APUSH Chapter 17 - Ms. Hines

Tyler Too

Nickname referring to John Tyler, Henry Harrison's vice president who became president after Harrison died just four weeks into his presidency.

John Tyler

Vice president who succeeded Harrison. A Democrat at heart who disagreed with many Whig policies. His presidency disrupted the plans of Henry Clay and Daniel Webster.

Daniel Webster

Secretary of State under Harrison and Tyler. Expected to help control the presidency alongside Henry Clay.

Henry Clay

Leader of the Whigs in the Senate. Expected to influence the presidency under Harrison but was frustrated by Tyler.

Fiscal Bank

Proposed new Bank of the United States supported by the Whigs. Tyler vetoed the bill.

Fiscal Corporation

Second Whig attempt to establish a national banking system. Tyler vetoed this bill as well.

Tariff of 1842

Tariff reluctantly signed by Tyler because the federal government needed revenue.

Third War with England

Period of anti-British public sentiment in America. It was fought through newspaper editorials rather than actual military battles.

Canadian Rebellion (1837)

Rebellion against British rule in Canada. Many Americans supported it, but it failed because few Canadians joined.

Caroline Affair (1837)

British forces destroyed the American ship Caroline while it carried military supplies to Canadian rebels.

Creole Affair (1841)

British officials in the Bahamas gave asylum to 130 Virginia slaves who had rebelled and captured the American ship Creole.

Aroostook War

Series of skirmishes between Americans and Canadians over disputed territory in northern Maine in 1842.

Lord Ashburton

British official sent to Washington to settle the Maine boundary dispute and prevent war.

Webster-Ashburton Treaty (1842)

Agreement between Daniel Webster and Lord Ashburton that established a new Maine boundary, placing the disputed road in Canadian territory.

Texas Independence

Mexico refused to recognize Texas as independent after 1836 and threatened war if America protected it.

Lone Star Republic

Texas remained an independent nation after breaking away from Mexico in 1836.

British Interest in Texas

Britain wanted Texas to remain independent to weaken the United States and gain a friendly trading partner.

Texas Annexation

Adding Texas to the United States. It was a major issue in the 1844 presidential election.

Election of 1844

James K. Polk (Democrat) defeated Henry Clay (Whig). Democrats supported expansion and Texas annexation.

James K. Polk

Democratic president elected in 1844. Known as "Young Hickory." Supported expansion, promised to protect Texas, and avoided the slavery issue.

Lame Duck President

An outgoing president who has lost an election or is nearing the end of their term. Tyler used his remaining time to push for Texas annexation.

Texas Becomes the 28th State (1845)

Tyler signed a resolution inviting Texas to join the United States before leaving office.

Oregon Country

Territory once claimed by Spain, Russia, Britain, and the United States. It became a major expansion issue in the 1844 election.

Oregon Territory Claims

Spain gave up its claims through the Florida Treaty (1819), and Russia gave up its claims through treaties in 1824 and 1825.

Oregon Boundary Dispute

Britain controlled territory north of the Columbia River, while America controlled the southern area. Britain refused to give up its claims despite having fewer settlers.

Manifest Destiny

Belief that God intended Americans to spread democracy and American institutions across the continent and even into South America.

Young Hickory

Nickname for James K. Polk because of his resemblance to Andrew Jackson ("Old Hickory").

Polk's Four Goals

1. Lower tariffs. 2. Restore the independent treasury. 3. Acquire California. 4. Settle the Oregon dispute peacefully.

Robert J. Walker

Polk's Secretary of the Treasury who created the Walker Tariff of 1846.

Walker Tariff (1846)

Tariff-for-revenue law that reduced the tariff rate from 32% to 25%.

Independent Treasury System

System for keeping government funds separate from private banks. It was restored in 1846 after the Whigs ended it in 1841.

Oregon Treaty (1846)

Britain offered the United States the Oregon territory up to the 49th parallel. Polk accepted, settling the dispute peacefully.

California in 1845

Population consisted mainly of Spanish-Mexicans and Native Americans.

John Slidell

Sent by Polk to Mexico City in 1845 to offer $25 million for California. Mexico rejected the offer.

Mexican-American Relations

Relations between America and Mexico were poor because of the American annexation of Texas.

Rio Grande (1846)

Polk ordered 4,000 troops under General Zachary Taylor to the Rio Grande on January 13, 1846, increasing tensions with Mexico.

Mexican-American War (1846-1848)

War between the United States and Mexico following border tensions and attacks by Mexican troops. Polk requested a declaration of war on May 9, 1846.

Causes of the Mexican-American War

Polk’s sly propaganda, Disputes over Texas's border, unpaid American claims against Mexico, Slidell's rejected offer to purchase California, and American expansionism.

Critics of Polk

Many members of Congress accused Polk of provoking the war with Mexico by sending troops into disputed territory.

General Kearny

Led 1,700 American troops to Santa Fe during the Mexican-American War.

General Zachary Taylor

American general who won several victories, including the Battle of Buena Vista. Later became president.

Battle of Buena Vista

Major American victory led by General Zachary Taylor against a much larger Mexican force.

General W. Scott

American general who fought his way to Mexico City, capturing it in September 1847. Later became Lincoln's first choice to lead the Union Army.

Nicholas P. Trist

Chief clerk of the State Department who negotiated and signed the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo.

Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo (1848)

Treaty ending the Mexican-American War on February 2, 1848. Mexico ceded a huge amount of territory, including California, to the United States for $15 million.

Mexican Cession

Territory Mexico gave to the United States in the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. It included California and covered about half of Mexico's former territory.

Conscience Whigs

Antislavery Whigs who opposed the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo because they had originally opposed the war.

Expansionists

Americans who wanted the United States to acquire all of Mexico instead of just part of it.

Wilmot Proviso

Amendment proposed by David Wilmot stating that territory acquired from Mexico should remain free of slavery. It passed the House but failed in the Senate because of Southern opposition.

David Wilmot

Congressman who proposed the Wilmot Proviso to prevent slavery from expanding into territory gained from Mexico.

Mexican War's Military Experience

The war gave future Civil War generals experience, including Robert E. Lee (captain) and Ulysses S. Grant (lieutenant).