Chapter 15 - Expansion and Two Wars with Mexico

Anglophobia

  • ^^The belief that Britain was a threat to the US^^
  • Worries about dependence on Great Britain for trade + that Great Britain was becoming expansionist
  • Believed Britain to be the US’s “natural enemy”

Black Hawk War

  • Chief Black Hawk led the Sauk + Fox tribes
  • 1832 - The Native American forces tried to recover lost land from Indian Removal Act
  • Conflicts in Illinois + Wisconsin

Florida

  • Controlled by Spain
    • Was gradually rowing weaker
    • Supported American independence
  • The capture of 2 British agents revealed that Britain was trying to establish their own colony in Florida
  • ^^In the Seminole War, US soldiers fought against Seminole Native Americans + escaped slaves^^
    • Very fierce conflict

Adams-Onís Treaty

  • Signed between John Quincy Adams + Luis de Onís
  • 1819 - After signing with Spain, it sold Florida to the US
  • 1845 - Florida enters as slave state

Monroe Doctrine

  • 1823
  • John Quincy Adams
  • ^^The agreement stated that as long as the US didn’t get involved with European affairs, the Western Hemisphere was closed to European colonization + involvement^^
  • Extended George Washington’s isolationism

Mountain Men

  • Pursued furs + freedom
  • Negotiated with Native Americans to trap + hunt + trade
  • Blazed western trails + spread tales of fertile land

Stephen Austin

  • 1823 - Began colonizing Texas
  • ^^After much negotiation, slaves entered the US territory as indentured servants, not slaves^^
  • Communicator between Texas + US

Texas

  • Mexico encouraged settlement
  • Santa Anna banned slave importation + further settlement
  • The Texans declared independence, leading to the Texas War for Independence against the US

Santa Anna

  • Mexican Revolution
  • ^^1833 - Elected president of Mexico^^
  • Authoritative dictator supported by violent army

Texas War for Independence

  • 1835-1836
  • In the Battle of San Jacinto, Sam Houston was chased by Santa Anna across Texas
  • At the end of the war, Santa Anna was forced to sign a treaty declaring Texas independence

Alamo

  • Refused to surrender
  • ^^All Texan defenders were killed + burned^^
  • Fell to Mexican forces in 1836
  • The Goliad was a huge massacre of 300+ men

Sam Houston

  • Fought beside Andrew Jackson in the War of 1812
  • He was sent to Texas to negotiate with the Native Americans
  • Formed army for Texas in 1835
  • Negotiated for Texas annexation
  • Opposed secession during the Civil War

John Tyler

  • ^^VP under William Henry Harrison^^
    • “Tippecanoe and Tyler, too” (election of 1840)
  • Elected President in 1840
  • After succeeding William Henry Harrison, he clashed with the Whigs
  • Backed Texas annexation

James K. Polk

  • Influenced by Jackson
  • Elected President in 1844
  • Oregon territory + Texas statehood during the Mexican War
  • Enlarged US territory

Liberty Party

  • Election of 1844
  • ^^Wanted to prevent Texas as a slave state^^
  • The plan backfired, as the party took votes from Henry Clay

Oregon Territory

  • American trading post + furs
  • During a period of land fever, the Oregon Trail was blazed
  • “54-40 or fight” led to compromise of Oregon being the 49th US state
  • NO SLAVERY
  • Becomes US territory in 1848

Manifest Destiny

  • Goal to spread slavery + American way of life
  • 1845 - Coined by John L. Sullivan
  • ^^The belief that God put white people in the New World to free minorities from religious + political oppression^^

Aroostook War

  • 1839 - American lumberjacks vs. Canadian lumberjacks
  • Fought over where the Maine/Canada border was

Bear Flag Revolt

  • 1846
  • Polk geared up American forces in California to prepare for war
  • ^^John C. Fremont^^ ^^led a rise against Mexican gov’t to declare California’s independence^^
  • California was annexed in the Mexican Cession

Slidell’s Mission

  • 1845
  • Purchased northern Mexico for $40 mil
    • Mexican gov’t called off negotiations
  • Mexican and American soldiers exchanged fire over the Rio Grande River
  • 1846 - Congress declared war against Mexico

Spot Resolutions

  • 1847
  • Written by Abraham Lincoln + Whigs
  • Polk must show where American blood was spilled on American soil to declare war
  • ^^A sectional debate was sparked between expansionist southern Democrats and Republicans (northerners)^^

Conscience Whigs

  • Foreshadowed North vs. South split
  • Balanced Polk’s expansionist policies
  • Were Northerners + opposed Mexican War

Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo

  • 1848 - Ended Mexican War
  • ^^US paid $15 mil for Mexican Cession^^
  • Rio Grande Rio was the border between the 2 countries
  • The US would ignore $3 mil of Mexican debt
  • Revealed deep division in US

Gadsden Purchase

  • 1853 - Purchased for $10 mil
  • Franklin Pierce sent James Gadsden to negotiate the deal
  • ^^Built southern transcontinental railroad^^
  • Last piece of added territory

BIG PICTURE

  • 1803-1853 - Manifest Destiny → Expansion of US territory

  • 2 wars against Santa Anna

  • Mexican War - Whigs + Democrats divided sectionally

  • Southerners settled west → Expand slavery

  • Florida + Texas + Oregon + Mexican Cession → Civil War

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