Cedric Lee APUSH Unit 7

William Henry Harrison

(1841), was almost hounded to death in first days of office by Whig spoilsmen after clamoring for the spoils of office

“Old Tippecanoe" was merely a figurehead for the office

(1841), was an American military leader, politician, the ninth President of the United States, and the first President to die in office. (4 weeks) His death created a brief Constitutional crisis, but ultimately resolved many questions about presidential succession left unanswered by the Constitution until passage of the 25th Amendment.

Daniel Webster

secretary of state

Henry Clay

uncrowned king of the Whigs and their ablest spokesman in the Senate and wanted much political power.

John Tyler

Virginian elected Vice President and became the 10th President of the United States when Harrison died 1841-1845 (belonged to the minority party)

earlier resigned from the Senate and hated Jacksonian democracy

at odds with his Whig party (party was pro-bank, pro-protective tariff, and pro-internal improvement)

Independent treasury

the Whigs wanted to pass a law ending this system of federal depositories, which Tyler agreed to sign in 1841

"Fiscal Bank"

Clay drove a bill through Congress that would establish the Bank of the U.S.; Tyler was opposed to the bank

Tyler was met with many negative reactions from his veto

Whig extremists did not give up and tried for a fiscal corporation yet Tyler was still unbent.

Tariff of 1842

Clayites took out its dollar-distribution scheme. Pushed down rates to about the moderately protective level of 1832, roughly 32 percent on dutiable goods. Tyler did not want to sign it, but did seeing the need for additional revenue.

Subsequent months- high customs duties slackened as the country

"Third War with England"

"War" in which British and American writers "fought" with scathing written commentaries about the opposing country. It was fostered by lingering Anti-British feeling in America from the 2 wars and British "Travel Books" that condemned and mocked America as barbaric. Charles Dickens was prominent on the British side.

Caroline

An incident on the Canada frontier where this American steamer was carrying supplies to the insurgents across the Niagara River.

Attacked on NY shore by determined British force and American illustrators used this as propaganda material

This unlawful invasion was against the supposed neutrality and had an aftermath of Washington protests (ineffective)

McLeod

Canadian who boasted of his involvement in the raid against the Caroline; was arrested for murder but had an alibi good enough to get himself freed (enough for NY jury)

"Aroostook War"

St Lawrence River was ice bound and the British wanted to build a road from Halifax to Quebec

Series of clashes between American and Canadian lumberjacks in the disputed territory of northern Maine, resolved when a permanent boundary was agreed upon in 1842.

Lord Ashburton

From the Arostook War-

He was sent by England to Washington in 1842 to work things out with Secretary Webster over boundary disputes. He was a nonprofessional diplomat that was married to a wealthy American woman. He and Webster finally compromised on the Maine boundary. They split the area of land and Britain kept the Halifax-Quebec route.

Lone Star Republic, and international relations

Mexico saw Texas as a province in revolt and made some attempts at regaining the territory, though unsuccessful. They also threatened war if America interfered.

Texas, outnumbered by Mexico and at whim to its attacks, negotiated with the nations of Europe to find a foreign protector. In 1839 and 1840, Texas concluded treaties with France, Holland, and Belgium

France and Britain wanted to use an independent Texas to check the western advancement of America and for Britain, protect its possessions in the New World. Clashes between the two could create opportunities for foreign powers to move into America and could fragment and militarize America.

James K. Polk

president in March 1845. wanted to settle Oregon boundary dispute with Britain. wanted to acquire California. wanted to incorporate Texas into union.

Oregon Country

an enormous wilderness sprawling west of the Rockies to the Pacific Ocean and north of California to the southern tip of the Alaska panhandle. All parts of this area were claimed at different times by Spain, Russia, Britain, and the US. Spain and Russia retreated, and Britain and America were left. Both had rightful claims, and lived side by side. In 1818, the US sought to divide it at the 49th parallel, but the British were unwilling to yield the Columbia River. As more and more Americans arrived in the area, the British saw the wisdom of arriving at a peaceful settlement. The issue became a piece of the 1844 election.

