History Vocab-Chapter 17

Tariff of 1824

A protective tariff designed to boost American industry by raising duties on imported goods; supported by Henry Clay's American System.

Walker Tariff (1846)

A lower tariff passed under James K. Polk that reduced rates to encourage trade and generate revenue rather than protect industry.

Creole (1841)

A slave revolt aboard the ship Creole in which enslaved people seized control and sailed to the Bahamas, gaining freedom under British law—heightening tensions between the U.S. and Britain over slavery.

Aroostook War (1838-1839)

A bloodless border dispute between Maine and British Canada over the Aroostook River valley; settled by diplomacy in the Webster-Ashburton Treaty.

54°40′ or Fight!

A slogan used by expansionists demanding U.S. control of all Oregon Territory up to latitude 54°40′ (southern Alaska); ultimately, the U.S. compromised with Britain at the 49th parallel.

Spot Resolutions (1847)

Proposed by Abraham Lincoln demanding that James K. Polk identify the exact 'spot' where American blood was shed to justify the Mexican-American War—challenging Polk's justification.

California Bear Flag Republic (1846)

A short-lived revolt by American settlers in California who declared independence from Mexico; soon absorbed into U.S. control during the Mexican-American War.

Battle of Buena Vista (1847)

A major battle in northern Mexico where U.S. forces under Zachary Taylor defeated a larger Mexican army led by Santa Anna.

Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo (1848)

The treaty that ended the Mexican-American War; Mexico ceded vast territories (including California and the Southwest) to the U.S. in exchange for $15 million.

Conscience Whigs

A faction of the Whig Party that opposed slavery on moral grounds and rejected the expansion of slavery into new territories.

Wilmot Proviso (1846)

A proposed amendment to ban slavery in any territory acquired from Mexico; it never passed but intensified sectional conflict between North and South.

John Tyler

The 10th U.S. president, who assumed office after Harrison's death (was his vice president for his month-long presidency), supported westward expansion and annexed Texas, though he clashed with the Whig Party and eventually broke off, becoming the only president without a political party.

James K. Polk

11th U.S. president and expansionist Democrat who oversaw the annexation of Texas, settlement of the Oregon boundary, and victory in the Mexican-American War, greatly expanding U.S. territory. Called the dark horse candidate due to him coming out of nowhere and achived all of his goals in one term, also called “young hickory” due to his similarity to Andrew Jackson.

Popular Sovereignty

Popular vote, the government leaves the decision of weather or not to make slavery legal in the new land acquired in Mexico to the people, which didn’t turn out well as people began mass immigrating to new lands to influence the vote and many riots broke out ex: “ Bleeding Kansas”.

Oregon Fever

People began flooding to the Pacific Northwest through the Oregon trail for Gold (economic opportunity), God (missionary zeal to convert people), and Glory (nationalism)

Annexation of Texas

After Americans rebelled against the Mexican government, the Texan territory became the Lone Star Republic for 9 years. The annexation was delayed due to slavery sectionalism for the new territory before being annexed by Taylor.

Causes of the Mexican American War

Started as a border dispute between American and Mexico (Mexicans believed Nueces river was the border, Americans believed it was the Rio grandee), also over cotton growing land that would be beneficial for the south.

Sectionalism

The intense rivalry divide of the industrial North and agricultural South