Oregon Country

Treaty of Paris, 1783, and the Formation of Oregon Country

  • Time Frame: The discussion spans approximately twenty years post the Treaty of Paris in 1783.
  • Oregon Country:
    • Claimed by the United States but shared with Great Britain.
    • Extends up to Alaska.
    • Important due to its geographical and political implications, including the issue of Texas.

Manifest Destiny

  • Concept Definition: Manifest Destiny is a term that reflects the belief that the United States was destined to expand across North America.

  • Origin of the Phrase: Coined in the 1840s by pundits associated with a Democratic newspaper, notably Donald Sullivan.

  • Psychological and Political Implications:

    • Seen as a response to social unrest in Europe, where citizens were seeking outlets for their frustrations.
    • The West serves as a refuge for American citizens to own land and shape their future.
    • Promotes the idea that westward expansion is a necessary and ordained part of American development.

  • Influence of Andrew Jackson:

    • Jackson, a significant figure in promoting Manifest Destiny, motivated expansionism, although actual territorial gains were limited during his presidency.
    • Continued influence post-presidency with his protégés advocating for this ideology.
    • Key to the 1844 election, emphasizing territorial expansion, including Texas and Oregon.

James K. Polk

  • Background:

    • Known as "Young Hickory," a protégé of Andrew Jackson from Tennessee.
    • Initially, not well-known in national politics until emerging as a dark horse candidate during the Democratic Convention.

  • Dark Horse Candidate:

    • A term used for a candidate initially considered unlikely to win but gains momentum, akin to betting on an unlikely horse winning a race.
    • Political strategy involved making sweeping promises to gain support.

  • Key Promises:

    • Annexation of Texas, which was at the time a flashpoint of contention between Mexico and the United States.
    • Complete control of the Oregon territory, striving for the line of 54°40′ north latitude, famously encapsulated in the slogan "54-40 or Fight!".

  • Political Context:

    • Relations with Mexico were fraught since Texas had declared independence after the Alamo and San Jacinto battles, yet remained without U.S. statehood for nearly nine years.

The Texas Question

  • Background of Texas:

    • Originally part of Mexico, sparsely populated, and a target for American migration encouraged by Mexican governance to stabilize land claims.
    • American settlers stirred notions of Texas nationalism, leading to the Texas Revolution.

  • Battle of San Jacinto:

    • Key battle leading to Texas independence, where General Santa Anna of Mexico was captured.
    • Texas declared independence but remained in a limbo state for nine years.

  • Territorial Claims:

    • Texas claimed territory extending to the Rio Grande, while Mexico maintained a different boundary, leading to increased tensions.

  • Spanish Influence:

    • Some American settlers had received land grants from Spain, complicating ownership claims.

Polk's Presidency and The Mexican-American War

  • Polk's Strategy:

    • Advocated for expansion through negotiations and territorial acquisition, rather than outright conflict, despite extreme nationalist rhetoric that hinted at possible war.

  • Causes of War:

    • A confrontation arose when tensions flared between U.S. troops and Mexican forces, prompting Polk to seek congressional approval for war under the justification that American blood had been shed on what he deemed American soil.
    • Lincoln challenged this assertion in Congress, leading to the Spot Resolution questioning the location of the conflict.

Outcomes of the War

  • Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo:

    • Ended the Mexican-American War, setting the Rio Grande as the U.S.-Mexico boundary.
    • The U.S. paid Mexico $15 million for a significant portion of its territory, including present-day California and New Mexico.

  • Effects on Slavery:

    • The acquisition of new territories stirred intense debate over the extension of slavery, exemplified by the Wilmot Proviso attempt to ban slavery in lands acquired from Mexico.
    • This issue deepened divisions within the United States, contributing to the conditions leading up to the Civil War.

Gadsden Purchase

  • Purpose:
    • Aimed at acquiring land for a southern transcontinental railroad route, further expanding U.S. territory.
    • The United States purchased this land from Mexico for $5 million, following the Mexican-American War.

Legacy of Polk's Presidency

  • Polk delivered on his promises of expansion, acquiring significant territories but also leaving unresolved issues regarding slavery and statehood.

  • His presidency would greatly impact the U.S.'s future, setting the stage for both growth and conflict, leading directly into the Civil War.

  • Historical Interpretations:

    • Historians often cite Polk’s goals of expansionism under Manifest Destiny as central to understanding pre-Civil War America and its growing sectional tensions between free and slave states.