Columbia River

British claim to Oregon was strong and to the Northern portion of this river

barely any prior discovery

Hudson Bay Company

English corporation, formed in 1670, which held a monopoly over trade with Indians of the Pacific Northwest for fur in the region watered by streams flowing into Hudson Bay in Canada

Captain Robert Gray

stumbled upon the Columbia River in 1792, and named his ship after it

Lewis and Clark

ranged overland through the Oregon country to the Pacific

Manifest Destiny

A notion held by an 1844 campaign where Americans that the United States was destined by the "Almighty One" to rule the continent with their democratic institutions, from the Atlantic and the Pacific. (Might have gone to South America)

Election of 1844

Candidates: Henry Clay (Whigs- in an upset over Van Buren) and James Polk (Democrat). Polk favored expansion, demanded that Texas and Oregon be added to the US and Clay had already spoken out against annexation. Polk won the election by the difference of one state (NY, because some of its votes went to the Liberty Party candidate, losing Clay the state)

Clay had bitten more than he can chew as he wanted to annex Texas yet also wanted the Great Compromise.

"Fifty-four forty or fight"

Political slogan of the Democrats in the election of 1844, which claimed fifty-four degrees, forty minutes as the boundary of the Oregon territory claimed by the United States

Condemned Clay as a "Corrupt Bargainer", a slave owner, and a bad character. (Hypocrisy at its finest as Polk also owned slaves.

Liberty Party

A political party that started during the two party systems in the 1840's.The party's main platform was bringing an end to slavery by political and legal means. The party was originally part of the American Anti-slavery however; they split because they believed there was a more practical way to end slavery than Garrison's moral crusade.

The party absorbed 16,000 votes in NY and those votes would have gone to Clay, but he lost by 5,000 votes.

"Four-point program"

Polk developed this plan and achieved it completely in less than four years. One of its goals was a lowered tariff; another was the restoration of the independent treasury (dropped by Whigs in 1841), which was achieved in 1846. The third and fourth points were the acquisition of California and the settlement of the Oregon dispute.

Robert J. Walker

James Polk's secretary of treasure who devised a tariff for revenue bill that reduced the average rate of the Tariff of 1842 from 32% to 25%.

Walker Tariff

(1846) Created by Robert J. Walker was a tariff for revenue bill that reduced the average rate of the Tariff of 1842 from 32% to 25%. Proved to be successful revenue producers because it was followed by boom times and heavy imports. Originally had complaints by clayites and American manufacturers.(it was anti-democratic for clayites)

49th parallel border

Polk proposed this as the compromise line for Oregon, but the British minister spurned this idea. In 1846, the British came around and proposed this same compromise, which Polk gave to the Senate to decide. They accepted the offer, and approved of the subsequent treaty. Accepted mainly because they were already preoccupied with the war with Mexico. No fight involved.

California

State that Polk wanted to acquire in his 4-point program. Would later buy it from Mexico in a treaty for 15 million.

Nueces River

Mexico thought this river was the border between Texas and Mexico.

Rio Grande River

America believed this to be the border between Texas and Mexico.

John Slidell

A new envoy sent to Mexico City by Polk who was instructed to offer a max of 25 million for California & territories to the East. The proud Mexicans rejected the proposal even before he presented it. He was sent because there were rumors that Britain was going to buy/seize California.

General Zachary Taylor

General appointed by Polk to lead the army from Nueces River to Rio Grande against Mexico. At first, there was no sign of Mexican troops, so on May 9th, 1846, Polk proposed to congress to declare war on Mexico on the basis of unpaid claims and Slidell's rejection(did not happen). Later on, on April 25, 1846, Mexican troops crossed the Rio Grande and attacked this general's troops(16 Americans killed/wounded). Later declared war which congress voted for.

