Scott Schipke
Period 8
Expansion & Slavery
Tyler’s Troubles
o Disagreed with Clay
Clay mostly to blame
Bitter about being passed up for president candidacy
o Cabinet resigned (Except Secretary of State Daniel Webster)
In protest of Tyler vetoing the new Bank bill proposed by Clay
o Abandoned by the Whigs.
Tyler attempted and failed to build his own party.
Tariff Act of 1842 raised duties to almost the same as 1832
Webster-Ashburton Treaty
o Land around the St. Lawrence and Atlantic sketchy
Webster agrees to negotiate with British diplomat Lord Ashburton
o Maine and Massachusetts wanted all the land
Ben Franklin had made a map showing where the U.S. boundary was
Webster makes a fake “Ben Franklin map” to quiet ME and MA
o Treaty more beneficial to America
America got 58% of the disputed land
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Scott Schipke
Period 8
Expansion & Slavery
Texas Disputes
o Mexico wins independence from Spain in 1821
Americans begin to settle in Texas, which legally belonged to Mexico
o Mexico allows Southerners to grow cotton in Texas
By 1830 around 20,000 Americans were settled there
o American immigrants cause trouble for Mexican
Most were protestant
Felt no loyalty to Mexico
Few learned any Spanish
Evaded the law that made illegalized Slavery
Mexico tries to limit American immigration but is unable to enforce the law
o Texans strive for independence when Mexico tries to restrict immigration
1835 skirmishes escalate into rebellion
Mexican president, Antonio de Santa Anna leads 6,000 troops to San Antonio
o American force of 187 holds San Antonio from the Alamo
Hold off Santa Anna for 10 days
Mexican breach the Alamo on March 6, 1836
Kill every person inside and burn the corpses
Davy Crockett and Jim Bowie among those killed
o Texas declares independence March 2nd, 1836
Sam Houston put in charge of the rebel army
Rebel army takes a stand on the San Jacinto River on April 21
Mexicans army is routed and flees across the Rio Grande
Houston elected president of the Republic of Texas 6 months later
o Texas gains independence and begins friendly relations with Great Britain
The British wanted Texas cotton since it was cheap without tariffs
The British also hoped to abolish slavery in Texas
o Americans worried about Texas’ relations with Great Britain
Southerners especially scared of Texas abolishing slavery
Tyler shared these feelings
Daniel Webster resigns and is replaced by Abel Upshur from Virginia
Tyler orders Upshur to try and negotiate a treaty of annexation with Texas
Southerners especially want Texas, other 2 sections driven by patriotism
Upshur negotiates a treaty in 1844 but is killed by a cannon before it’s complete
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Scott Schipke
Period 8
Expansion & Slavery
o Tyler appoints John C. Calhoun as the new Secretary of State
Calhoun too closely aligned with the South
West and North pull back support of annexation
Van Buren and Clay oppose annexation, wanting to avoid war with Mexico
Senate rejects the annexation treaty 35 to 16
Manifest Destiny
o Americans envisioned a country from the Atlantic stretching all the way to the Pacific
o Louisiana Purchas greatly stimulated the move westward.
o From 1600’s-1840’s moving westward was thought perilous and risky
o This mind set changed quickly and movement westward increased tremendously
o Everyone thought that God have given them the entire continent
o Politicians in the 1840’s didn’t sense the mood of expansion from the people
Life on the Trail
o Moving west was laborious
There were few “separate spheres” on the way
Women loaded wagons, pitched tents and chased stray cattle
Men kept an eye on the children and helped wash and clean
o Travel on the plains west of the Mississippi was especially hard
Women had to collect buffalo dung to burn
The summer was terribly hot and dry
Could rain for a good steady week
Cramped, sometimes unsanitary quarters
Caring for infants and children could be especially taxing
One estimate for deaths for is 17 per mile for men, women, and children
California and Oregon
o By 1840 many Americans had settled in Mexican California and jointly claimed Oregon
o 21 Catholic missions in California stretched from San Diego to San Francisco
The missions controlled over 30,000 Indians
Missions treat Indians little better than slaves
o Richard Henry Dana (Harvard student) sails around South America and California
Writes his account of the journey: Two Years Before the Mast (1840)
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Scott Schipke
Period 8
Expansion & Slavery
o Oregon even more attractive
John Astor establishes Pacific Fur Company on the Columbia in 1811
Many types of missionaries begin to settle the Willamette Valley
Around 500 Americans in the Willamette area in 1840
o 1840’s marks the beginning of “Oregon Fever”
Some societies were founded to organize groups to move to the Pacific
In early 1843 almost 1,000 pioneers had made the 2,000 mile trip
o Oregon Trail began in western Missouri and ran all the way to Willamette Valley
o Pioneer groups usually became self-governing with democratically agreed regulations
Most pioneers families were young families
Some came from the East Coast but most from the Ohio Valley
Indians were not huge threats for large groups
o 3 important West Coast harbors: San Diego, San Francisco, the Strait of Juan de Fuca
Spanish owned San Diego and San Francisco
British owned the Strait
Jackson tried to buy San Francisco
Calhoun called it the future New York of the Pacific
Proposed buying all of California from Mexico
Election of 1844
o Both parties wanted to ignore Texas in their campaigns
Whigs unanimously nominate Clay
Democrats lean towards Van Buren at first
o John C. Calhoun gains support for taking Texas and using it for slavery
The decision goes to a vote and James K. Polk from Tennessee wins
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Scott Schipke
Period 8
Expansion & Slavery
o Polk was a close follower of Jackson and also called “Young Hickory”
Believed in annexing Texas and expansion in general
Democrats pick George M. Dallas of Pennsylvania for Vice President
Polk’s platform required “reannexation” of Texas and “reoccupation” of Oregon
o The election was extremely close
Stress parades, mass meetings, and slogans.
