Maine
Jan 18, 2016
Maine
Territorial Expansion by Mid-19th CenturyCanadaCanada•In 1839, fighting broke out between Maine & Canada over the disputed Maine border
•Webster-Ashburton Webster-Ashburton TreatyTreaty (1842) settled the issue:
•The U.S. received ½ the disputed land
•Established a clear border in Maine
War With Mexico
Tyler and TexasIn 1844, President Tyler called for
the annexation of Texas:–Tyler & Calhoun created a
propaganda campaign that England wanted Texas & would end to slavery there
–Northern Senators did not fall for it & refused to ratify the treaty to annex Texas
–Tyler was not nominated by either party in the 1844 election
Tyler needed to make Texas a campaign issue in the election of 1844 because he
had been kicked out of the Whig Party & hoped to appeal to the common man
Polk & Texas AnnexationIn 1844, the Whigs nominated
Henry Clay & the Democrats nominated James Polk
Polk won on expansionist platform– Called for Texas annexation – Called for an end to the joint
U.S.-British control of Oregon Polk & Congress interpreted the
election as mandate for expansion & Texas was quickly made a state
Appealed to the North
Appealed to the South
“Dark Horse” candidate
Oregon
Territorial Expansion by Mid-19th CenturyOregonOregon• U.S. & Britain
jointly occupied Oregon (Spain relinquished its claims to Oregon in the Adams-Onis Treaty of 1819)
• Britain claimed a greater stake of Oregon via Hudson Bay Co. (fur trade)
Polk and the Oregon QuestionIn 1846, President Polk notified
Britain that the U.S. wanted full control of Oregon
England proposed & the Senate approved the division of Oregon along 49o parallel in 1846
BenefitsBenefits: the U.S. gained its 1st deep-water port in the Pacific & Northern abolitionists saw Oregon as a balance to slave-state Texas
Oregon residents wanted the entire territory—“54º40’ or fight!”
Northwest Boundary Dispute
54’ 40º or Fight!
England & the U.S. agreed to
divide Oregon at
the 49o parallel
Mexican-American WarMexico recognized Texas’
independence & U.S. annexation, but disagreed over Texas’ northern border
In May 1846, Polk sent U.S. General Zachary Taylor beyond the Rio Grande River which led to the Mexican-American War
The Mexican-American WarZachary Taylor won in
northern Mexico
John C Fremont won in California
Stephen Kearney captured New Mexico
Winfield Scott captured Mexico City
Settling the Mexican-American WarIn 1848, U.S. & Mexico agreed to
the Treaty of Guadalupe HidalgoTreaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo:–Rio Grande became the U.S.
southern border–The U.S. grew 20% by adding
the Mexican CessionMexican Cession—present-day NM, AZ, CA, Utah, NV, & parts of CO & WY
–Added territory in NM & AZ with the Gadsden PurchaseGadsden Purchase in 1853
The Mexican CessionThe Mexican Cession
Not everyone supported the Mexican-American War
Whigs opposed it
Northerners saw it as a Southern
“slave-power” plot to extend slavery
Wilmot Proviso The 1846 Wilmot Proviso was a bold attempt by
opponents of slavery to prevent its introduction in the territories purchased from Mexico following the Mexican War. Named after its sponsor, Democratic representative DAVID WILMOT of Pennsylvania, the proviso never passed both houses of Congress, but it did ignite an intense national debate over slavery that led to the creation of the antislavery REPUBLICAN PARTY in 1854.
California
Territorial Expansion by Mid-19th CenturyCalifornia
•In 1833, the new Mexican gov’t awarded land grants to rancherosrancheros who quickly replaced the missionary padres
•In 1830s, the U.S. was eager to enter the cowhide trade
California settlers used John Fremont’s occupation of California during the Mexican-American War as an opportunity to revolt from Mexico in 1846
The Bear Flag RepublicLike Texas, California operated as an
independent nation; the California Republic existed for one month from June 1846 to July 1846 when it was
annexed by the United States
California became a U.S. state as part of the Compromise of 1850
The California Gold RushThe discovery of gold in 1848 led
to a massive influx of prospectors in 1849 (the “forty-niners”) :
–Few miners struck it rich; Real money was in supplying miners with food, booze, & provisions
–Led to a population boom, agriculture, & multicultural society in California
Where the 49ers Came From80%
13%7%
UnitedStates
Europe &Asia
LatinAmerica
San Francisco before the gold rush
San Francisco after the gold rush
ConclusionsConclusions: The Costs of Expansion
U.S. Territorial Expansion
The Costs of ExpansionThe impact of territorial expansion:
–Historian Fredrick Jackson Turner noted in the 1890s that expansion shaped Americans into an adventurous, optimistic, & democratic people
–But, expansion created sectional conflicts between the North & South, especially over slavery