Transcript Part 2

Chapter 17
p. 378 - 383
A Mandate (?) for Manifest Destiny
• In 1844, the two major candidates for the presidency were Henry
Clay, the popular Whig and consistent loser of presidential
elections, and James K. Polk, the Democratic dark horse who’d
been chosen as a compromise.
• Polk was a former Speaker of the House (like Clay) and Governor
of Tennessee. Nicknamed “Young Hickory”, Polk was endorsed
by former president Andrew Jackson.
Left: Henry Clay (1777-1852)
Right: James K. Polk (1795-1849)
• The Democratic platform
advocated “Manifest Destiny”, a
concept that stated that the
United States was destined to
expand across the North
American continent.
Vote Polk-Dallas in ’44!
On the issue of Texas, Clay
tried to say two things at
once. It cost him. He lost
the election by 5000 votes in
New York.
Before red and blue states.
Polk the Purposeful
• As president, Polk laid out a four-point mission for himself and
the nation. He would achieve all four points in his one term.
– Lower the tariff
– Restore the independent treasury
– Clear up the Oregon border issue
– Obtain California
• Polk’s secretary of the treasury, Robert J. Walker, lowered the
tariff from 32% to 25% despite complaints by industrialists. The
new tariff was followed by good times.
• Polk restored the independent treasury in 1846.
Robert J. Walker
(1801-1869)
• Under Polk, the Oregon border issue was resolved.
• During the campaign of 1844, the Democrats had supported
acquiring all of Oregon. Following the annexation of Texas, the
Southern Democrats stopped caring.
• The U.S. and England had been in a dispute concerning the northern
boundary of Oregon. England’s first claim was 42 degrees latitude,
then they claimed the Columbia River. The U.S. first answered 54
degree 40’ latitude, then said 49 degrees latitude.
• England realized that there
were many more
Americans than Brits in
Oregon.
Back when England had
international leverage.
• The British proposed a treaty that would separate
British and American claims at the 49th parallel,
excluding Vancouver. Polk threw it to the Senate,
where it was promptly accepted.
• The United States got the better end of the deal for
two reasons:
– The British second-choice was rejected while the
American second-choice was accepted
– As with the Webster-Ashburton Treaty, the U.S. got
more land than the British.
• Those upset by the deal cried: “Why all of Texas but
not all of Oregon?” The truth was that Mexico was
weak and England was strong.
Without Oregon, there’d
be no Nike shoes!
Misunderstandings with Mexico
• Polk wanted California, but this was difficult due to strained U.S.Mexican relations.
– After the annexation of Texas, Mexico recalled its foreign minister, and
before, it had been forced to default on its payments of $3 million to the U.S.
– Also, when Texas claimed it southern boundary to be the Rio Grande, not
the Nueces River, Polk felt that he had to defend Texas and did so.
• In his quest for California, President
Polk first advocated buying the area from
Mexico.
• Polk sent John Slidell to Mexico City as an
envoy to buy California for $25 million,
but once there, the Mexican government
completely snubbed him.
John Slidell
(1793-1871)
American Blood
on American (?) Soil
• President Polk forced a
showdown, and on January 13,
1846, he ordered 4,000 men
under future president Zachary
Taylor to march from the Nueces
to the Rio Grande, provocatively
near Mexican troops.
I wonder what ‘Nueces’
means…
Old Rough and Ready
(1784-1850)
• On April 25, 1846, news of
Mexican troops crossing the
Rio Grande and killing 16
Americans reached
Washington. President Polk
pushed for war, claiming that,
“American blood had been shed
on American soil!”
• A pressured Congress eventually
declared war.
• A group of skeptical politicians
wanted to know the exact
location of the fighting that had
led to committing to war.
Among them was a first-term
congressman from Illinois who
drew up a “Spot Resolution” that
demanded to be revealed the
exact spot upon which American
blood had been spilt.
The congressman in question?
Why that “Spotty” Lincoln,
himself!
The Mastering of Mexico
• When the war with Mexico began, President Polk
hoped to fight a limited war, ending with the conquest
of California.
• The recently dethroned Santa Anna told the U.S. that
if he could be returned to Mexico, he would take over
the government, end the war, and give California to
the U.S. He proved untrustworthy.
Stephen Kearny (1794-1848)
• In the Southwest, U.S. operations led by Stephen W.
Kearny (who led 1,700 troops from Leavenworth to
Santa Fe) and John C. Fremont (leader of the Bear
Flag Revolt in California) were successful.
Later on, Fremont (1813-1890) would become the first
Republican to run in a presidential election.
• Zachary Taylor earned
fame by repelling 20,000
Mexican troops at Buena
Vista with only 5,000
men.
• General Winfield Scott
would go on to lead
American troops into
Mexico City.
Gen. Winfield Scott “Old Fuss and
Feathers) (1786-1866)
Scott’s Entry into Mexico City