Polk won the Electoral College with 170 to Clay’s 105
o Liberty Party was the decisive factor in the election
Most of the party resided in New York, a big Whig city
Clay lost New York to the Liberty Party candidate, James Birney
o Polk’s victory was interpreted as an outcry for expansion
Tyler called to make Texas a state by joint resolution
As many as four new states might carved from the territory
Polk accepted and Texas became a state in December 1845
A pro-Democrat cartoon shows Polk, the expansionist candidate, and the collapse
of Whig opposition to the addition of Texas
5
Scott Schipke
Period 8
Expansion & Slavery
President Polk
o Polk was strong willed, toughed skin, and a workaholic
o Polk was very successful it what he set out to do as president
He persuaded Congress to lower the tariff of 1842
Opposed federal improvements
Succeeded in obtaining Texas, Oregon, and the great Southwest
o Oregon was Polk’s first target
Polk proposed along 49th parallel to the Pacific as a boundary to British minister
Minister rejected and Polk then insisted on the whole thing
In 1846 Polk notified Britain that he was going to end joint occupation in a year
o The British decided to compromise
Want Vancouver Island
Present a treaty with the original 49th parallel to the Pacific as the boundary
British get Vancouver
Both maintain free use of the Strait of Juan de Fuca
Treaty approved by Senate in June 1846
War with Mexico
o Mexico stopped al relations with the United Sates when Texas was annexed
o Polk sends General Zachary Taylor to defend the Texas Border
The border was in dispute
Texas said the Rio Grande
Mexico claimed it was the Nueces River
Taylor reached the Nueces and stopped before the Rio Grande
o Polk sends John Slidell as an envoy to Mexico secretly
Slidell was supposed to obtain the disputed area through negotiation
He was authorized to cancel Mexico’s debt if they accepted the annexation
Could also offer $30 million for all/part of New Mexico and California
o Mexico refused Slidell
New Mexican head of state reaffirmed its claim to all of Texas
o Polk orders Taylor to advance on the Rio Grande
Mexicans cross the river in April but are easily driven back
Polk asks Congress to declare war
Congress agrees to send an additional supplies and 50,000 troops
6
Scott Schipke
Period 8
Expansion & Slavery
o Outcome of the War was never in doubt
Americans win battle at Palo Alto
U.S. Victory in Resaca de la Palma
American’s loose less than 50, Mexicans over 1,000
Within a week Mexico is driven over the Rio Grande
o Mexican army was poorly equipped and poorly led
American forces were well supplied and had many youthful West Pointers
From the Halls of Montezuma
o Polk partisanship to control his choice of generals, causing turmoil in army ranks
o Both Taylor and Winfield Scott were Whigs
Many officials, including Polk did not believe in Taylor’s abilities
Although Taylor wasn’t the brightest, he commanded the love of his men
Taylor wins many victories for America, and emerges a war hero
o Polk was worried that Taylor would capitalize on his popularity just like Jackson had
o Domestic opposition began growing especially in the North
Northerners feared the expansion of slavery
Some felt Polk had misled Congress when he had asked for support for the war
o Polk’s war plan consisted of 3 steps
1. Clear Mexicans from Texas and occupy Northern Mexican provinces
2. Take possession of California and New Mexico
3. March on Mexico City
Various American groups seize Sonoma, Monterey, and San Francisco & L.A.
