Chapter
17: Manifest Destiny and Its Legacy (1841-1848)
I.The Accession of Tyler Too
A.William Henry Harrison not a commanding president; Clay and Webster wanted to
take the lead
B.William Harrison dies 4 week into presidency, Webster and Clays dreams are
destroyed
C.VP John Tyler takes position; ex democrat, disagreed with whigs
II.John Tyler: A president Without a Party
A.Whigs radically begin changing policies: financial reform, independent treasury
system comes to an end under Tylers presidency
B.President Tyler vetoes a lot of bills from congress
a.Fiscal Bank Bill which would create a new Bank of the US
b.Fiscal Corporation, rejects everything introduced by Whigs
C.Whig party rejects Tyler because he is vetoing everything
D.Tariff of 1842: Protective measure passed by Congressional Whigs, raising tariffs to
pre-Compromise of 1833 rates. Tyler signed it because he understood the government
had to change.
III.A War of Words with Britain
A.Britain and America tension grows because of two historic wars they had, creatingthe
third one with critiquing
B.Third War with England was between American and British Press through editoials and
only words
C.1837- Tensions rise in Canada frontier, Caroline was attacked by British
D.McLeod important person in this conflict, if he was killed by Americans the British
would declare war!
E.Creole American Ship captured by 130 Virginian rebelled slaves
IV.Manipulating the Maine Maps
A.The struggle is real at St. Lawrence River icebound, route from Halifax to Quebec
failed
B.Aroostok War: clashes between American and Canadian lumberjacks in the disputed
territory of northern Maine, resolved when a permanent boundary was agreed upon in
1842.
C.Lord Ashburton befriends Daniel Webster, peaceful friendship in order to compromise
Maine Boundary
D.Map 17.1 Maine Boundary Settlement, treaty line that Ashburton and Webster
agreed
V.The Lone Star of Texas Shines Alone
A.Texas a Province of Mexico?
a.Texas was revolting they wanted independence from Mexico
b.If the US aced as protection for Texas then Mexico would declare war on
America
B.Texas although not free yet made treaties with European countries like Holland,
Belgium, etc.
C.Britain wanted Texas independence to affect America, and to have it as a trading
buddy
VI.The Belated Texas Nuptials
A.Texas conflict was most part of elections of 1844, created sectionalism and parties
differences
B.Democrats: expansion Whigs: anti-expansion
C.James Polk wins election; DEMOCRAT
D.Because Democrts win, Tyler feels forced to annex Texas
a.Signed resolution of 1845, texas ofical 28th state
b.Mexicans still had hopes to recapture Texas, but soon lost them
VII.Oregon Fever Populates Oregon
A.Whole state was a Wilderness Area: claimed by Spain, Russia, Britain, and US.
B.Spain and Russia had given It up through different past cases, the north was from the
British and South from the US
C.Big issue in 1844 elections, the Oregon Country distribution
VIII.A Mandate for Manifest Destiny
A.Henry Clay vs. James Polk, election of 1844
B.Democratic James Polk, young hickory, promised to protect slavery and Texas
C.Manifest Destiny: belief that the U.S was destined by God to spread its empire of
liberty across North America. Strong supporters: Democrats
D.Fifty-our forty or fights: slogan created because americans wanted their land back
from Oregon
E.Liberty Party: Antislavery party 1840s, impacted the elections made Polk win
IX.Polk The Purposeful
A.Polk was a president with many goals:
B.1)Lower Tariffs; imposed walker tariff: which lowered the tariff of 1842 from 32-45%
C.2)Reorder the Independent Treasury sytem which Tyler dropped in 1841; It was
restored in 1846
D.Annex California to the Nation
E.Settle Orgeon disputes
F.Table 17.1, House Vote on Tariff of 1846,middle states disliked it and didnt support
G.Map 17.2 The Oregon Controversy, 1846Shows area of dispute
X.Misunderstandings with Mexico
A.California had diversity: population made up of Spanish, Mexicans, and Indians; hasnt
changed
B.Americans goal was to buy California from Mexico, but they had just annexed Texas
therefore left bad relationships
C.Because of competition with British, Americans sent a guy to acquire the land by
dealing it at 25 million dollars, and population felt offended
XI.American Blood on American Soil
A.War against Mexico, sent troops near Rio Grande
B.Polk really wanted to declare war but was unable because congress didnt pass it
C.Spot Resolutions: by Abraham Lincoln, questioning President Polks justification for
war with Mexico. Lincoln requested that Polk clarify precisely where Mexican forces had
attacked American troops
XII.The Mastering of Mexico
A.Polks vision: wanted California, but did NOT want war; looking for a way to leave war
but come out with California
B.Many important generals like Stephen Kearny, Zachary Taylor, and others where
leading troops
C.Map 17.3 Major Campaigns of the Mexican War
D.California Bear Flag Republic: established by local American settlers who revolted
against Mexico. Once news of war with Mexico reached the Americans, they abandoned
the Republic in favor of joining the United States.
E.Buena Vista: Key American victory against Mexican forces in the Mexican- American
War. Gave General Zachary Taylor better position, national prominence
XIII.Fighting Mexico for Peace
A.Nicholas Trist signs Treaty of Guadalupe in 1848
B.Ended the war with Mexico. Mexico agreed to cede territory reaching northwest from
Texas to Oregon in exchange for $18.25 million in cash and assumed debts.
C.Anti-Slavery congress Whigs against treaty they didnt like the war in general
D.People who wanted to expand the nation disliked treaty because they just wanted to
expand and get all of Meico not parts
XIV.Profit and Loss in Mexico
A.a lot of Americans die, land space increases
B.David Wilmot- wanted Mexico to be salve free
C.Slavery tension topics around
D.Wilmot Proviso: failed amendment about slavery, future with slaves didnt want to be
removed by some
