Chapter 16 & 17 Review - American Pageant 17th Edition NOT DONE!!!

Who was John Tyler?

Vice President to Henry Harrison (he died 4 weeks in and was a Whig). He was called "Tyler too" because he was a Democrat at heart and contradicted many of the Whig Party's ideas.

What were some things the Whig’s did under Harrisons presidency//Tyler’s?

The first change was a financial reform where they attempted to pass a bill for a Fiscal Bank (New Bank of the United States operated by Congress), but President Tyler vetoed it. The Whigs presented a "Fiscal Corporation," but Tyler again vetoed it.

NOTE: These were some examples of how he contradicted Whig ideas and why he was not liked by Whig Party.

What was the Tariff of 1842?

Passed by John Tyler, it was a tax that gave the federal government the much needed revenue.

What was the “Third War with England”?

Started by many Americans continuing to criticize the British. This war was only fought with editorials in papers.

What happened with the Caroline (American Ship)?

In 1837, the ship was carrying military supplies to the rebelling Canadians when it was sunk by a British ship. This led to ineffective protests to take place in Washington.

What was the Aroostook War?

In 1842, the British wanted to build a road linking the seaport of Halifax to Quebec. The proposed road ran through disputed territory in northern Maine, though. This led conflicts to break out between Americans and British. It ended when the London Foreign Office sent Lord Ashburton to work out a trial with Secretary Webster.

Besides Texas being a slave state, what was another reason it wasn’t accepted as a State?

Mexico refused to recognize Texas's independence and threatened war if America protected Texas.

What countries did Texas ally with and WHY????

France, Holland, and Belgium.

This was because to the South, Mexico had a larger and more powerful military and to the West were skilled raiders, who made attempts at capturing San Antonio.

Why were the British happy to see an Independent Texas?

They hoped it could be used to fragment and weaken America. They also interested to use Texas as a trading partner.

Why was Texas an issue in the Election of 1844?

It defined two major parties: The Democrats were pro-expansion and supported the annexation of Texas, while the Whigs were against it.

Who won the Election of 1844 and what did John Tyler do with Texas?

The Democrats (James Polk) won the election of 1844, and President Tyler acquired Texas before he left the presidency. He signed a resolution in 1845 that made Texas a state.

Who was primarily in the Oregon County?

America and British.

What conflict occurred between the British and Americans in the Oregon County?

Both nations had disputes over control of the Columbia River. Eventually, both nations enacted joint occupation of the river.

Who did the Whigs and Democrats choose for the Election of 1844?

Whigs - Henry Clay
Democrats - James K. Polk (Advocate for Texas and tried to avoid slavery)

What was Manifest Destiny?

When many Americans felt that God had destined them to spread their democratic institutions over the entire continent and over South America as well (1840s-50s)

Democrats strongly supported the idea of Manifest Destiny.

What was the Liberty Party?

Antislavery Americans in New York who believed in political action to further antislavery goals.

What were President Polk’s goals for presidency? What was the bad thing he did???

Wanted to Annex Texas (done by John Tyler), Independent Treasury, Acquire California, Oregon Territory. He provoked war with Mexico after they denied giving up California

NOTE: POLK WAS A WHIG (he really enjoyed this banking system)!!! & All said above was achieved.

Who did Polk send to obtain California and WHY?

John Slidell who attempted to buy California for 25 million. Mexico rejected this because of the disputes around Texas’s Annexation.

Why was California hard to obtain?

Relations with Mexico were poor due to the annexation of Texas (hence why Slidell’s proposal was declined).

How was war Declared on Mexico?

1846 Polk asked Congress to declare war on Mexico because of unpaid claims and Slidell's rejection of the purchasing of California. Prior to this request, Mexican troops had already attacked American troops.

Many people in Congress accused Polk of provoking war. What was one example?

The spot resolutions by Abraham Lincoln which questioned Polk’s justification for war with Mexico. He believed that it was provoked by the President.

Who was General Zachary Taylor?

Fought in the American-Mexican War and won many victories including a victory over a large Mexican force at Buena Vista.

What was the goal of the Mexican-American war?

To acquire California.

What was the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo?

Signed by Nicholas P. Trist, it ended the War with Mexico and awarded the United States a ton of westward land including California for 15 million dollars.

Who opposed the treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo?

The Conscience Whigs in Congress because they had originally opposed the war and Expansionists because they wanted all of Mexico.

What is popular sovereignty?

The idea that the people of a territory should determine their territory's status of slavery.

Who was General Lewis Cass?

Democrat who was a candidate for presidency because he was a veteran of the war of 1812 and founder of popular sovereignty. (election of 1848)

Who was Zachary Taylor?