Abraham Lincoln

Whig congressman from Illinois who pushed for his spot resolutions; later became the 16th president.

"Spot resolutions"

Congressman Abraham Lincoln supported a proposition to find the exact spot where American troops were fired upon, suspecting that they had illegally crossed into Mexican territory(which was true).(done because Polk lied to the public about what really happened)

Mexican- American War

\[1846-1848] The war between the United States and Mexico in which the United States acquired one half of the Mexican territory. The U.S. wanted to teach the Mexicans a lesson while the Mexicans wanted to humiliate the "bullies of the north". Mexicans thought the Americans picked a fight on their soil while Americans thought that Mexico was the aggressor.

Santa Anna

The dethroned Mexican dictator who promised the U.S. to sell out his country if they helped get him back to Mexico. However once in, he helped his country to defend against the U.S.

General Stephen W. Kearny

Led 1700 troops in 1846 over the Santa Fe Trail(From Fort Leavenworth to Santa Fe). Before he reached California, Santa Fe was captured; Fremont had already captured it.

Santa Fe Trail

Trail from Fort Leavenworth to Santa Fe; General Kearny took this trail.

Captain John C. Fremont

Explorer with several dozen well armed men who helped to overthrow Mexican rule in 1846. In turn, he collaborated with American naval officers and local Americans to take California and proclaimed the "California Bear Flag Republic".

California Bear Flag Republic

Short-lived California republic, established by local American settlers who revolted against Mexico. Once news of the war with Mexico reached the Americans, they abandoned the Republic in favor of joining the United States; Established by Captain John C. Fremont.

Buena Vista

An important battle in the Mexican war where General Zachary Taylor's weakened force of 5000 men were attacked by 20,000 march weary troops under Santa Anna. When General Taylor's troops drove back the Mexicans, he was named the "Hero of (term name)". This helped elevate his national prominence and helped secure his success in the 1848 presidential election.

General Winfield Scott

He commanded the main expedition which pushed inland from the coastal city of Veracruz in 1847. General who succeeded in battling his way to Mexico City (Sept. 1847) despite disadvantages like:

Inadequate # of troops

Expiring enlistments

Mountainous terrain

Disease

Political backbiting

Mexico City

Capital of Mexico, which General Winfield Scott succeeded to battle his way up there despite the disadvantages.

Nicholas P. Trist

Chief clerk in the State Department, was sent to negotiate a peace treaty with a defeated Mexico in 1847. Before he could open negotiations he was summoned to return, but he ignored the order and stayed to negotiate the treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo

Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo

Signed by Nicholas P. Trist on February 2, 1848, which confirmed American ownership of Texas, territory west from Oregon to the ocean, and California for $15 million.(1/2 OF MEXICO)

Also assumed the claims of its citizens against Mexico in the amount of $3,250,000.

"Conscience Whigs"

Anti-slavery whigs in congress who were dubbed the "Mexican Whigs". Denounced the Mexican War and having controlled the House in 1847, they even threatened to vote down supplies for armies in the fields. If done so, General Winfield Scott would have been forced to retreat and things would have gone downhill from there.

Robert E. Lee

Confederate general in the Civil War who gained field experience during the Mexican War.

Ulysses S. Grant

Union general in the Civil War who gained field experience during the Mexican War.

Wilmot Proviso

An amendment proposed by David Wilmot, which outlawed slavery in any of the territory taken from Mexico; passed through House twice, but not Senate. Never became federal law. Eventually approved by the legislatures of all but one free state. Symbolized the burning issue of slavery in territories.

"Lid-sitting" on slavery

-Analogy used to explain how many politicians mainly ignored the slavery issue even as it became more agitated and brought to the forefront by zealous northern abolitionists and southern "fire-eaters" -Both political parties knew they were a vital bond for national unity and if they were replaced by two sectional groups, then the country will be in peril.

