Manifest Destiny
- Term created by John L. O’Sullivan to describe how the U.S. had a mission to spread across the continent of North America and bring democracy and the Protestant faith to the inhabitants it conquered.
- Doctrine 1st expressed in 1845 in which it was declared that the expansion of white Americans across the continent was inevitable and allowed by God, used as way to spread Protestantism and Jacksonian Democracy to more ppl.
Texas controversy
- still loyal to Mexico
- however, in 1830- wanted protection from American govt.
- govt. 1st ok w/ this but opinion changes
californo
person of Spanish descent living in California, after 1821, considered citizen of Mexico- deemed by Antonio Maria Osio
Stephen F. Austin
- established a colony in 1823 for Americans in Texas, a northern province of Mexico
- forbiddance of slavery and the required to become Roman Catholic
Tejanos
Spanish/Mexican ppl. born in Texas
empresario
- Austin is one of these
- agent who received land grant from Spanish/Mexican govt. in return for organizing settlements
Immigration in Mexico
1830- Mexican congress closes Texas to new American immigration and slave importation, insists trade must be through southern Mexico ports
Battle at the Alamo
- James Bowie and William Travis take command of Alamo
- Austin goes to Washington, Houston takes command of Texas’ temporary capital
- Mexican president, Santa Anna, sends army north to capture Alama and kill defenders
- killed all including Davy Crockett, Bowie and Travis
- Sends them also to 2nd garrison to make them surrender and execute those troops
- March 2, 1836- Texas declared independent and gets constitution
- April 1836- Santa Anna captured, forced to sign Treaty of Velasco (withdraws all Mexican troops from Texas, ends war and recognizes Texan independence)
Battle of San Jacinto
The capture of Mexico’s president Santa Anna led to the independence of Mexico in 1836
Baltimore Political Convention
Jackson and Van Buren create 1st national political convention held by major party in 1835
-Whigs vs. Democrats
Martin Van Buren
POTUS
- dealt with the “rising voice of abolitionism” and the Panic of 1837
- continued Jacksonian policies, left nullification and abolition unresolved, supported his Souther supports w/gag rule
- inability of Van Buren to resolve the nation’s economic policies led to William Henry Harrison and John Tyler winning for the Whig Party in 1840.
Gag rule
- procedural rule passed in House of Reps. to prevent discussion of antislavery petitions from 1836 to 1844
- protests came to House and Senate (petitions)
- -Adams undermined rule by introducing petitions at every session of Congress and interrupted members speaking
Panic of 1837
2 months after Van Buren’s inauguration- major economic downturn brought on by temporary excesses in international trade & inability of U.S. to control currency or make credit available after closing of 2nd U.S. Bank
specie circular
- issued by Jackson in 1836
- proclamation stipulating only gold or silver can be used as payment for public land
- made it so citizens didn’t trust bank notes either
William Henry Harrison
- Elected potus in 1840 w/Tyler as VP
- dies one month in
Webster-Ashburton Treaty
1842 treaty w/U.S. and Britain that settled boundary issues b/t U.S. and Canada, provides closer cooperation in suppressing African slave trade
Tyler supported this so he could deal w/Texas
John Tyler
-not a Whig
-main goals to annex Texas and get reelected
-1843, makes secret negotiations w/Texas
-1844, Calhoun (Sec. of State) presented treaty for annexation to senate
==justified for saying it would keep slavery alive w/o British interference
==Senate rejected treat
-1845, admitted Texas to U.S. and now an american state
Dark Horse candidate
presidential candidate who comes out of nowhere
Election of 1844
-Polk vs. Tyler (Polk Wins)
Polk’s Campaign
wanted to focus on election of Manifest Destiny for the Catholic voters
Land dispute in Oregon
1846: The U.S. and Britain agreed to a compromise allowing the U.S. to acquire the Oregon territory up to the 49th parallel instead of the 54 40 parallel.
U.S. War w/Mexico
-Polk ordered Taylor to Louisiana-Texas Border during negotiations
==any mexican movement around Rio Grande=act of war
==Whigs oppose war
-most North mexico controlled by U.S.
Anti-war Figures
Lincoln (POTUS), Thoreau (Civil Disobedience) and Adams (Congress)
Bear Flag Revolt
Ft. Sutter- rebellion by recent american immigrants who temp. declared California an independent republic until U.S. forces took back control of territory
-created flag w/bear
