Manifest Destiny rpcs

Manifest Destiny The West: Promise & Problems What Was Manifest Destiny?  It is America’s destiny to take over the continent and spread its culture and political traditions     America’s unique role in history (City Upon A Hill) Jefferson’s Agrarian Republic: land would provide property which would provide socio-economic independence (not reliant on aristocratic landlord or factory boss) Built on the earlier Monroe Doctrine (1823): the Americas belonged to white Americans “Young America Movement”: promoted idea of vigorous expansion as key to prosperity and power Westward Movement 1840 Texas Territory  1819 Adams-Otis Treaty recognized Spanish sovereignty over Texas  1821 Mexico won its independence from Spain    Mexican gov’t encouraged Americans to settle in the Mexican territory of Texas The white Americans who settled there did not assimilate with their new culture or govt – went to grow cotton 1829 special exemption from Mexican law allowed slavery in Texas Who will control Texas? 1830s Mexican gov’t tried to reassert control over Texas: whites fear for slavery and being ruled by those they thought inferior for racial/religious reasons  Americans divided into two groups    Peace Party of Americans led by Stephen Austin wanted self-gov’t//autonomy for Texas Another group – War Party – willing to fight for independence Clashes between Mexico and Settlers  New president of Mexico Santa Anna sent a military leader to Texas  American war party declared independence: The Lone Star Republic Wrote a constitution which allowed slavery  Santa Anna sent troops to stop the rebellion   Met at the Alamo  What happened? Alamo Captures America’s Interest Response to the Alamo  The Americans who fought died  Newspapers and history made heroes of those who fought for Texas  Seen as fighting for American freedom against Santa Anna’s dictatorship  Many went to join the fight  Led by General Sam Houston  Eventually Mexico was defeated and Texas was independent Battle of San Jacinto (1836) Statehood or not?  Texas wanted to become a state  Both Jackson and Van Buren refused to admit Texas as a state Why not?  Fear Northern voters would get upset over free soil and more slave states (it’s below the 36’30.  Texas briefly flirts with getting help from Britain – way to leverage USA  Other territories  Both British and Americans in the Oregon Territory  1840s 350,000 Americans had moved west along the Oregon Trail  Question was which country had a better claim to the land? Issue of Slavery  Issue of expansion dominated political discussion Southerners wanted Texas as a slave state  Northerners wanted the Oregon territory  John Calhoun John O’Sullivan Election of 1844: It’s All About Expansion!  President Tyler tried to annex Texas, but Calhoun blew it by openly boasting that Texas would boost power of South – Northerners stymie effort.  Tyler wanted to run for re-election but as a Democrat since the Whig party disowned him   Had gone against Clay’s Program Wanted to annex both territories Slogan “Fifty-four forty or fight!”  Democrats chose Polk instead of Tyler    Whigs chose Clay who ignored the territorial issue and lost Polk played to slavery crowd with Texas and free soil with oregon -- rules as real Jacksonian on bank, tariffs,  Texas annexed and Oregon added througj BuchananPackenham Treaty of 1846. Democrats, Whigs & The West War with Mexico  Mexico broke off diplomatic relations with the US and then Polk provoked Mexico for war   Had troops occupy disputed territory Sent Slidell to Mexico City to buy New Mexico and California   Mexicans wouldn’t see him Simultaneously encouraged Californians to declare independence Mexico felt they needed to stop this invaded Congress declared War  Ulysses S. Grant built fort near the Rio Grande   Always Avoid a Two Front War  Polk compromised with Britain and split the Oregon region  New border at 49th parallel -- Webster-Ashburton Treaty US troops under Taylor and Scott deep into Mexican territory Mexico agreed to peace under Treaty of Guadalupe-Hildago in 1848 –Southwest becomes part of US with its Hispanic and Native American populations.  Troops concentrated on the war with Mexico   Country Split over Slavery  Northern Whigs like Lincoln oppose the war as one to spread slavery  Democrat David Wilmot of NY wrote the Wilmot Proviso to counter Northern Whig criticism and to hold free soil voters  An amendment to a military appropriations bill  Said there would be no slavery in the territories gained in the war with Mexico    Passed the HOR but killed in the Senate: both parties split on sectional lines – Calhoun leads way and says that for Congress to regulate slavery in territories is unconstitutional infringement of property rights. Free soilers counter that Constitution gives Congress authority over territories Democrat Stephen Douglas of IL puts forward idea of “popular sovereignty” which allows settlers of territory to decide on being free or slave (will be a big idea in 1850s) – seems way to heal divide in party. The Political Time Bomb  Cotton + Cheap Land/Expansion + Slavery = Political Disaster  Does the Missouri Compromise Line Still Hold?  