Chapter 17 Flashcards
Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
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.
Spot Resolution
Measures introduced by Illinois congressman Abraham Lincoln, questioning President James K. Polk’s justification for war with Mexico. Lincoln requested that Polk clarify precisely where Mexican forces had attacked American troops.
Wilmot Proviso
Amendment that sought to prohibit slavery from territories acquired from Mexico. Introduced by Pennsylvania congressman David Wilmot, the failed amendment ratcheted up tensions between North and South over the issue of slavery.
Election of 1840
Election of 1840 In this election, Van Buren (D) ran against William Henry Harrison (W). William appealed to the Wave of Democracy by presenting himself as a common man, and he was elected. However, he soon died of pneumonia and John Tyler became president instead.
William Henry Harrison
Governor of Indiana Territory 1800-12. Defeated Chief Tecumseh at Battle of Tippicanoe 1811. Brigadier general in War of 1812 defeated British and Indians in Battle of Thames 1813. House Representatives 1816-19. U.S. Senate 1825-28 from Ohio. Whig Presidential candidate 1936 lost. First Whig President 1840. gave longest inaurguration speech ever in the rain died of pneumonia a month later. Ninth President of the United States, and the first President to die in office. His death created a brief constitutional crisis, but ultimately resolved many questions about presidential succession left unanswered by the Constitution until passage of the 25th Amendment.
Daniel Webster
Leading American statesman during the Antebellum Period; leader of the Whig Party, opposed Jackson and the Democratic Party; spokesman for modernization, banking, and industry; served in the House of Representatives, Senate, and Secretary of State for 3 presidents; successful lawyer; member of the Great Triumvirate with Henry Clay and John C. Calhoun.
Henry Clay
American statesman who represented Kentucky in the Senate and the House of Representatives where he served as Speaker; served as Secretary of State from 1825-1829; leading war hawk and played a significant role in leading the nation in the War of 1812; invented the American System; opposed the annexation of Texas, Mexican American War, and Manifest Destiny; nicknamed The Great Compromiser; member of the Great Triumvirate along with Daniel Webster and John C. Calhoun.
John Tyler
U.S. House of Representative, Governor of VA, U.S. Senator from VA as a Democrat. VP under Harrison who dies serving 1 month and becomes Tenth President of U.S. 1841-1845. Sometimes referred as his “Accidency” 1st President to succeed the death of a President. Webster-Ashburton Treaty 1842. Annexation of Texas 1845. Blocked Whigs’ domestic programs with veto and will not be renominated for President in 1844.
Panic of 1837
A U.S. financial crisis in which banks closed and the credit system collapsed, resulting in many bankruptcies and high unemployment.a series of financial failures that triggered a five-year depression in the United States.
Maine Boundary Dispute
Aroostook War It was over the Maine boundary dispute. The British wanted to build a road from Halifax to Quebec. It ran through land already claimed by Maine. Fights started on both sides and they both got their local militia. It could have been a war, but it never proceeded that far.
Lord Ashburton
the man sent by Britain in 1842 to mediate the “Aroostook War.”
Texas
unknown
Oregon Country
the area in the early 1800s that extended from the southern tip of present-day Alaska to the northern edge of California.
Election of 1844
o Issues were Texas and Expansion of America. • Oregon was the expansion part. • Annex Texas or what? • Democrats chose the dark horse candidate James K. Polk o No one really knew about him. o For expansion • Whigs chose Henry Clay o Against expansion o Northern Whigs and Southern Whigs • Northern Whigs changed themselves to the Liberty Party o Candidate for them was James Birney • Takes a lot of votes from Clay Loses the Presidency
James Polk
Wins election of 1844 A slave owning southerner dedicated to Democratic party. U.S. House of Representative from TN 1825-39 acting as the Speaker from 1835-39. Became Gov. of TN 1939-1841. In 1844, he was a “dark horse” candidate for president, and he won the election. A nationalist that campaigned on Manifest Destiny: Annex Texas, Occupy Oregon 54’ 40” or fight. Most territory added than any other President accept Jefferson. Oregon Treaty, reestablished an independent Treasury System, Walker Tariff, Mexican War, treaty of Guadalupe 1848. Official U.S. territory of Oregon 1848.He was a friend and follower of Andrew Jackson. He opposed Clay’s American System, instead advocating lower tariff, separation the treasury and the federal government from the banking system.
Manifest Destiny
The belief that Americans had the right and the duty to spread across the continent to the Pacific Ocean
49th parallel
Northern boundary of Oregon territory jointly occupied with Britain, advocated by Democratic party and others as the desired line of American expansion
John Slidell
A diplomat sent by Polk to buy California, New Mexico, and Texas from the Mexicans. Mexico rejected his offer and Polk sent Taylor’s army into Mexico
Santa Anna
Mexican general who tried to crush the Texas revolt and who lost battles to Winfield Scott and Zachary Taylor in the Mexican War (1795-1876)
Stephen W. Kearney
This Colonel, under the direction of Polk, led a small army that captured Santa Fe with no opposition. He then proceeded to California where he joined a conflict already in progress that was being staged jointly by American settlers