Election of 1848

Polk not running for second term due to chronic diarrhea and overwork -\> open race election and Democrats had to seek a new candidate: -Whigs decided to run Zachary Taylor who was a previous war hero -Democrats ran Lewis Cass; -Free soil party ran Martin Van Buren -Zachary Taylor won but he died into his term and Millard Fillmore, his running mate, replaced him

General Lewis Cass

-The Democratic National Convention at Baltimore chose this leader who was a veteran of the War of 1812. -Senator and Diplomat, Democratic party implemented the lid-sitting strategy but his views were known -He had many views on the extension of slavery such as Popular Sovereignty. known as "jackass"

Popular sovereignty

-Cass was the father of this doctrine that stated that sovereign people of a territory, under the general principles of the Constitution, should determine the status of slavery persuasive appeal: Public liked it since it aligned with democratic tradition of self-determination Politicians liked it since it was a compromise between Free-Soiler's ban on slavery and Southern demands to keep it

Zachary Taylor

-The Whigs in Philadelphia nominated this candidate who was known as the "Hero of Buena Vista -Never held civil office or even voted for president -Clay made too many enemies to be nominated again The Whig Party dodged all of the issues and this candidate's view of slavery was not announced yet he owned many slaves on his Louisiana plantation

Free Soil Party

-Antislavery men and also people who were miffed at Polk's reduction on the protective tariffs who distrusted Cass and Taylor (both owned slaves) created this party -From silence of Democratic and Whig Parties and they wanted the Wilmot Proviso -Advocated for federal aid for internal improvements and urged for free Gov homesteads for settlers

Wilmot Proviso

-Bill that would ban slavery in the territories acquired after the War with Mexico -Free Soiler Party encouraged this bill

"Conscience Whigs"

-heavily influenced by the abolitionist crusade The Free Soiler Party contained many elements of this and harbored many northerners whose hatred was not directed as much into slavery, but rather the prospect of sharing potential western territories.

Martin Van Buren

-the Free-Soil candidate for president in 1848. \******(Might Be Important Info for the Test) The Free Soilers condemned slavery more for destroying the chances of free white workers to rise up from wage-earning dependence to self-employment than for the actual act of enslaving blacks

Republican Party

-Formerly the Free-Soilers, this party was the first sectional party. -Attempted to keep slavery out of the Western territories. -Free Soilers thought that the land in the West was an opportunity for Americans to fulfill the American Dream -Founded by anti-slavery activists in 1854. Mixed group of anti-slaver Whigs and Free Soil Democrats who opposed the Kansas-Nebraska Act.

California Gold Rush

the discovery of gold in California set off the first of many migrations to the mineral-rich mountains of the West; brought tens of thousands of men from around the world; mining camps popped up wherever gold/silver was found Outburst of crime in this lawless land and many CA citizens wanted to erect a good state gov

California Constitution of 1849

Constitution written by a group of Californians that prohibited slavery; was written to speed up process of statehood Thwart southern congressmen seeking to block free soil and Southern congressmen went crazy

Texas territory 'detachment'

the federal government proposed to detach the area east of the Rio Grande and north to the 42nd parallel from Texas (present day New Mexico), and Texans threaten to seize what was rightfully theirs.

Underground Railroad

-The South had trouble with runaway slaves who were assisted north by this virtual freedom train -There was a chain of "stations" (anti-slavery homes) where the runaway slaves were "passengers" and they were spirited by "conductors" (white/black abolitionists) from slaves state to British Canada

Harriet Tubman

-Was a conductor of the underground railroad -illiterate runaway slave from Maryland and had rescued more than 300 slaves including her parents - Earned the title “Moses”

Fugitive-Slave Laws

By 1850 Southerners were demanding a new and more stringent fugitive slave law. The slave law in 1850 was more like bribing. the fleeing slaves could not testify on their own behalf, and they were denied a trial. The federal commissioner received $10 if the slave was not freed.

"Immortal Trio" of the Senate

consisted of Clay, Calhoun and Webster, who worked together for the last time in 1850.

