know the exact spot
where American blood
had been shed on
American soil.
Lincoln insisted that Polk
instigated the war.
Northerners questioned
Polk’s motives because
Mexican territory would
be slave territory.
Mexican-American War
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In the Southwest, U.S. operations led by
Stephen W. Kearny and John C. Fremont
(leader of the Bear Flag Revolt in California)
were successful.
“Old Rough and Ready” Zachary Taylor,
fought into Mexico, reaching Buena Vista, and
repelled 20,000 Mexicans with only 5000 men,
instantly becoming a hero.
General Winfield Scott led American troops into
Mexico City.
Bear Flag Republic
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The first "stars and
Stripes were raised over
Monterey, California by
Commodore John C. Sloat
commander of U.S. Naval
Forces on July 9, 1846. At
that time the flag had 28
stars. California became
a state on September 9,
1850. It was represented
on the flag by the 31st
star.
Treaty of Guadalupe Hildalgo
Called for Mexico to cede 55% of its territory
(present-day Arizona, California, New Mexico,
and parts of Colorado, Nevada and Utah) in
exchange for fifteen million dollars in
compensation for war-related damage to
Mexican property.
2. Mexico was forced to recognize Texas as part
of the U.S.
3. The southern border of Texas was set at the
Rio Grande River.
 Seeds planted for Civil War
1.
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 realized.
Wilmot Proviso
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The Wilmot Proviso, first
suggested on August 8, 1846
in the House of
Representatives and attached
to many bills in the United
States Congress, would have
outlawed slavery in any
territory acquired from Mexico
by the United States as a
result of the recently begun
Mexican-American War.
The proviso, which was never
passed, was named for
Congressman David Wilmot, a
Democrat from Pennsylvania.