Does the Constitution give Congress the authority to prohibit slavery in new territories?  Will the fire bell ring in the night again as in 1820 or will national political leaders get slavery off the table so debate can be about the bank, tariffs, internal improvements … etc Election of 1848 Democrats torn by Proviso and Calhoun’s stance – many Northerners will split to Free Soil Party (see next slide)  Whigs see chance to win – nominate war hero Taylor – ducks slavery issue – angers Conscience Whigs who split off (will become Republicans)  Taylor wins  See party chart.  A New Political Party - Free Soil Party  Against the expansion of slavery into any new territories  “Free Soil, Free Labor, Free Men”  Would keep the west open for white families  Had some racist overtones – poor whites would not have to compete with free slave labor  Received to 10% of the vote in the 1848 election There be gold in them hills  Taylor receives huge political crisis when California applies for statehood as free state Huge influx of settlers due to 1849 Gold Rush  What would Congress do?  Secessionists start to issue warnings about radical action if limits are placed on slavery Meanwhile, the free soil movement and abolitionist movement were growing in strength Liberty and Power: northerners and southerners start to see their own respective liberty to be at risk from the power of the other section  Armistice or Compromise of 1850?  Moderates like Clay forge another agreement to ward off risk of more sectional division, if not secession.  Package of measures CA admitted as free state  NM territory would have no restrictions on slavery (assumed that since it was next to TX it would be settled by slave owners)  No slave trade in DC  Tough new Fugitive Slave Law Militants on both pro and anti slavery sides denounce it as a violation of their respective principles. -- dying Calhoun demands “equality” of the South within the Union and protection of slaveholders’ property rights -- Charles Seward of North warned of dangers of compromise with “peculiar institution” --moderates of both parties support it and it passes -- any new issue over slavery would reignite the controversy  Election of 1852   Dem. Franklin Pierce elected as Whigs were split over slavery (Cotton Whigs vs. Conscience Whigs) and ethno-cultural issues (immigration, temperance). Dems. not as split (played to racial fears) and welcome immigrant voters. Though Pierce was pro-slavery, anti-slavery did not go away – westward expansion and issue of free vs. slave states continued – west was key to control of federal government – South raised its demands as it sensed loss of power. Crisis of 1850s & Immigration  Immigration reaches all time high relative to population: new immigrants come Ireland and Germany and tend to be more Catholic – nativists raise concerns about assimilation, crime, temperance, morals, … etc  Order of the Star Spangle Banner and other anti-immigrant societies formed, esp. in Northeastern cities. Turn to political activity to put restrictions on immigration. Become the American party. Members were supposed to keep their identity secret (hence, their response to inquiries “I know nothing” and the nickname of their party, the Know Nothings”  Know Nothings split voters off from Whigs and to lesser extent Democrats  What issue would dominate politics? Old Jacksonian ones? Slavery? Immigration? Know Nothings: View of Immigrants In this 1850s cartoon, armed "Know-Nothings" blast into Baltimore in support of their candidate, Thomas Swann. He represented the American Party's anti-Catholic, anti-immigrant platform. Voter intimidation was not uncommon. Slavery: Like Banquo’s Ghost, it will not go down.   Uncle Tom’s Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe becomes bestseller. Condemns slavery and southern society. Fugitive Slave Law: upsets northerners because it can compel citizens to participate in returning slaves and brings issue of slavery into northern communities. Northern States like Mass. Pass personal liberty laws to allow non-compliance.  Abolitionists begin to use cases like that of Anthony Burns to sway public. Southern secessionists see both as proof of need to separate from North. Northern voters increasingly prone to vote for restrictions on slavery.  Harriet Beecher Stowe: “the little lady who made this big war” -- Lincoln Uncle Tom’s Cabin Kansas-Nebraska Act: all hell breaks lose  S. Douglas of IL tries to organize Nebraska Territory.       