Henry Clay

-73 years old; the "Great Pacificator" -Had come to the Senate from Kentucky to engineer his third great compromise; ably seconded by 37-year-old senator Stephen A. Douglas of Illinois; urged that the North and South both make concessions and that the north partially yield by enacting a more feasible fugitive-slave law.

John C. Calhoun

-Senator; the "Great Nullifier"; 68 and dying of tuberculosis; -Championed the South in his last formal speech read by a younger colleague; approved the purpose of Clay's concessions, but rejected them as not providing adequate safeguards; -Wanted leave slavery alone, return runaway slaves, give the south its rights as a minority, and restore the political balance -had a scheme of electing two presidents, one from the north and one from the south, each wielding a veto -died before the debate was over.

Daniel Webster

-68 year old suffering from liver complaint and took the Senate spotlight to uphold Clay's compromise as the last speech (3 hours) -also made the Seventh of March Speech -urged reasonable concessions to South including a new fugitive-slave law -also found no reason to legislate slavery in territories as "Almighty God" passed the Wilmot Proviso -Explanation: God had influenced the climate of Texas and that made it not a profitable plantation economy (hence slave economy would not be profitable)

Stephen A. Douglas

-The "Little Giant" -37 year old and seconded Henry Clay's desires

Seventh of March speech

-Webster's speech of 1850 and it was considered to be his finest (Very popular) **Reactions: -Helped turn the tide in the North for the compromise -Strengthened Union Sentiment and was pleasing for banking and commercial centers of the North (lose millions from secession) -Free soilers and abolitionists (thought Webster was one of them) upbraided (vocab) him as a traitor

Young Guard

-Newer leaders (Northern abolitionists did not want to compromise) who had not grown up with the union -Did not have their say in the congressional debate of 1850 -More interested in purifying the nation than just patching the problems

William H. Seward

Senator from NY was spokesperson for younger Northern Radicals (Young Guard)-Strong Antislaveryite who was against the concession-Did not realize that the compromise had brought the Union together-Argued that Christian legislators must obey God's moral law and man's law-Appealed, with reference to excluding slavery in the territories, to an even "higher law" than the Constitution; his phrase, wrenched from its context, may have cost him the presidential nomination and the presidency in 1860.

Millard Fillmore

-Vice president; NY lawyer-politician took the reigns after President Taylor died during the height of the 1850 controversy -Presiding officer of Senate and had been impressed by arguments for conciliation -\> signed series of compromises after 7 months

Compromise of 1850

the North got the better deal: California, as a free state, tipped the Senate balance permanently against the South The territories of New Mexico and Utah were open to slavery on the basis of popular sovereignty Texas was to be paid $10 million toward discharging its indebtedness; the immense area in dispute had been torn from the side of slave-holding Texas and was almost certain to be free.

"Union savers"

-People like Senators Clay, Webster, and Douglas who supported the Compromise of 1850 and orated on behalf of it -White southern opposition to succession. 1860-61.

Second Era of Good Feelings

This was a time where the North and South peace-loving people were determined that the compromise quelled the animosity and the issue of slavery would stop simmering and boiling (boy were they wrong)

Fugitive Slave Law of 1850

"Bloodhound Bill; required all citizens to help catch runaway slaves; freedom-loving northerners who aided runaways had stronger fines; did not allow slaves to testify and were denied them trial by jury

Massachusetts "nullification of slave law"

1854: law that made it a penal offense for any state official to enforce the fugitive slave law of 1850. The first of its kind, basically personal liberty laws but on steroids

"Personal liberty laws"

1854: law that made it a penal offense for any state official to enforce the fugitive slave law of 1850

Election of 1852

Franklin Pierce (Democrat) vs Winfield Scott (Whig); Pierce won landslide. marked the effective end of the disorganized whig party and, within a few years, its complete death.

Franklin Pierce

14th President Democrat; served w/o distinction in Mexican-American War; known as the "fainting general". His platform revived the democrat's commitment to territorial expansion as pursued by polk.