By February 1847, the U. S. controlled nearly all of Mexico north of the capital
o Mexico City campaign was the hardest in the war
Polk pulls Taylor out of command and puts in Winfield Scott
o Scott had political ambition as well as military ability
Whigs had considered him a presidential candidate in 1840
Helped modernize military administration and strengthen officer training
He was intelligent, even-tempered, cultivated, and a little pompous
o Scott obtained Veracruz soon after March 9, 1847
Later captured Cerro Gordo along with 3,000 prisoners and many supplies
By mid-May he had moved on to Puebla, only 80 miles from Mexico City
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Scott Schipke
Period 8
Expansion & Slavery
o Scott began his siege of the city on September 14
In every battle American troops were outnumbered
4,000 Mexicans were killed in the fighting at the edge of the city
3,000 (including eight generals) taken prisoner
Duke of Wellington called Scott’s campaign the most brilliant of modern times
The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
o Polk sends Nicholas P. Trist to accompany the army as peace commissioner to Mexico
o Trist joined Scott in Veracruz in May and both took and instant dislike to each other
But Trist falls ill, Scott sends a jar of guava marmalade and they become friends
o Trist was unable to open Negotiations with Mexico until January 1848
Polk grows impatient and considers demanding more territory for less money
Polk summons Trist home
o Trist (with support from Scott) ignored the order.
Unless a treaty was arranged soon, the Mexican government might disintegrate
He quickly writes a 65-page letter to Polk refusing to be recalled
Early in February the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo was finished
Mexico accepted Rio Grande as the Texas boundary
Mexico gave up New Mexico and Upper California to the U.S.
U.S. agreed to pay $15 million to Mexico
U.S. took on another $3.25 million for U.S. citizen claims against Mexico
o Polk is furious when he learns that Trist ignored his orders
Orders Trist under arrest and fires him from his State Department job
But he had no choice but to submit the treaty to the Senate
Some ashamed that their country had crushed a weaker neighbor
William Lloyd Garrison said that it had been waged for expanding slavery
Senate approves the treaty 38 to 14
Further Enlargements of the United Sates
o The Mexican War brought huge territorial gains
o James W. Marshall discovers gold in Sacramento Valley in 1848
$200 million was extracted in 4 years
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Scott Schipke
Period 8
Expansion & Slavery
Slavery Causes Trouble Once More
o South fought for slavery in NM, CA, and OR but these states were not suited for slavery
o Congress could not control slavery in the states
Constitution did not grant the power to
Congress did have complete control of the new areas
Northerners fought slavery here hoping to eventually stop it altogether
o Slavery did however seem likely in Texas
Northern Democrats grew worried about the result of winning the Mexican War
David Wilmot amendment banning slavery in all areas gained from Mexico
o Wilmot Proviso particularly agitates Southerners
Proviso passes in the House where North held majority
Defeated in the Senate in which the South held the majority
John C. Calhoun Congress has no right to bar slavery from any territory
o Calhoun’s resolutions and Wilmot Proviso divided the country and threatened the Union
o Two compromises offered
Extend the Missouri Compromise line to Pacific Southerners supported
Senator Lewis Cass let local legislatures determine to the slavery question
AKA “Popular sovereignty” or “Squatters sovereignty”
Election of 1848
o Congress passed a law barring slavery in Oregon
Coming election might be perfect to settle California and New Mexico too
o Both parties avoided talking about the subject, fearful of losing votes
Whigs nominate Zachary Taylor for President
Taylor had no definitive view on any current issue
o Polk’s support of Texas annexation drove many northern democrats away.
Democrats chose Lewis Cass as their candidate
Avoided many issues just like the Whigs did
o Martin Van Buren Democrats (“Barnburners”) didn’t support Cass
Disliked Cass’ willingness to let slavery in new territories
Joined with the Liberty party to become the Free Soil party
Nominated Van Buren
Van Buren did not expect to win but to make a statement against slavery
o Taylor won the election with almost as many free states as slave states
This clearly showed that the slavery issue had been avoided
9
Scott Schipke
Period 8
Expansion & Slavery
The Gold Rush
o The discovery of gold brought an army of prospectors to California
During 1849 around 25,000 Americans sailed from the East to California
More than 55,000 crossed the continent using land routes
Even 8,000 Mexicans, 5,000 South Americans, and other Europeans rushed too
o Rough limits were made by prospectors in the gold country
Gold seekers especially settled along the Sierra as well as streams and canyons
o The Gold Rush impacted the region enormously
Between ’49 and ’60 about 200,000 people crossed the Rockies to California
This huge influx reduced the Spanish American population to a minority
The gold seekers were terribly intolerant of other people
They sought violent and legal ways to keep them from mining gold
Called Latin Americans “greasers”
Even discriminated local Californians
Indian population plummeted from 150,000 in mid1840’s to 35,000 in 1860
o Anarchy caused by the Gold Rush prompted establishing a territorial government
Taylor proposed to accept California directly as a state
He would let the state decide for itself the slavery question
o Californians were quite in favor of Taylor’s proposal
The vast majority was opposed to slavery
Feared men with slaves would have an unfair advantage in gold mining
California had a state government by December 1849
State constitution outlawed slavery
o Admitting California as a free state upset the balance of free states and slave states
Southerners were extremely worried by this fact
If all the new land was admitted as free, slavery would eventually fall apart
Radicals began saying the South would have to choose surrender or secession
The Compromise of 1850
o The California issue began to threaten the Union so Henry Clay decided to address it
Clay knew that California must be admitted as a free state
He also knew that the South would have to be compensated
After his proposal was approved by Webster, he presented it to the Senate
A few days later he defended it in one the last great speeches of his life
10
Scott Schipke
Period 8
Expansion & Slavery
o Clay argued that California must be admitted as a free state
Clay was well beyond 70 and in bad health
The rest of the SW territory should be organized without mentioning slavery
Southerners would retain the right to bring slaves there
Clay argued that none ever would
Lands in dispute along the Texas border should go to the New Mexico Territory
U.S. would have to take Texas’ preannaxetion debts
The slave trade should be banned in D.C.
