Manifest Destiny

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Transition of Power: After Andrew Jackson’s presidency, his successor was Martin Van Buren, who was also a Democratic-Republican.
Economic Fallout: Jackson's economic policies led to a major economic collapse immediately after his term ended, resulting in a poor start for Van Buren’s presidency.
Unpopularity of Van Buren: Due to the economic struggles, he was ridiculed and often referred to as Van Ruin by the American public.

Political Shift: The economic troubles under Van Buren allowed the emergence of the Whig Party.
Election of 1840: William Henry Harrison won the presidential election, presenting himself as a man of the people, unlike the elite image associated with Van Buren.
Propaganda Usage: Harrison's campaign employed propaganda to mislead voters about his background and depict him favorably against Van Buren.

Inauguration Day Incident: To assert toughness akin to Jackson, Harrison delivered his inaugural address in extremely cold weather without a coat.
Harrison’s Health and Death: Died just one month into his presidency; cause of death was officially labeled pneumonia, but it was controversial.
Medical Mismanagement: Treatment methods included:
- Bed rest (inappropriate for pneumonia)
- Bloodletting (ruinous at any time)
- Use of opium and brandy
- Contaminated water from a flawed White House plumbing system (connected to sewage)
Most Likely Cause of Death: Majority of historians now believe he succumbed to enteric fever due to contaminated water consumption. Consequently, he became the shortest-serving president in U.S. history at only 31 days.

John Tyler's Succession: John Tyler was the first vice president to ascend to the presidency by succession after Harrison's death.
Direction of Tyler’s Presidency: Tyler focused on territorial expansion, specifically towards the acquisition of Southern lands supportive of slavery.

George Donner’s Expedition: A successful farmer from Illinois who sought adventure and opportunity in West during 1846.
Formation of the Donner Party: His educated background attracted a sizeable group to migrate west, although many were children who could not contribute labor.
Logistical Challenges: The party carried excessive supplies and moved inefficiently, averaging only 5 to 10 miles a day.

Delay in Departure: The group left late in the year, risking a snow trap due to weather conditions.
Hastings Cut Off: Misguided by a claimed shortcut that ended in impassable terrain, this caused the party to stray.
Loss of Resources: Over 100 oxen died from exhaustion leading to further abandoned supplies.

Snowstorm Entrapment: The party became trapped by heavy snow and dwindling food supplies; splitting into camps worsened survival rates.
Despair and Cannibalism: Members initially planned a lottery for cannibalism; however, faced with desperation, they resorted to consuming deceased members, including Billy Graves, whose daughters did as instructed.
Native Americans Encounter: Two Native Americans assisted but grew frightened by the group's actions and escaped. The situation escalated with the Texians eventually hunting them down.
Survival Count: Upon rescue, only seven from the original parties survived; horror stories unfolded about cannibalism.

Andrew Jackson's Attempts: Early U.S. presidents sought to acquire Texas; Jackson's rationale combined territorial gain with the preservation of slave state balance.
Settler Incentives: Moses Austin promoted American settlement in Texas, leading to further migration after suffering a death; his son Stephen F. Austin led several settlements.

Population Stats: By 1830, American settlers rose to 20,000, with a slave population of 1,000—though registration requirements likely underreported actual slave numbers.
Mexico’s Government Troubles: The Mexican government, preoccupied with consolidating power post-independence, delayed responses to rising American settlement.

Military Dictatorship Established: Santa Ana came to power, fearing slaveowner's rebellion in Texas under new Mexican immigration policies.
Conflict Over Slavery: The outlawing of slavery threatened settlers' interests; tensions escalated with Santa Ana's decisions against American militancy.

Texans Formulate Resistance: Texian settlers rallied against Santa Ana's increasing control, leading to the declaration of causes for their rebellion.
Strategic Military Actions: Pro-slavery volunteers arrived to support the Texians, culminating in the blockade of the Alamo by Santa Ana, who demanded immediate surrender.

Defensive Actions of the Texians: The Texans fired upon Santa Ana’s forces for twelve days.
Final Attack: On March 6, 1836, the Mexican army attacked, resulting in a catastrophic outcome for Texians.
Casualty Disputes: Estimates of casualties on both sides remain conflicting, with approximately 189 Texians killed and widely varying estimates of Mexican losses.

Houston’s Ascension: Reliance on high-profile connections helped Sam Houston get elected commander-in-chief of the Texian army.
Decisive Victory at San Jacinto: Following the Alamo, Houston led troops on April 21, 1836, resulting in a surprise victory against the Mexican army and capturing Santa Ana.
Treaty of Velasco: Santa Ana signed a treaty recognizing Texas independence, albeit controversially as neither side upheld its provisions.
Texas Independent Status: Texas established itself as the Lone Star Republic with legal provisions for slavery included in its foundations.

Partisan Concerns: Jackson hesitated to annex Texas due to fears of destabilizing national unity and provoking conflict with Mexico.
Political Maneuvering: Texans, overlooking the political calculus, aimed for immediate annexation to the U.S., seeking support from foreign powers instead.

Options for Texas: Various possible futures after Harrison’s death included annexation by the U.S., England, or French, or retaking by Mexico.
Failed Negotiations: Tyner's administration’s secret intentions to annex Texas were hindered by political backlash concerning slavery expansion ignited by communications with England.