Winfield Scott

"Old Fuss and Feathers," whose conquest of Mexico City brought U.S. victory in the Mexican War; was haughty and personality drove away the masses. Whig candidate for election of 1852.

Anti-slavery Whigs

Northerners who accepted Scott as the nominee but deplored his support of the Fugitive Slaw Law.

Southern Whigs

Southerners who doubted Scott's loyalty to the Compromise of 1850 and especially the fugitive slave law, who accepted his platform but hated him as a candidate.

John P. Hale

Free Soil Candidate in 1852 election; senator from New Hampshire; stole northern votes that would have gone to Scott(whig). Walked away with 5% of the popular vote.

Free Soil Party

A political party dedicated to stopping the expansion of slavery. They were not anti-slavery. Their candidate in the election of 1852 was John P. Hale.

"Demise of Whig Party"

Election of 1852 marked the beginning of the end of this party Deaths of Henry Clay and Daniel Webster weakened the party severely. the end augured the eclipse of national parties and the rise of sectional political alignments.

National/sectional parties

National parties declined after the 1850s and sectional parties rose as a result of declining national loyalty and rising sectional loyalty

Manifest Destiny

A notion held by a nineteenth-century Americans that the United States was destined to rule the continent, from the Atlantic the Pacific. Victories of the Mexican war stimulated this.

Greytown

San Juan del Norte; Nicaraguan port seized by British; marked British encroachment into the area. This drove the governments of both the U.S. and New Granada(Colombia) to form an important treaty in 1848.

New Granada

later Colombia. This government worked with the US to conclude the Clayton-Buller Treaty in 1850. Before the treaty, them and the U.S. would sign a treaty in 1848 to guarantee American right of transit across the isthmus in return for perfect neutrality for the route so that free transit of traffic would not be interrupted. Led to the construction of the first continental railroad(ran 48 miles from coast to coast through the Panamanian jungle).

Clayton-Bulwer Treaty

1850 - Treaty between U.S. and Great Britain agreeing that neither country would try to obtain exclusive rights to control over any future isthmian waterway. Repealed by the U.S. in 1881.

William Walker

A proslavery American adventurer from the South, he repeatedly tried to grab control Nicaragua in the 1850s. Tried to take power in Nicaragua and became president in 1856 and eventually legalized slavery; was promptly overthrown by a coalition of Central American nations and shot.

Spanish Cuba

Sugar rich Spanish colony with tons of existing slaves; was desired by the South; was offered for $100 million by President Polk but refused; was fillerbustered(free-booster/pirating)

"Filibustering"

(free-booster/pirating)1850-51, expeditions each numbering several hundred armed men,descended upon Cuba. Both feeble efforts were repelled, and the last one ended in tragedy when the leader and fifty followers were summarily shot or strangled.

Black Warrior

The American Steamship that was seized by Cubans. President Pierce took this opportunity to provoke war with Spain in order to seize Cuba. The major European powers(England/france/russia) would be Crimean war and hence unable to help Spain.

Ostend Manifesto

Top secret dispatch. This startling document urged that the administration to offer 120 million for Cuba. If Spain refused, and if its continued ownership endangered American interests, the U.S. would "be justified in wresting'' the island from the Spanish. was quickly leaked out and made northern free-soilers angry other off sets would cause Pierce to drop his hopes on acquiring Cuba.

Opium War

A conflict between Britain and China, lasting from 1839 to 1842, over Britain's opium trade in China

Caleb Cushing

MA lawyer-scholar whom President Tyler dispatched to ensure America could compete for Chinese trading opportunities with Britain. His 4 warships arrived in China in 1844 bearing gifts that contributed to the Treaty of Wanghia, the first formal US-China diplomatic agreement. He secured vital rights and privileges from the Chinese, including "Most favored nation status." His treaty caused American trade with China to flourish and opened the door for American missionaries to enter China.