Presidential aspirations – tried to ride idea of pop. Sovereignty Thought slavery was geographically hemmed in Wanted transcontinental railroad – to boost western growth and have his state be the channel Needed Southern support in Congress – they demand dumping of Missouri Compromise Douglas agrees – bill passes with Missouri Compromise line out and pop. sovereignty in Kansas becomes ground zero between pro- and anti-slavery forces Rise of the Republicans  Anti-Kansas-Nebraska coalition formed out of free soilers, Conscience Whigs, Know Nothings, Liberty party … etc.  Call themselves Republicans to invoke antiaristocratic aura  Would they or Know Nothings become the successor to the Whigs?  Events on the ground in Kansas ensured slavery became more important than immigration and therefore the Republicans rose Bleeding Kansas Free soil “Jayhawks” (aided by Emigrant Aid Society) compete with pro-slavery forces from Missouri to settle and organize territory – few actual slaves or abolitionists  Use of violence by both sides (“Beecher Bibles” and “Border Ruffians””  John Brown – slaughters five men at Pottowatomic Creek.  Both sides blast each other  Caning of Charles Sumner  See sheet Election of 1856 – Victory in Defeat          Slavery emerges as the issue Compromise of 1850 and KN Act dead Reps. pick up votes and nominate Fremont with a free soil platform Know Nothings declining – put up former president Fillmore Democrats put up Buchanan – avoid slavery issue – pick up former Southern Whigs (lopsides Democrats toward slavery) Buchanan wins – but Republican and Know Nothing vote combined is more than Democrats – switch of a couple states will give next election to Republicans Victory in Defeat for Reps. – they can win presidency on Northern electoral votes alone next time South see writing on wall and increases demands for defense of slavery Buchanan punts slavery issue to Supreme Court with Dred Scott Case Election of 1856 Dred Scott: Pouring Gas on the Fire        Democrats see Republicans as sectional party, but are losing voters in North as they are divided. Turn to Supreme Court See worksheet on case Pro-slavery south welcomed decision as vindication of their position, but wary of Northern response Case outraged Republicans who see Slave Power conspiracy at work on Court -- Court undercutting democratic process and authority of Congress to regulate territories. Northern Democrats like Douglas upset since popular sovereignty was now weakened. African-American concerns over citizenship drew little concern outside abolitionist circles Northern response reinforces secessionist arguments: If Reps. Win in 1858 and 1860, then Dred Scott would be overturned and South would need to secede to secure slavery. Lecompton vs. Topeka  Two rival state govts formed in Kansas  Free soilers charge fraud against effort to secure pro-slavery constitution – boycott ratification process.  Under southern pressure Buchanan insists on recognizing it anyway while Douglas opposed. Signals growing split in Democrats. Panic of 1857    Speculative bubble created by rapid expansion, esp. of railroads, and by Crimean War – credit system did not develop in sync and was overstretched. Economic downturn hurt Northern Democrats while helping Reps who promised relief through neo-Whig ideas. Reps blame South for low tariffs – lure manufacturers and workers with promise of tariff that would return prosperity. South unhurt: shows pro-slavery secessionists power of cotton in international economy and gives them the idea South can become independent Election of 1858  Democrats split and lost seats to Reps.  South fearful of 1860 election.  Key race was Illinois senate seat where Douglas almost lost to Lincoln   Douglas defended pop. Sovereignty. Used racist appeals to white workers. Also advocated Freeport Doctrine (no slave code in any new state meant no slavery) as way to deal with Dred Scott Lincoln pointed to Kansas as proof pop.sovreignty did not work. Feared consequences of Dred Scott Election of 1860 Secession  Secessionists see liberty at risk by rising Northern power.  Reps. See secessionists as undermining democratic process  Both sides see themselves as the inheritors of the Revolution’s principles.  SC leads the way with secession convention in Dec. 1860.  Joined by Deep South which forms the Confederacy. Failure of Compromise         Buchanan urged compromise, but did nothing as he felt he lacked authority for forceful action. Sen. Crittenden of KY offered compromise of amendment to secure slavery in the Constitution Republicans reject it – oppose spread of slavery and think it undemocratic for South to receive concessions after losing election Buchanan finally draws the line at preserving federal property: Fort Sumter in SC therefore becomes potent symbol. If Confederacy does not control it, it is not sovereign over its own territory. Upon taking office in March 1861, Lincoln decides to resupply the fort Confederate President Jefferson Davis orders Fort to be seized. Using the pretext of the Confederacy having fired the first major shot, Lincoln calls for troops. With peaceful compromise now impossible, Upper South secedes and doubles size of Confederacy. There be gold in them hills