Chapters 17 and 18 and 19 Flashcards
John Tyler
In 1841, Whig president Wiliam Henry Harrison died on pneumonia a month into his presidency, leaving John Tyler in charge
Tyler was essentially a Democrat who joined the Whigs because he couldn’t stand Jackson
“A PRESIDENT WITHOUT A PARTY”
Tyler vetoed an effort by the Whigs to start another Bank of the US and only grudgingly signed the Tariff of 1842 after facing impeachment threats for vetoing such bills
Whig extremists called Tyler “His Accidency” as he was an accident president. he was burned in effigy and received death threats
Tyler was kicked out of the Whig Party and lost all his cabinet members except for Sec. of State Daniel Webster
Caroline raid
The Caroline was bringing supplies across the Niagara River to Americans during a small-scale border conflict with the Brits in 1837. The Brits set fire to the ship on the NY shore and one man died
The violation of neutrality was met with ineffective protest from Washington
Three years later, a Canadian named McLeod was arrested and inducted for murder after he started bragging about his part in the incident; the Brits responded that his execution would mean war.
Creole incident
British officials in the Bahamas offered asylum to 130 rebelling Virginia slaves who had captured the American ship Creole. Southerners worried that the British W. Indies (where slavery was illegal) would become a haven for runaways.
Aroostook War and Webster-Ashburton
Treaty
The British wanted to build a road from Kalifax to Quebec City. The proposed route ran through disputed territory (part of Maine today)
“The Aroostook War” erupted in 1838, angry fights between lumberjacks flared up and both sides summoned troops
Lord Ashburton met Sec of War Webster and agreed to split the land roughly in half. The Brits also surrendered land in modern day Minnesota. (The Webster-Ashburton Treaty, 1842.)
Oregon Trail & joint occupation of Oregon
Trail from independence Missouri to Oregon used by many pioneers during the 1840s. During the 1840’s the U.S. and Great Britain jointly administered Oregon (and Utah was a part of Mexico)
James Polk (54, 40’ or Fight!”)
Polk was Speaker of the House and Governor of TN. He was determined, industrious, and intelligent. He was called “Young Hickory” in homage to Jackson.
The Democrats wanted the annexation of Texas and California and the occupation of Oregon to the 54th parallel. James Polk’s slogan was “54 40 or Fight!”
Manifest Destiny
The spirit of Manifest Destiny fueled Polk’s campaign- it was seen as American’s God-given right to expand across the continent (important to remember!)
Polk’s 4-point program
Polk’s 4-point program (all goals met):
1. Lower the tariff (achieved with Walker Tariff)
2. Reintroduce the independent treasury
3. Get California
4. Settle the Oregon dispute
Texas annexation
President Tyler felt that Polk’s victory was a mandate to annex Texas
Tyler pushed for annexation by joint resolution (simple majority in both houses) because he didn’t think he could get a 2/3 approval in the Senate for a treaty. TX was annexed in 1845.
Possibly unconstitutional? TX was technically a “foreign country” at the time, so a treaty probs should been signed and ratified by the Senate
confusion over boundary with Mexico
Polk wanted to buy CA from Mexico, but diplomatic relations were strained between the two countries following Texas annexation.
Texas insisted that the boundary was the Rio Grande, not the Nueces River, as the Mexicans believed
Polk provokes war: between January and March 1846, 4000 American troops under General Zarachy Taylor crossed the Nueces River and headed toward the Rio Grande
On April 25th, American troops crossed the Rio Grande and attacked American troops (5 killed, dozens captured)
Polk used this as an excuse to ask Congress to declare war on Mexico, which was done on May 13, 1846
“spot resolutions”
Linoln’s “spot resolutions” (important) asked Polk and the Democrats to point out exactly the spot where American blood has been shed. He argued that American blood has not been shed on “American soil.”
Democrats vs. “Conscience Whigs”
Democrats were pro- the war, while these Whigs were against it.
“Conscience Whigs” argued that Polk had not tried to avoid war.
Santa Anna
General Houston lured Santa Anna to the area and attacked Santa Anna during siesta (the middle of the day during people napped due to the heat)
Santa Anna was captured and forced to sign two treaties. (1. Withdraw from Texas and 2. Recognize the Rio Grande as the border between Texas and Mexico) Santa Anna later repudiated both
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He double-crossed the Americans. He convinced Polk to let him slip through the American blockade from Cuba, then he used the $10,000 bribe from the Americans (“to arrange peace”) to bolster Mexican defenses instead
Californios
mostly Spanish-speaking, Catholic descendants of the original Spanish colonizers.
Bear Flag Republic
Nickname for California after it declared independence from Mexico in 1846.
General Zachary Taylor
Commander of the Army of Occupation on the Texas border. Dominated the Mexican army alongside Winfield Scott. He was named the “Hero of Buena Vista”
General Winfield Scott
He arranged an armistice with General Santa Anna under The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo (1848). He led an effective campaign from Vera Cruz to Mexico City. Known as “Old Fuss ‘n Feathers.”
Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo: the US received a large chunk of Mexico’s territory
Diplomat Nicholad Trist and Gen. Winield Scott arranged an armistice with General Santa Anna
The terms:
U.S title to TX confirmed
About 1/2 of Mexico territory (including TX) was signed over to the Americans. Without TX, it was 1/3.
The US paid 15 mil plus 3.25 mil in land claims
The Senate confirmed the treaty during uproar by the “Conscience Whigs”
Gadsen Purchase
In 1853, the U.S. paid 10 million to Mexico for a small strip of land (now southern AZ and NM). This was ideal land for a transcontinental railroad.
Clayton-Bulwer Treaty
(1850) stated that neither G.B. nor the US would fortify or seek exclusive control over future isthmian waters.
filibustering/freebooting
(that’s when someone has a private army and uses it to try and take over a place)
Nineteenth-century, invasions of Central American countries launched privately by groups of Americans seeking to establish personal rule and spread slavery.
