Manifest Destiny and the Mexican-American War

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Manifest Destiny and the Mexican-American War

• Mrs. Heiert
• US History

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Manifest Destiny

• Sense of mission or national destiny.
• Believed US had mission to extend boundaries of
  freedom to others by sharing idealism and
  democratic institutionsto those capable of
  self-government (not Native Americans or
  Mexicans)
• Idea God had determined America should stretch
  from East Coast to Pacific.

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Reasons behind Manifest Destiny

• Population Increase
• Economic depressions1818 and 1839
• Abundance of cheap (or free) land in West.
• Expansion offered opportunities for new commerce.
• People began moving over new trails like Santa Fe
  Trail and Oregon Trail.

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The results of Manifest Destiny.
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Indian Removal

• Jacksons Goal?
• 1830 ? Indian Removal Act
• Cherokee Nation v. GA (1831) domestic
  dependent nation
• Worcester v. GA (1832)
• Jackson John Marshall has made his
  decision, now let him enforce it!

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Jacksons Goal

• Used federal power negatively to support the
  relocation of Native Americans to Oklahoma
• He had a deep prejudice against Native Americans
  and believed that they would prevent white people
  from moving west and opening up land for cotton
  production.

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Indian Removal Act

• was passed by the administration of President
  Andrew Jackson.
• passed by 1 vote.
• President Andrew Jackson was convinced that the
  only solution to the Indian problem was the
  complete removal of all natives beyond the
  Mississippi and now he had the law with which to
  accomplish it.

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Cherokee Nation vs GA 1831

• On December 20, 1828, the state of Georgia,
  fearful that the United States would not effect
  the removal of the Cherokee Nation tribal band
  from their historic lands in Georgia, enacted a
  series of laws which stripped the Cherokee of
  their rights under the laws of the state, with
  the intention to force the Cherokee to leave the
  state.

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Worcester vs. Georgia

• Chief Justice Marshall ruled that Georgias
  action was unconstitutional and should not be
  allowed.
• BUT Jackson and Georgia IGNORED the Supreme Court

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Indian Removal
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Trail of Tears

• Van Buren ordered 20,000 Cherokees removed west.
• Rounded them up into camps
• 2000 died in camps, 2000 on 800 mile journey from
  Georgia to Indian Territory.
• The migrants faced hunger, disease, and
  exhaustion on the forced march.
• ¼ people died.
• Land they did get was inferior to land they had
  before.

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The Trail of Broken Treaties (1851-Present)

• Treaty of Fort Laramiegave Native Americans land
  payments, agreed to boundaries for Native
  American lands.
• Within years, white settlers were already
  violating.
• Only first of many broken treaties.

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Mexican-American War

• It all starts with Texas.
• At first Mexicans encourage American settlement.
• Conflicts over cultural issues, including slavery
• Americans who live there a rebellious bunchstart
  to clamor for independence.

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Key Figures in Texas Independence, 1836
Sam Houston(1793-1863)
Steven Austin(1793-1836)
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The Battle of the Alamo
General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna Recaptures
the Alamo
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Remember the Alamo!
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Texas Declaration of Independence
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The Republic of Texas
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Victory in Texas

• Santa Anna forced to sign Treaty of Velasco1836.
• Texas becomes independent.
• Americans wait ten years to annex Texasbecause
  of issue of slavery and to avoid war with Mexico.

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Other Foreign Policy Problems

• Tension with Britainmemories of previous wars,
  criticisms by Britain, creditor of US
• Conflicts over US helping Canadian rebels
  (Caroline incident)
• Aroostook War over Maine? compromise over
  boundaries.
• Conflicts over Oregon
• 49th or 54,40?
• More Americans living in territory than British
• Compromised at 49th parallel despite anger of
  expansionists.

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Tyler and the annexation of Texas

• Tyler becomes president in 1841 after Harrison
  dies 4 mos. into presidency.
• A very unpopular president, seemed more a
  Democrat than a Whig (opposed bank and tariff)
• Tyler wanted to do something before he left
  office to appease the people.
• Made sense to annex Texas, plus threats from
  Britain and France.
• When Democratic Polk wins in 1844, Tyler takes
  that as a mandate to annex Texas.
• MEXICO ANGRY!

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The Road to War

• Polk elected in 1844, many see as mandate for
  manifest destiny.
• Desire to acquire CaliforniaAmerican settlers
  already living there.
• Conflicts with Mexico over American claims and
  boundary disputes.

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The Slidell Mission Nov., 1845

• Mexican recognition of the Rio Grande River
  as the TX-US border.
• US would forgive American citizens claims
  against the Mexican govt.
• US would purchase the New Mexico area for
  5,000,000.
• US would buy California at any price.
• REFUSED!

John Slidell
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The Mexican War (1846-1848)

• 1846 Polk orders troops to march from the Nueces
  to the Rio Grande.
• Provoked Mexican Army into firing first
• Declaration of war despite those who asked for
  spot resolutions (Lincoln)

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Divisions over War

• Southerners want warwill expand slavery
• Northerners oppose it for exact same reason
• --Anti-slavery groups take the lead

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The Bear Flag Republic
The Revolt ? June 14, 1845
John C. Frémont
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The Bombardment of Vera Cruz
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General Scott Enters Mexico City
US victorySeptember 1847
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Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo, 1848
Nicholas Trist,American Negotiator
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Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo, 1848
The Treaty was basically forced on Mexico!

• Mexico gave up claims to Texas above the Rio
  Grande River.
• Mexico gave the U. S. California and New Mexico.
• U. S. gave Mexico 15,000,000 and agreed to pay
  the claims of American citizens against
  Mexico (over 3,500,000).
• MEXICO LOST HALF OF ITS TERRITORY IN ALL!

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Legacies of Mexican-American War

• Small warnot many lives lost
• Gained a ton of land (increased size of US by
  1/3)
• Prepared military and soldiers for Civil War
• Led to Mexican resentment
• Rearoused issue of slavery which would lead to
  Civil War
• WILMOT PROVISO

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Wilmot Proviso

• one of the major events leading to the Civil War,
  would have banned slavery in any territory to be
  acquired from Mexico in the Mexican War or in the
  future, including the area later known as the
  Mexican Cession,