A Whig who was a candidate for presidency. He did not have an official stance on slavery but was a slaveholder. He was able to take parts of Mexico during the war. (Eventually won the election of 1848)

Note: Henry Clay was not chosen because he had a lot of enemies.

What was the Free Soil Party?

Created by antislavery men of the North who supported federal aid for internal improvements and didn't trust Cass or Taylor. They argued that with slavery, wage labor would wither away and American workers would not have money.

What was so special about California…what did that lead to?

Gold was discovered in California (1848) and it caused an influx of people who brought violence and disease that overwhelmed the small Californian government. Needing protection, the Californians drafted their own Constitution (free state) in 1849, and applied to Congress for admission into the Union.

Note: Southerners hated their proposal because it would upset the balance of slave vs. free states.

Who was Harriet Tubman?

Illiterate runaway slave who rescued slaves through the Underground Railroad and helped them reach Canada.

What did the south draft because of the Underground Railroad?

Stricter fugitive-slave laws.

What was the Congressional Debate of 1850?

It was called to address the admission of California to the Union and threats of secession by southerners. Known as the "immortal trio” because Henry Clay, John Calhoun, and Daniel Webster spoke at the debate.

What did Henry Clay propose at the Congressional Debate of 1850?

He proposed a series of compromises. He suggested that the North enact a stricter fugitive-slave law to fit the souths needs. (This would make the south more happier)

What did John Calhoun propose at the Congressional Debate of 1850?

He proposed to return runaway slaves and give the South its rights to restore the political balance. He wanted America to have two presidents, one from the South and one from the North, each yielding one veto.

What did Daniel Webster propose at the Congressional Debate of 1850?

He called for people to support Clay's proposals, for the sake of maintaining the Union (Seventh of March Speech). He was against slavery, but he viewed the collapse of the Union as worse.

Who was Millard Fillmore?

Took over Taylor’s presidency after Taylor suddenly died. Fillmore signed a series of compromises contained within the Compromise of 1850.

What was the Great Compromise of 1850?

Signed by President Fillmore (vice president to Zachary Taylor), it stated that California was admitted as a free state, but the territories of New Mexico and Utah were open to popular sovereignty (they got to choose whether they’d be a slave/free state). It also enacted a stricter fugitive slave law.

What was the Fugitive Slave Law of 1850?

It said that fleeing slaves could not testify on their own behalf and could not go to court. Northerners who aided slaves trying to escape were subject to fines and jail time. This law was the South's only real gain from the compromise.

Who was Winfield Scott?

Whig who was chosen as candidate for presidency in the election of 1852. He supported the Compromise of 1850 and the Fugitive Slave Law.

What were Northern Whigs?

Northern Whigs who hated the Fugitive Slave Law but accepted the candidate.

What were Southern Whigs?

Whigs who supported Fugitive Slave Law but not the candidate because they felt he was not supportive of the Fugitive Slave Law.

What was the Election of 1852?

Franklin Pierce (Democrat) who won the election of 1852. It marked the end of the Whig party (it died on the issue of the Fugitive Slave Law with Northern and Southern Whigs).

What did Southerners do following the Compromise of 1850?

Since the Compromise prohibited slavery in the land gained in the Mexican War, southern Americans sought new territory to expand slavery (known as “slavocrats”). One idea by he southerners was to annex Cuba and turn it into a slave state to correct the unbalance in the Senate.

What was the Treaty of Kanagawa?

Opened up trade between America and Japan

What was the Gadsden Purchase Area?

An area purchased by James Gadsden from Mexico to have a transcontinental railway be built. Gadsden was about to buy it for $10m.

NOTE: There was a lot of conflicts between north and south with the railroad’s location

What was the Kansas-Nebraska Act?

Proposed by Stephen A. Douglas (senator) that separated the Territory of Nebraska into Kansas and Nebraska to avoid the North-South deadlock over westward expansion. Their statuses on slavery would be determined by popular sovereignty.

Note: This caused the Missouri Compromise of 1820 to be repealed (which it was by President Pierce).

How was the republican party formed? WHAT WAS IT?!?!?!

Was formed in the Mid-West and it was morally against slavery. The party included Whigs, Democrats, Free-Soilers, Know-Nothings, and other foes of the Kansas-Nebraska Act.

The Southerners hated the Republican Party.

What was the Seventh of March speech?

Daniel Webster’s address to the north urging them to support the Compromise of 1850

Who was Franklin Pierce?

Democrat who was chosen as candidate for presidency in the election of 1852. He supported the Compromise of 1850 and the Fugitive Slave Law.