Manifest Destiny

1. Manifest Destiny

2. The Lone Star of Texas Flickers
• Immigrants from U.S. move into
Mexican-owned Texas to help defend
• Americans had to become Mexican
citizens, Roman Catholic and accept
constitution (banned slavery)
• Many ignored agreement
• Stephen F. Austin leads the settlers
• Mexico tried to regain control of Texas
• Mexico feared a plot by the U.S. to
acquire Texas
• Santa Anna became Mexican leader-
controlling

3. Texas: An International Conflict
• Battle of the Alamo, 1836
• Texans defeated, all were killed, ”Remember
the Alamo”
• Texans eventually defeat Mexican Army and
become the Long Star Republic, 1836
• Sam Houston serves as President of Texas

4. Political Recap
• William Henry Harrison – “Old Tip” –
Battle of Tippecanoe – Log Cabin, Hard
Cider Campaign
– Dies 1 months after inauguration
– Vice President, John Tyler, takes his place

5. John Tyler
• “A man without a party”
• Was a Whig because he
hated Jackson, but was
really a Democrat
• Actually was part of a
minority faction of the
Whig party
• Vetoed a new bank and
high tariff policies
• Expelled from Whig party

6. Aroostook War
• Disputed Maine/Canadian
border
• Britain wanted to build a
road from Halifax to
Quebec
• Tensions flared between
U.S. and Canadian
lumberjacks, militias
formed
• Britain sent a diplomat to
solve the dispute, which
gave Canada their road and
Americans a majority of the
disputed territory

7. Lone Star Republic
• Mexico threatened war if Texas
was annexed by U.S.
• Texas signed treaties with
France, Holland & Belgium to
gain protection against Mexico
• Britain liked independent Texas
because:
– Stopped American expansion
– Free trade area (no tariffs)
– High cotton production
lessened dependency on U.S.

8. Mandate for Manifest Destiny
• Texas annexed in 1845, after Polk’s
election to be the only success of Tyler’s
presidency
• Democrat dark horse, President James K.
Polk, an “EXPANSIONIST” president had a
4 point mission:
– Lower the tariff (he did, 32% to 25%)
– Restore the independent treasury (did by 1846)
– Clear up Oregon border issues
– Get California

9. Oregon- 54’40’ or fight! (or not)
• Territory had been shared by Britain and U.S.
(Treaty of 1818)
• There were more Americans there (missionaries)
• Not worth a war
• British proposed a treaty separating the
territory at the 49th parallel.

10. Proposal with Mexico
• Tensions over the annexation of Texas strained relations
• Border dispute in Texas, Rio Grande or Nueces River?
• Offered $25mil to buy California, Mexico refused
– Prompted Polk to lure them into war with a chance to win
California
• Polk sent 4,000 men under General Zachary Taylor to
march in disputed territory
– News came of a Mexican attack against U.S. troops
– Many statesmen asked for the “spot” in which this event
occurred – Spot Resolution
– Congress declares War

12. Mexican
American War
• Polk hoped to
beat Mexico just
enough to get
California and
ask for peace
• Polk paid the
dethroned
Mexican
dictator, Santa
Anna to “sell-
out” his country
– this failed
• American
victories at
Buena Vista,
Mexico City and
occupation of
California

13. Peace
• Chief clerk of the State Department,
Nicholas Trist secured the Treaty of
Guadalupe Hidalgo
– Texas, California & everything in between for
$18mil (half of Mexico)
– Paid out of guilt

14. Effects of the War
• Field experience for generals of Civil War (Lee &
Grant)
• Began poor relations with U.S. and Latin Americas
• Reintroduced the slavery dispute  caused Civil War
• Wilmot Proviso – proposed, not passed – law to
outlaw slavery in newly acquired territory from
Mexico (Mexican Cession)