Manifest Destiny
Maine
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Texas
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1841- The British attempted to build a road from Halifax to Quebec, in eastern Canada
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The route ran through part of Maine given to the US in the Treaty of 1783
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Maine and Canadian lumberjacks entered the Aroostook River Valley
Fights ensued, and local militias were raised – the Aroostook War
1842 – The British sent a diplomat to the US to settle relations with the US
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Lord Ashburton and Daniel Webster were able to create a compromise
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They established the current Maine border by cutting Aroostook roughly in half
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The British got less territory, but were able to complete the Quebec-Halifax Road
The “Lone Star Republic”
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Not yet absorbed by the US, considered an outlaw territory by Mexico, subject to recapture
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Maintained a costly defensive military, and lived in fear of an eventual attack by Mexico
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Negotiated treaties with France, Holland and Belgium
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Britain favored an independent Texas, as it would choke off the growing American nation
They might also be able to use this to weaken America
Britain merchants viewed independent Texas as a potential free-trade market, avoiding American tariffs
British manufacturers saw potential purchase of cheap east Texas cotton
British abolitionists worked in Texas, hoping to inflame slave rebellions in the neighboring US
Annexation
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A major issue in the 1844 election
Polk, who favored annexation, won the election
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John Tyler took this as a mandate (approval) to annex Texas
An independent Texas threatened to involve the US in foreign wars
o A result of constant British interference
Knew he would not get 2/3 approval in the senate
Arranged for a joint resolution
o Would only require a majority vote of Senate/House
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In 1845, the United States formally invited Texas to join the US
Mexico was angered at this, but in reality, had no shot at reclaiming Texas
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Texas accepted, and was granted statehood in 1845
Oregon
o Oregon Territory – huge territory stretching up to the southern tip of Alaska
o At various points, claimed by the US, Britain, Spain, and Russia
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Spain gave up their claim in the Adams-Onis Treaty
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Russia retreated above 54°40’ in treaties of 1824, 1825
o British had a legitimate claim (above the Columbia River
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First to discover, explore, and settle the region and they had treaty rights
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The Hudson Bay Company traded regularly with American Indians of the Pacific Coast
o Americans had legitimate claims as well
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Discovery of the Columbia River in 1792
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Lewis and Clark expedition
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Settlement of settlers and missionaries in the Willamette River Valley
o In the Treaty of 1818, establishing the northern US boundary in the Midwest, the line stopped at the Columbia River
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A policy was made for joint occupation
o In the early 1840’s, “Oregon Fever” struck the US, and thousands of pioneers set out for Oregon
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By the mid 1840’s, 5,000 settlers had settled below the Columbia river, but only 700 British above it
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Many of the American settlers were “border ruffians”, who were expert with weapons
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Fearing being overrun, the British wanted to establish a border
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The British repeatedly proposed the Columbia River
th
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The Americans repeatedly proposed the 49 parallel
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In the 1844 election, Democrats had proposed annexation up to 54°40’ – “All of Oregon or None”
o British views began to soften
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“Little Englanders” opposed further British expansion
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o
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The British government decided the Columbia River was not the “St. Lawrence of the west”
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The Hudson Bay Company had also already “furred out” most of the area
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They feared that the territory would one day be overrun by Americans, anyway, with little way to stop it
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In 1846 the British proposed using the 49 parallel
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Polk passed the decision along to the Senate
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Some called for “Every foot or not an inch” and “Fifty-four forty forever”
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The measure passed quickly
May have been influence by the fact that the US was by then at war with Mexico
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Northwestern states, Oregon settlers, and anti-slavery forces were upset
They felt betrayed by southern forces
They had supported the annexation of all of Texas, and ended up at war because of it
Why not insist on all of Oregon?
Polk, however, was happy
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Established a structured border, and avoided war with the powerful British