Stricter and more enforced fugitive slave laws should be enacted in the North
o Calhoun was one of the leaders of the opposition against the compromise
Calhoun was also very old and very frail
His speech was read by James Mason of Virginia
Demanded that the North concede on every point
Refused to discuss even the question of slavery
Speech argued for states’ rights and even secession
“If you will not yield, let the Sates agree to separate and part in peace.”
o Webster argued in favor of the Clay’s proposals
Webster was also getting on in age and had failing health
Called Wilmot Proviso unnecessary because of geographic and economic factors
Argued that the North had a constitutional obligation to yield fugitive slaves
Understood that the secession would lead to bloodshed
“Peaceable Secessions? Heaven forbid! Where is the flag of the republic to
remain?”
Debate raged on and every possible viewpoint was given, attacked, and restated
Senator Seward argued that the law of God forbade anything supporting slavery
o Taylor died in July 1850, Millard Fillmore became president and the deadlock was
broken
Each part of the compromise had to be voted on separately
Thomas Hart Benton objected to yielding fugitive slaves/Texas settlement
o Stephen A. Douglas took over for Clay in July and faced many problems to the proposals
Rumor that Clay promised a Virginia editor $100,000 to back the compromise
Infuriates Southerners
New York merchants submit a petition with 25,000 signatures for compromise
Has a good effect in the South
Texas bonds rose erratically from 29 to over 60 between Feb. and Sept.
11
Scott Schipke
Period 8
Expansion & Slavery
o In the Senate and then the House, each measure was pushed through one by one
California was the 31st state
The rest of the Mexican ceded territory was divided into New Mexico and Utah
Each would be admitted when qualified
Slavery would be decided by state constitution
$10 million debt was paid off for Texas for a narrower western boundary
The slave trade was banned in D.C. after January 1, 1851
Fugitive Slave Act of 1793 provided laws for returning slaves to the South
o Only 4 senators and 28 representatives voted on all of the bills
Many congressman avoided voting on issues unpopular in their states
21 senators and 36 representatives were absent for the fugitive slave bill
Jefferson Davis voted for the fugitive bill and Utah creation
Didn’t vote on the New Mexico bill
Voted against all the other measures
o In a big way, Clay had preserved the Union
o Citizens all over were relieved
Mass meetings were held throughout the country in support of the compromise
Hundreds of newspapers also approved the compromise
o Harmony resumed in Washington aka the Second Era of Good Feelings
“You would suppose no one had ever thought of disunion.”- Daniel Webster
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Scott Schipke
Period 8
Expansion & Slavery
Daguerreotypes of Clay and Webster from the late 1840s, about the time they played their major roles in
the Compromise of 1850. Both men were quite old and frail when they argued for the compromise in
front of the Senate. Clay was unable to finish the debate because of the intense Washington heat in July.
Henry Clay died June 29, 1852 at the age of 75. Daniel Webster died October 24, 1852 at age 70.
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Scott Schipke
Period 8
Expansion & Slavery
Sources
The American Nation by Mark C. Carnes and John A. Garraty
The American Pageant by Thomas Bailey, David Kennedy and Elizabeth
Cohen
Lecture notes from Scott Tubbs
Pictures, Maps and other info from
http://www.americaslibrary.gov/jb/reform/jb_reform_polk_2_e.html,
Wikipedia.org, http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h357.html, and
http://www.historyglobe.com/ot/otmap1.htm
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