Westward Expansion and the Mexican-American War

Vocabulary and key concepts regarding US Westward Expansion, the presidency of James K. Polk, and the impact of the Mexican-American War.

John Tyler

The president who became unpopular with the Whigs after vetoing their attempt to start a new national bank, leading to his entire cabinet's resignation and his expulsion from the party.

Panic of $1837$

An economic crisis during which several American states defaulted on loans from Britain, contributing to the breakdown of British-American relations in the $1830's$.

Texas Annexation Delay

The US refused to admit Texas for $9$ years because Mexico still claimed the territory and its entry as a slave state would disrupt the political balance.

Manifest Destiny

The belief that God destined the United States to expand its territory from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean.

Polk’s $4$-Point Program

A campaign platform consisting of lowering tariffs, restoring the independent treasury, settling the Oregon dispute, and acquiring California.

Oregon Territory Claimants

The four nations that originally claimed parts of Oregon: Spain, Russia, Britain, and the United States.

Florida Treaty

The agreement through which Spain gave up its claim to the Oregon territory.

Columbia River

The geographic feature north of which the British claimed land in the Oregon territory.

Monroe Doctrine

A principle invoked by Polk to warn European powers against military or political intervention in the Americas as a justification for expansion.

Moral Right

A justification for the Mexican-American War based on the desire to spread republicanism and democracy.

Wilmot Proviso

A proposal to ban slavery in any territory acquired from Mexico, which was rejected by Southerners.

Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo

The agreement ending the Mexican-American War that faced opposition from Northerners and Southern expansionists who wanted all of Mexico.

Expansionists

Democratic Southerners who wanted to take control of all of Mexico after the Mexican-American War.

Legacy of the Mexican-American War

The results of the conflict including a new standing army, casualties, imperialism, the end of an economic depression, and increased division between the North and South.