Day 55: Manifest Destiny and Its LegacyBaltimore Polytechnic Institute

November 21/22, 2011A.P. U.S. History

Mr. Green

Objectives: explain the spirit and meaning of the Manifest Destiny that inspired American expansionism in the 1840s.Outline the major conflicts between Britain and the United States over debts, Maine, Canada, Texas, Oregon, and growing British hostility to slavery.Explain why the U.S. government increasingly saw the independent Texas Republic as a threat and sought to pursue annexation

AP FocusA member of the Democratic Party, John Tyler, becomes the Whig’s vice-presidential candidate in 1840. When President William Henry Harrison dies just one month into his term, Tyler, much to the distress of Whig party loyalists, such as Henry Clay, is elevated to the presidency.Manifest Destiny, the belief that the United States is divinely inspired to spread across the continent, becomes the rationale for widespread territorial expansion. Critics repudiate it as nothing short of unbridled imperialism.

Rise of a Mass Democracy

CHAPTER THEMESAmerican expansionism gained momentum in the 1840s, leading first to the acquisition of Texas and Oregon, and then to the Mexican War, which added vast southwestern territories to the United States and ignited the slavery questionAmerican international prestige grows as the United States expands. Successful military campaigns against Mexico along with well-negotiated treaties with Britain force Europe to respect America more, while Latin America begins to be wary of the Colossus of the North.

Chapter Focus

Mexican War ChartElection Charts 1844 & 1848Decades Chart 1840’s

Announcements

Harrison dies 4 weeks into his presidencyTyler accused of being a Democrat in Whig clothesWhig Party was1. pro-bank2. pro-protective tariff3. pro-internal improvementsWhig Congress pushed:1. Ended independent treasury system-signed2. Fiscal Bank-vetoed 3. Fiscal Corporation-vetoed4. Tariff-vetoed 5. Tariff of 1842-signedentire cabinet resigned except Daniel Websterserious attempt to impeach

The Accession of “Tyler Too”

Travelers thumbed their noses at AmericaAuthors denied royalties without a copyright lawAmerica a borrower nationEngland a lender nationCaroline incident-1837

American steamer carried supplies to insurgents fighting in Canada for freedom British force attacked the Caroline-1 American dead3 years later, state of New York tried one Canadian-found innocentBritain wanted war if he was found guilty

Creole incident-1841British officials in the Bahamas offered asylum for 130 Virginia slaves that captured the Creole

War of Words with Britain

Aroostook WarFight over Maine boundaryU.S. retained 7,000 of 12,000 disputed square milesas the Canadian border was set further west, iron ore was discovered later in the Mesabi Range of Minnesota

Manipulating the Maine Maps

Texas has quasi-independence since 1836Mexico refused to recognize its independence

2 half-hearted attempts at reclaimingTexas talks to France, Holland and BelgiumBritain interested in an independent Texas1. buffer2. Challenge Monroe Doctrine3. Fragment and militarize America4. Free-trade location5. Cotton

The Lone Star of Texas

Texas became issue in the 1844 electionJames K. Polk-Democrat, winsInstead of Treaty, Tyler calls for joint

resolution that requires a majority, not 2/3Tyler signs annexation 3 days before he

leaves officeMexico angry over Americans annexation-

claimed they stole it from them. Texas was independent since 18369 year wait-is this long enough??

Belated Texas Nuptials

America disputed with Britain over area north of the Columbia River.

The U.S. population was far greater than Britain’s in this disputed area.

Oregon

Whigs-Henry Clay received 105 electoral votes

Democrats-James K. Polk received 170 electoral votesManifest Destiny-Oregon, TexasTariffslaveryBankinternal improvements

Election of 1844

Begin reading all of Chapter 17

5 Question reading check at the beginning of class on Tuesday

Work on Charts.

Homework