western expansion - mexico war

slavery for whigs

divisive issue but people dont want to discuss as had come together on economic issues

conscience whigs

concerned with slavery, in new england especially massachusets

whigs for slavery

eg henry clay, although evil is the only form of labour around so social and economic reality which cannot be removed

western expansion symbolism

west represents the future for america, attractive but source of division as if a region expands into west it could shift political power/balance in their direction

1840 election candidates

martin von burren (democrat) and william henry harrison (whig), both war heroes and known to everyone in america

william henry harrison

in indian war of 1813, avoids discussion of slavery, owns slaves and plantation in south

election outcome

harrison wins with john tyler as his vice

john tyler

independent democrat, becomes whig due to his dislike for jackson, appeals to southern slave owners

harrison aims

keen on settling disputes with foreign powers eg oregon with britain, wants to remove tensions and introduce tariffs

harrison successor

harrison dies 30 days after becoming president and tyler becomes president

tyler support

falls out of favour with whigs as vetos bill which would reintroduce national bank, needs new public body of support

liberty party

anti-slavery party (needed for abolitionism to be taken seriously as prior abolitionists see politics as tainted), voters attracted in new england mainly, serves as a protest party (those angry with main party vote liberty)

texas original situation

part of mexico, wild + not very populous, feared native tribe roams there, so mexico happy to let americans migrate

mexico gov migration change

mexican emancipation of slavery in 1829 means gov doesnt want americans there as dont want slaves there, mexico close their borders but americans still enter

jackson ops on texas entering union

already enough issues in usa, northerners worried as would unbalance power as texas big enough to subdivide into 5 states

texas independence

de facto in 1836, sam houston first president

calhoun 1843

becomes secretary of state, sees slavery as positive good

calhoun ops on texas

pro joining union because even up north south power balance, texas has large population and area, balance of power shift to south

diverse treaty of annexation of texas

put forward by calhoun and tyler in negotations, senate has to agree with 2/3 majority for annexation of a foreign country, defeated

reason us dont want texas getting british support

not on good terms with britain (previous wars), friction over where border is between canada and us, britain abolished slave trade in west indies in 1833 so violates and threatens southern powers (carolina has links with west indies), dont want texas financially dependent on britain

sam houston on britain

talks openly about making ties with britain as wants to persuade us to give funds to texas

calhoun letter

writes to rep of british gov pakenham stating concerns about british relations with texas and abolishment of slavery

calhoun letter response

gets published in newspapers and southeners become concerned that texas will become free state if tied with britain and therefore safe haven for runaway slaves, feelings of pro-annexation with both whigs and democrats so sectionalism brought into politics

anti-annexation ideas

some whigs eg henry clay anti as concerned it would create war with mexico which would effect economic recovery of us, also some democrats eg martin von buren from ny

democrat candidate for election

martin von buren, more nothern due to anti-annexation beliefs, north bigger population

martin von buren opposition

not supported in south and needs 2/3 majority to be nominated so needs southern democrat support

buren outcome

vitoed and james polk from tennessee selected although not well known

polk support

jackson endorses him so southern support grows

polk ops on expansion

recognises western migration and sees urgency as britain and spain interested in west, is optimistic as coming out of depression

clay alabama letter

july 1844, says no personal objection to annexation, needs southern support but doesnt outright says he supports it as would lose northern votes

alabama letter response

conscience whigs angered so clay goes back to his original position and looks weak, texas dividing whigs but not democrats

nov elections

polk wins, wins ny over clay due to slavery/texas

manifest destiny

idea usa destined by god to expand across entire north american continent

annexation of texas after election

tyler argues election shows majority of us want texas in union so congress passes resolution to annex texas without 2/3 majority needed, resolution admitting texas to union as single state passed in march 1845

impact of us annexing texas

mexico break off diplomatic relations with usa as never said texas wasnt part of it

polk treaty with mexico

offers to buy california and new mexico, but mexico dont accept

polk response to mexico turning down offer

sends general zachary taylor and 80 soldiers to make formal claim to rio grande (usa view of texas border), but they get in a fight with mexican soldiers and 16 us troops killed or wounded

war with mexico trigger

16 us troops death/injury by rio grande, polk declares war in may 1846

wilmot proviso

august 1846, polk asked for money for war from congress but congressman wilmot suggests amendment to bill which would prohibit slavery in the new territory won

wilmot proviso gov response

passes in house of reps (northern majority) but not senate

why north support wilmot proviso

supports idea of free labour as aligns with american dream, dont want slavery in north, slavery holding south back, free labour economy means no competition from slaves but if slavery expands into west it will end up like south with poor whites competing with slaves for work and west wont be able to prosper

why south fear wilmot proviso

shows how south losing control of republic and fear they will lose control of slavery as an institution too, north becoming more important to due to immigration increasing its population even though south used to control gov and almost all previous presidents were southern, issue of equality

calhoun response to wilmot proviso

offers series of resolutions which become known as the platform of the south, articulates view south upset as west common property of all states so no group of states has right to prevent other states from taking their property into it

end of mexico war

feb 1848 treaty of gudalupe hidalgo signed which meant mexico recognised rio grande frontier and transferred disputed territories to usa in return for $15 million and usa assumption of mexicos debts, treaty ratified by senate in may

usa gains from mexico war

mexico loses 55% of its territory, usa effectively doubled in size