Period 5 (1844 - 1877) Flashcards
Manifest Destiny
God has given US the right to the Western land and to conquer the world
Why did US settlers first settle into TX?
Led by Stephen Austin, they wanted the land. Were allowed to come by Mexican gov., as long as they were Catholic & without slaves. US settlers didn’t like this, started to revolt.
Who led the Texas Independence Revolt?
Sam Houston
Arstook War
- Maine 1842
- Treaty of Paris didn’t define US/Brit borders well between Maine & New Brunswick
- War ended with Webster-Ashburton Treaty
Webster-Ashburton Treaty (1842)
-Settled Arstook War
- Made US/Brit boundary line the Great Lakes
- Open navigation in water
Which president finally manages to annex TX after Sam Houston’s rebellion?
Tyler, because he was worried that Britain would manage to emancipate more slaves in that territory if he didn’t take the land.
What does “Fifty-Four Forty or Fight!” mean?
US should claim all territory up to 54 degree and 40 mins north parallel, or fight Great Britain for the land
Why did the democratic party split in 1844?
Northerners, led by Van Buren, didn’t want to annex TX. Southerners, led by Calhoun, wanted to. Polk, a third party dark horse, ended up winning and Tyler, during his last days of office, annexes TX.
Adams-Onis Treaty (1819)
Spain gives US Florida
Mexican War (1847)
Causes:
- Annexation of TX
- Slidell to Mexico City: Buy CA + NM and settle border dispute
- Attack at Rio Grande Apr 1846
- ended by Treaty of Guadalupe Hildago
What was the first “Foreign War” fought by the US?
Mexican War
Key Players in Mexican War
- Gen. Winfield Scott - captures Mexico City 1847
- Prez James Polk
- Santa Anna - Mexican ruler
Treaty of Guadalupe Hildago (1848)
- Ended Mexican War
- Recognizes Rio Grande as south border of TX
- US pays 15m to Mexico
Wilmot Proviso (1846)
- tried to outlaw slavery in land from Treaty of Guadalupe Hildago
- defeated by Democrats in the Senate
Ostend Manifesto (1852)
Polk & Prez Pierce try to buy / take Cuba from Spain. Angered anti-slavery supporters
Clayton-Bulwer Treaty (1850)
- US & UK will both protect canal building sites in Central America.
Hay Pauncefote Treaty (1901)
- overruled Clayton-Bulwer Treaty
- Gave US rights to build canal across Isthmus of Panama
Gadsden Purchase (1853)
Prez Pierce bought land from Mexico for Southern Transcontinental Railroad for 10m
Free-Soil Party
- started by Van Buren
- opposed slavery in New West
- split democratic party in 1848 Election
CA Gold Rush (1848)
- Gold discovered at Sutter’s Mill
- CA wrote state consitution and applied for admission as free state in 1849. Messed up balance of slave / free states
Compromise of 1850
- CA = free
- UT & NM = popular sovereignty
- DC = no slave trade
- Passage of harsher Fugitive Slave Act
Fugitive Slave Act (1850)
- Northerners have to help catch Southern slaves & let slave hunters come hunt in North
- Slaves have to be returned to owners even if in free state
American Colonization Society (1817)
Wanted to send Free African-Americans back to Africa rather than emancipating them in US. Sent 12k back to Liberia
Denmark Vesey (1822)
former slave tried to start enslaved rebellion in Charleston, SC, on Bastille Day
Nat Turner (1831)
VA slave riot leader, killed 55 white families. Said he was a prophet.
Slave rebellions led to…
harsher laws/codes
Uncle Tom’s Cabin (1851/52)
- influenced by Frederick Douglass
- propaganda
- Harriet Beecher Stowe
- Changed many minds
Kansas-Nebraska Act (1854)
Gives Kansas/Nebraska popular sovereignty, so tons of pro-slavery and anti-slavery fled there to sway vote, started many violent events (Bleeding Kansas). Contradicts MO Compromise of 1820.
Charles Sumner vs Preston Brooks Cane Beating (1856)
Charles Sumner gives 2-day speech against slavery that directly calls out Brooks’ uncle, so Brooks beats him heavily with cane. Many southerners idolize him for this, infuriates North.
Dred Scott v Sandford (1857)
Dred Scott about to be sent back into slavery, even though they were now living in free state. SCOTUS ruled that since he wasn’t a citizen with any rights, he can’t be protected by gov. Declared MO Compromise unconstitutional.