1 Flashcards
The Whig party
-party emerged from Jackson’s censure senators
-national republicans. Anti masons, ex federalist
-conservative support from upper and middle classes
-hostile towards strong presidential power and territorial expansion
Martin van buren
First president to be born an American citizen
Van Burens presidency
-seen as Jackson’s third term by many historians
-economic depression
-trail of tears-forced removal of Indians
*rejected annexation offer to Texas due to imbalance of slave states not wanting problems with Mexico
Amistad case
-a Spanish slave ships sails along Cuba to sell them, the sell rose up and killed the Spanish, but they got arrested and trialed, they won, but van Buren takes it to federal court, they say the slaves are free, but van Buren says he wants to take it to the supreme court-supreme court said they should be set free
Transportation revolution
-changed more than just the commercial layout of the country
-roads, the American railroads, canals in America
-begins due to James Watts invention of the steam engine
steamboats
capable of going upstream in the hudson river, and by the start of the civil war new orleans have 3500 steal boats unloaded
Macadamization
finds a new way to make durable roads
The 2nd great awakening
*Revivals -what made the methodist church the large size it is today: Preached free will and self reliance
*Abolitionism-slavery is a evil/sin get rid of it
*Temperance movement- very successful advocated for no alcohol “Good citizenship” and attack on the family-alcoholism
^women’s voices heard in both
The telegraph
prior to news traveled at the speed of a horse, the telegraph goes at the speed of light
Western expansion
-slavery vs “free” soil
“Young america movement”
-emphasized american democracy
1.Manifest destiny -Texas
-The texas revolt-causes and origins
*slavery and politics of western expansion
*a manifest destiny to spread democracy?
*Race, ethnicity and cultural difference?
-Texas founding and historical memory
*The republic of texas “a difficult birth
2.Mexico and Texas
-Texas and the election
*texas annexation and fulfilling manifest destiny
*US mexico war- forced annexation of northwestern mexican territory
-Wilmot Proviso
*Failed proposal to ban slavery from newly acquired mexican territories
*foreshadowing political conflict
- California and compromise
-the election of 1848
*Free soil party-wins 10% northern vote
-California gold rush
*Missouri compromise repealed
*fugitive slave act
Why did Mexico want anglo settlers?
To provide a buffer to the comanche empire
Why did Texans revolt?
It was a culture clash among catholic tradition based Mexicans and the protestants.
-Mexicans wanted to be Amercian
Jackson rejects annexation because
Borders were ridiculous
It was an election year
He wanted war with mexico
President Tyler
-Man without a party
-expansionist democrats
-Tylers treaty-admit texas with mexico
Manifest Destiny
-American white devine, right to control north America
-God’s plan for america
-Empire of Liberty
-The destined use of the soil
-racial anglo saxonism
Polk’s agenda
-Texas at the rio grande
-all of oregon
-California as the key
B.Ports on the pacific
-The problem of New Mexico
-Polk’s perception of Mexico-they are corrupt had zero respect for Mexico
John Slidell’s mission
-to buy the west offers 25 million for new mexico, cali, and a rio grande boundary
-Why he failed
-Polk compromises on Oregon
War
-polk forces to compromise on oregon
-taylor at the rio grande
-Blood on American soil? Nobody buys the fact that blood was spilled on American territory. Needed proof from blood to prove it wasn’t in mexico
-Palo Alto
-congress declares war
-public enthusiasm
-volunteers poor forward
Why Mexico Lost
-the realities of mexican nationalism/US easily occupies territory with little opposition
-the nature of the Mexican army was to take able men and steal them for their army.
-mexican arms and technology/relationship to credit
Why US won
-competent regular army
-enthusiastic volunteers
-domestic manufacturing base for arms
-US had a Navy
-financial ability