Manifest Destiny and War

Matt López With six slides from Susan Pojer

First coined by newspaper editor, John O’Sullivan in 1845.

".... 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 federaltive 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."

Missouri Compromise

Missouri Compromise Tried to keep a balance

between the number of slave and free states.

Why?

JOHN GAST' - "AMERICAN PROGRESS," (1872)

Maine Boundary Settlement, 1842Maine Boundary Settlement, 1842

Trails WestwardTrails Westward

The Oregon Trail – Albert Bierstadt, 1869

The Oregon Trail – Albert Bierstadt, 1869

The Donner PartyThe Donner Party

April, 1846 – April, 1847

April, 1846 – April, 1847

Clip http://www.history.com/shows/america-the-story-of-us/videos/playlists/exclusive-video#the-donner-party

The Bear Flag RepublicThe Bear Flag Republic•1845 John C. Frémont US mapmaker goes to CA, causes trouble, leaves for Oregon

•1845 John C. Frémont US mapmaker goes to CA, causes trouble, leaves for Oregon

•1846 Group arrests Gov Vallejo, proclaims the “Bear Flag Republic”

• Later US takes over

•1846 Group arrests Gov Vallejo, proclaims the “Bear Flag Republic”

• Later US takes over

U.S. Mexican War

The Republic of Texas

Texas and Mexico argued over the border since 1836

Mexico – “It’s the Nueces River”

Texas – “It’s the Rio Grande”

1845 Texas decides to join

the U.S. as a _______ state

This angers abolitionists and pleases supporters of slavery

slave

President Polk sent John Slidell to settle the border issue and try to purchase New Mexico for $5 million and California for any price ($15m)

Mexico kicked him out

Polk orders General Zachary Taylor to move to the northern shore of the Rio Grande with troops

Mexico sends its own troops and crosses the Rio Grande. Battle soon begins.

Opposition to Mexican War Henry Clay and Daniel Webster

criticized the war as a cover for stealing land and unnecessary and offensive aggression.

Opposition to Mexican War

Representative Abraham Lincoln asked Polk to prove that the disputed territory actually belonged to the United States.

He also voted in favor of a resolution that declared the war with Mexico “was unnecessarily and unconstitutionally commenced by the President.”

http://lincoln.lib.niu.edu/teachers/lesson6-background.html

Opposition to Mexican War

Thoreau – CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE refused to pay income taxes which might be used to fund the war

Abolitionists – afraid new territory would become slave territory and upset the balance of slave / free states

Wilmot Proviso, 1846Wilmot Proviso, 1846

Congr. David Wilmot(D-PA)

Congr. David Wilmot(D-PA)

Provided, territory from that, as an express and fundamental condition to the acquisition of any the Republic of Mexico by the United States, by virtue of any treaty which may be negotiated between them, and to the use by the Executive of the moneys herein appropriated, neither slavery nor

involuntary servitude shall ever exist in any part of said territory, except for crime, whereof the party shall first be duly convicted.

End of the War 1847 - Americans conquered Mexico City

http://www.dmwv.org/mexwar/images/prints/scott3.jpg

“General Scott’s entrance into Mexico City”

Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo – Mexican Cession 1848

Ends the War U.S. “Purchases”

New Mexico and California for $15 m

TX border Rio Grande

U.S. promises to recognize land rights of Mexican now living in U.S.

Effects of War

1 million new acres of land (including TX) US almost thirty percent larger Mexico loses 1/3 of land Slavery becomes an issue…

…again

Gadsden Purchase

We bought land from Mexico for $10 million

Southern portion of AZ & NMSet continental boundaries for US