Chapter 10: Expansion

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Chapter 10 Expansion Conflict (1820-1860)
Section 2 American Expansionism
Pages 323-327
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American Expansionism

• In 1845 relations between the United States and
  Mexico reached a new low
• James K. Polk (1845-1849) President of United
  States
• James K. Polk, a strong expansionist from
  Tennessee,
• US Congress voted to annex Texas in March 1845,
  and many people felt it was a short time before
  war broke-out

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American Expansionism

• TEXAS ANNEXATION (323-324)
• Convinced that the United States was destined to
  expand westward, many Americans believed that
  Texas should be added to the Union as soon as
  possible
• Others opposed annexation because Texas allowed
  slavery
• The issue quickly stirred debate in Congress

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American Expansionism

• TEXAS ANNEXATION (323-324)
• The debate over annexation (232)
• Supporters of annexation of Texas feared Texas
  might become an ally of Great Britain if it were
  not admitted to the United States Great Britain
  wanted Texas to serve as a source of cotton and
  market for British goods
• Opponents of annexation, however, feared that the
  admission of Texas would increase the slave
  states power in Texas MORE SLAVE THAN FREE
  STATES

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American Expansionism

• TEXAS ANNEXATION (323-324)
• The debate over annexation (323)
• The Election of 1844
• James K. Polk (Democrat Party), former governor
  of Tennessee, versus Henry Clay of Kentucky (Whig
  Party)
• Polk was considered a dark-horse candidate had
  little chance of winning but he ran an
  effective campaign
• Polk called for the annexation of Texas and the
  acquisition of more territory during his campaign
• In contrast, Clay attempted to sidestep the
  annexation controversy did not take a side
• Polk won by a narrow margin
• Despite the close victory, Polk interpreted his
  victory as a public cry for annexation

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American Expansionism

• TEXAS ANNEXATION (323-324)
• Conflict with Mexico (324)
• Polks victory for President in 1844 increased
  tensions with Mexico
• Mexico said that if the United States tried to
  annex Texas it would be equivalent to a
  declaration of war against Mexico
• Congress ignored this warning from Mexico and
  voted to admit Texas to the Union on March 3,
  1845.
• Mexico responded by breaking diplomatic ties with
  the United States

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American Expansionism

• TEXAS ANNEXATION (323-324)
• Conflict with Mexico (324)
• Polk increased tensions with Mexico by demanding
  that Mexico recognize the Rio Grande as its
  northern border
• To back up his demand, Polk ordered General
  Zachary Taylor to move into the disputed region

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American Expansionism

• TEXAS ANNEXATION (323-324)
• Conflict with Mexico (324)
• After receiving word that Mexico was willing to
  negotiate, Polk sent John Slidell, a Louisiana
  lawyer and politician, to Mexico in late 1845
• Slidells mission was to persuade Mexican
  officials to accept the Rio Grande boundary and
  to sell New Mexico and California to the United
  States
• When Mexican citizens learned of this, they
  reacted angrily
• The Mexican government refused to deal with John
  Slidell
• On May 9, 1846, Polk received the news he wanted
  Mexican troops had crossed the Rio Grande and
  attacked a U.S. patrol
• United States now declares war on Mexico

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American Expansionism

• THE MEXICAN WAR (324-326)
• AGAINST THE WAR
• Whigs and Northerners were critical of the
  Mexican War
• Congressman Abraham Lincoln of Illinois,
  introduced a series of spot resolutions in
  December 1847.
• Abraham Lincoln challenged the President to
  identify the spot on U.S. soil where American
  blood had been shed.
• If the site was indeed U.S. territory, Lincoln
  said, he would support the war if not, he would
  oppose the war as unjustified.
• Some abolitionists charged that the real goal
  of Mr. Polks war, was to acquire more slave
  territory.
• Fredrick Douglass was against the War
• Henry David Thoreau was against the war and spent
  a night in jail because he would not pay taxes
  that might support the war. He wrote this in an
  essay called, Civil Disobedience.

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American Expansionism

• THE MEXICAN WAR (324-326)
• FOR THE WAR
• Most Americans, particularly southerners and
  westerners who wanted Mexican land, supported the
  war
• Congress authorized the army to enlist 50,000
  volunteers most were young men eager for
  adventure

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American Expansionism

• THE MEXICAN WAR (324-326)
• The Two Sides Clash (325)
• General Zachary Taylor led his troops into
  central Mexico, while other U.S. forces seized
  New Mexico and California
• Stephen Kearny occupied Santa Fe and seized
  control of New Mexico
• Captain John C. Fremont, a U.S. army officer and
  explorer headed an expedition into California in
  1845, and led the revolt
• On June 14 the settlers declared that California
  was an independent republic and raised a flag
  with the image of a grizzle bear painted on it
• The flag gave the uprising in California its name
  THE BEAR FLAG REVOLT

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American Expansionism

• THE MEXICAN WAR (324-326)
• THE SIEGE OF MEXICO CITY (326)
• The bold siege of Mexico City marked the final
  campaign of war in Mexico.
• Led by General Winfield Scott, some 10,000 U.S.
  soldiers.
• The Mexicans fought hard but Scotts forces
  reached Mexico City

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American Expansionism

• THE TREATY OF GUADALUPE HIDALGO (326)
• In February 1848 the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
  ended the War between Mexico and the United
  States
• Mexico gave up all claims to Texas and
  surrendered a vast territory known as Mexican
  Cession This territory included the present-day
  states of California, Nevada, Utah, and parts of
  Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Wyoming
• In return the United States agreed to pay Mexico
  15 million and take over the payment of damages
  claimed by U.S. citizens against Mexico
• The United States also agreed to grant full
  citizenship to Mexicans living in the Mexican
  Cession
• Gadsden Purchase, orchestrated by U.S. diplomat
  James Gadsden, the Untied States secured
  additional land south of the Gila River for 10
  million, acquiring parts of the present-day
  states of Arizona and New Mexico

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American Expansionism

• MEXICAN AMERICANS (327)
• As a result of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo,
  the United States gained some 80,000
  Spanish-speaking citizens along with its new
  territory
• Many Americans looked down on the culture of
  Mexican Americans, with its blend of Spanish and
  American Indian influences.
• The resulting atmosphere of prejudice contributed
  to Mexican American rebellions in the Southwest
• Juan Cortina a member of a prominent Tejano
  family in South Texas, headed one such rebellion
• U.S. troops eventually took control of the
  region, but Cortina continued his raids into the
  1870s.

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