Chapter 13: Expansion & Sectional Conflict
First half of chapter focuses on Manifest Destiny and the Contentious Politics of the 1840’s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tkdF8pOFUfI&list=PL8dPuuaLjXtMwmepBjTSG593eG7ObzO7s&index=17
Crash Course US History Episode 17
Essential Question
How and why
does the US
grow quickly
between 1845
and 1853 (see
map) and
what are the
consequences
of this rapid
growth?
The Philosophy of Manifest Destiny - Expansionism & Exceptionalism
".... it the right of our manifest destiny to over spread and to possess the whole of the
continent which Providence has given us for the development of the great experiment of
liberty and federative development of self government entrusted to us. It is right such as that
of the tree to the space of air and the earth suitable for the full expansion of its principle
and destiny of growth.“ John L. O’Sullivan, 1845
What is Manifest
Destiny?
How do the
quote and painting
illustrate
a belief in
expansionism and
exceptionalism
inherent in to this
philosophy?
Annexation of Texas
 In the mid 1820s, “Tejas” is a sparsely populated region of the
newly independent nation of Mexico.
 Many US residents (mostly from Southern states) are interested in
settling into “Texas”
 Stephen F. Austin negotiates agreement with Mexican government
for “Anglos” to settle in Texas.
 Setters are supposed to abide by Mexican laws, but end up not.
 Anglo-Texans outnumber Mexicans 10-1 by mid 1830’s.
 Mexican officials feel Anglos not following agreements and armed
conflict begins in 1836
Stephen
Austin
Sam
Houston
General
Santa
Anna
Conflicts in 1820s & 30s between AngloAmerican settlers & Mexico on:
1) Texas Self Rule (Level of Anglo autonomy)
2) Religion (Catholic vs Protestant)
3) Slavery (Allowed or not)
Key battles in
map below
Texas War for
Independence
1835-1836
(Texas Wins - US officially Neutral)
Texas becomes independent “Lone Star
Republic”. Texas seeks to join union in 1836, but
delayed until 1844 due to slavery controversy
Relevance of document on left and cartoon below?
1844 Election
Whigs abandon “misfit”
John Tyler and nominate
Henry Clay who
loses (again) to Democrat
James K. Polk
“Young Hickory” or
“Mr. Manifest Destiny”
Relevance of election map & cartoon?
How and Why does the US acquire Oregon & California?
"As to Texas I regard it as of very little value compared with California, the
richest, the most beautiful and the healthiest country in the world ... with the
acquisition of Upper California we should have the same ascendency on the
Pacific ...“ US Ambassador to Mexico in 1842
Relevance of above quote?
54º 40’ or Fight?
How Oregon was acquired
•
Dispute with the British dating back to
Lewis & Clark
• Disputed boundaries - Joint Occupation
(sharing of territory with England) not
working out
• American missionaries & farmers join early
fur trappers via the Oregon Trail in
1830s/40s and soon greatly outnumber
British in the area. Like in Texas, American
settlers want to join USA
• Democrat Polk (pro Manifest Destiny)
makes Oregon “reacquisition” a big issue in
1844 campaign
• English fear of total US takeover and US
need for British support in brewing conflict
with Mexico leads to peaceful settlement in
1846 Treaty - 49º line between US (modern
Oregon, Washington & Idaho) & Canada
(modern British Columbia)
How did the US get California?
• Missions abandoned by Spain after
Mexican independence in 1821
• Mexican “Alto California” sparsely
populated and many Anglos begin to move in
by 1840’s (like Texas & Oregon)
• “Pathfinder” US General John C. Fremont
conducts “scientific” expedition and
encourages Pres. Polk to offer $30 million to
Mexico for San Francisco Bay in 1845
• “Bear Flag Revolt” occurs in 1846 in Sonoma
& Mexican Gov. Vallejo & Californios
deposed by Anglos
• Meanwhile, in Texas…
A border dispute (see
map) officially triggers
President Polk
sends General
Zachary Taylor
into Mexico after
Congress declares
war
MexicanAmerican
War (1846-47)
Young Abe Lincoln &
“conscience” Whigs
who oppose “slavery
land grab”
are outvoted in
Congress…war is on
Mexican-American War
(1846-47)
Better trained and equipped
U.S. forces attack several cities
in Mexico including
Mexico City (1000 miles south
of “disputed” border) and two
year long war breaks out. US
forces victorious.
Kearney, Sloat, Stockton,
Scott, Taylor, Fremont
& Polk:
Among the American
“heroes” of the war
with Mexico …
Why are
SF streets named
after all of them??
Why are they heroes to
some and villains to
others?
End of the Mexican-American War
Treaty of Guadalupe – Hidalgo (1848)
Mexico pays US $15 million and cedes huge tracts of land to US
(See map)
Why does Mexico
agree to such a one
sided treaty?
What later problems
might treaty
cause for the US?
Sectional tension grow even before war ends (ex: failed Wilmot Proviso)
Southern Newspaper Headline – 1846
Newly acquired land from Mexico causes
slavery issue to heat up in Congress
Political divisions increase
Whig Party falls apart due to different views on slavery…
(makes things complicated for AP US History students)
And a variety on new political parties spring up in the 1850’s like the
Free Soil Party, Liberty Party, Know-Nothing Party and Republican Party
Then, the 1849 California
gold rush happens and
newly crowded California
wants to join union in 1850
Why is this a major catalyst
for the Civil War?
REVIEW Essential Question
Why does the US grow quickly between
1845 and 1853
How does the US grow quickly between
1845 and 1853
What are the consequences of this rapid
growth?