The American Pageant Chapter 17: Manifest Destiny and Its Legacy 1841-1848
Battle of Buena Vista, by Samuel Chamberlain, 1847 Battle of Buena Vista, by Samuel Chamberlain, 1847 An American private, Samuel E. Chamberlain, made this drawing of the Battle of Buena Vista. Present at the battle, Chamberlain watched as Mexican forces overran an artillery emplacement. The Americans eventually turned the tide and the battle came out a draw. Even so, troops under Santa Anna were forced to retreat into the Mexican interior, spoiling the general's hope for a quick and easy victory against the invading Americans. (San Jacinto Museum of History Association)
Congressional Scales, 1850 Congressional Scales, 1850 The question of how a war with Mexico might unbalance the nation politically weighed heavily on people's minds as the nation entered the 1850s. In this cartoon, lithographer Nathaniel Currier-- who later would found the famous graphic art company Currier and Ives--illustrates the problem. Trying to balance the Wilmot Proviso against Southern Rights, the president seeks to keep congressional representatives from the North and the South in balance as well. (Library of Congress)
Daguerreotype of Soldiers in Mexican American War This photograph shows General John F. Wool (in the center, wearing a heavy coat) and his staff at Saltillo, the capital of the Mexican state of Coahuila, in 1846 or 1847. Wool respected individual Mexicans as soldiers, but noted Mexico's lack of unity. "Had the nation [Mexico] been united," he wrote, "we could not have gained a single victory." (Library of Congress)
Election of 1844, artist unknown Election of 1844, artist unknown An unknown artist depicted, in rich detail, the election campaign of 1844. A team of Polk supporters offers a campaign handbill to the seated voter. Passions were so high and party organization was so extensive that doorto-door politicking became the norm. (Courtesy of Nathan Liverant and Son)
James K. Polk by George Peter Alexander Healy, 1846 James K. Polk by George Peter Alexander Healy, 1846 Lacking charm, Polk bored even his friends, but few presidents could match his record of acquiring land for the United States. (James K. Polk Memorial Association, Columbia, Tennessee)
Mission San Gabriel by Ferdinand Deppe, 1832 Mission San Gabriel by Ferdinand Deppe, 1832 The San Gabriel Mission was founded in 1771 in southern California, partly with the intent of converting the local Indians, shown here settled in a thatched hut, to Catholicism. In 1781 the Spanish governor set out from this mission to found El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora la Reina de Los Angeles' Porciúncula, now usually known simply as Los Angeles. (Courtesy Santa Barbara Mission Archive-Library)
Mission San Gabriel by Ferdinand Deppe, 1832 Mission San Gabriel by Ferdinand Deppe, 1832 Using Indian labor, Franciscan missionaries transformed the dry California coastal hill country into a blooming garden and built a long string of missions in which to celebrate their religion. This painting of Mission San Gabriel conveys the beauty and the awesome size of these mission establishments. (Santa Barbara Mission Archive)
Polk and Dallas Flag Polk and Dallas Flag This campaign banner celebrating the candidacy of James K. Polk and George M. Dallas on the Democratic ticket carries a subtle message conveying the party's platform. Surrounding Polk's picture are twentyfive stars, one for each state in the Union. Outside the corner box, a twenty-sixth star stands for Texas, which Polk promised to annex. (Collection of David J. and Janet L. Frent)
1840 Election William Henry Harrison Longest Inaugural speech- shortest term in office John Tyler takes over: he is a political independent chosen to support the state s rights party members Tyler splits from the party- he had been added to the ticket because he believed in State s rights He vetoes the new bank He is expelled from his own party His cabinet resigns in mass (except Daniel Webster)
Trouble with Great Britain Literature pirating plagiarism Canadian Civil War Caroline Affair American steamer bringing supplies to the rebels Captured and burned by British Creole Affair 1841- British in Bahamas give asylum to 130 escaped slaves Aroostook War 1837 lumber dispute on Canadian-Maine border
Webster-Ashburton Treaty 1842 US gave up 5,000 sq. miles in Maine US gets 6,500 sq. miles in Minnesota (later iron is found in the region) Avoided war which seemed unavoidable
The Lone Star Republic Mexico threatened that they would attack the US if Texas is annexed Texas forced to provide a border defense: To negotiate with France & Britain Polk platform re-annexation of Texas After his victory, Tyler calls for a jointsession of congress to annex Texas 1845
Oregon Claims British Hudson Bay Co. Explorations of fur trappers Americans Robert Gray 1792 Lewis and Clark American Fur Co. Spanish/Russian claims preempted by treaty Marcus Whitman: Missionaries 5,000 settlers by 1846 Willamette Valley
1844 Election James K. Polk From Tennessee Dark horse candidate Nominated by Democrats Manifest Destiny main theme Re-annexation of Texas Reoccupation of Oregon 54 (degrees) 40 or Fight Henry Clay Nominated by Whigs Does not endorse Manifest Destiny Straddles the Texas Issue Irony: lost NY because of an anti-slavery (anti- Texas Party) led to the annexation of Texas
Polk Young Hickory Workaholic unwilling to delegate Walker tariff lowered rate of last - 1842 Tariff from 32% to 25% Restored the independent treasury Wanted California And the whole of Oregon Tried to compromise at the 49 th parallel British finally give up claims to Columbia and 1month into the war with Mexico settled on 49 th Parallel
War with Mexico $3 million in claims by US citizens in California against Mexico (1,000 foreigners mostly US) Mexico had defaulted on her payments John Slidell sent to buy California Mexico would not accept the $25 million offer It was rumored that California may be purchased or taken by Britain Texas is now an issue Texans claim the Rio Grande as their Southern Border
Texas and War with Mexico Texas is now an issue Texans claim the Rio Grande as their Southern Border Mexico claims Nueces River (120 miles difference) Jan 1846 Gen. Zachary Taylor sent to Rio Grande - baiting Polk about to declare war : Unpaid claims Slidell s rejection April 25, 1846 Mexico crosses the Rio Grande and attacks Taylor s troops American Blood is shed on American Soil
Mexican-American War Now Polk has an excuse to get Congress to declare war spot resolutions submitted by Lincoln, then a junior member of the House from Illinois as an Anti-slavery Whig Stephen W. Kearny Santa Fe Trail to San Diego Mormon Battalion Bear Flag Revolt John C. Fremont Gen. Zachary Taylor Northern Mexico Gen. Winfield Scott Mexico City
Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo 1848 After Scott took Mexico City Nicholas Trist was to negotiate a treaty with a temporary government but Santa Anna swindled him out a $10,000 bribe Finally though the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo was signed: 1. Mexican cession of ½ of the country (Texas) 2. US pays $15 million to Mexico 3. US pays $3 million to US citizens
Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo The Treaty with Mexico is contested by both Conscience Whigs (anti-slavery and threatening to vote down supplies for the war) and expansionists (clamoring for all of Mexico) The treaty is ratified by the Senate 38-14 and condemned by both groups in spite of the fact that the Mexican Cession is greater than the Louisiana Purchase
Wilmont Proviso Proposed by David Wilmont of Pennsylvania (a member of the House) Stated that slavery should never exist in any of the territory wrested from Mexico This passed the House 2X but was blocked in the Senate endorsed by all the free states It came to symbolize the burning issue of slavery especially as it pertained to the territories
Results of the Mexican-American War 1. Slavery issue revived 2. Military proved excellent 3. Start of bad relations with Mexico 4. Land acquired from Mexico brought on the Civil War