Chapter 17 Flashcards
(29 cards)
John Tyler
Became President after William Henry Harrison died. He was a mix of paties and no one really liked him. He was called “Tyler Too”. At heart he was a democrat because it is said that his view contradicted with the Whig party. He was the president who signed the papers to annex Texas and Polk just followed through with the annexation.
Joint resolution
the contract upon which Tyler made congress vote for the annexation of Texas where only a majority of the votes are needed, not a ⅔ majority.
Lord Ashburton
Was sent to America to negotiate with Daniel Webster. Both men compromised to create Webster-Ashton treaty which gave England the Halifax-Quebec route for a road and America received some more land too in Maine and they received the Mesabi iron and steel boom area in Minnesota.
Zachary Taylor
General sent by Polk to march from the Nueces River to Rio Grande River with army of 4,000 men.
Manifest Destiny
The belief many people had that God is telling them to move West and settle America on the entire stretch of North America from Atlantic to Pacific. There was a lot of land greed and the two words, “Empire” and “liberty” were conjoined. Mainly expansionist democrats believed in this.
Tariff of 1842
Finally signed by Tyler because the country was in need for additional revenue. Before that, Tyler did not sign the “Fiscal Cooperation” or “Fiscal Bank” bill because he did not believe more money was needed when a federal treasury is not overflowing.
Carolina
American steamer ship that was attacked in the North and lit on fire by the British. This was a violation of neutrality.
Liberty Party
Small antislavery party who took up about 16% of votes in the election of 1844, ultimately electing James K. Polk as president instead of Henry Clay.
Aroostook War
Was he clash over Maine/Canada boundary where England wanted to have a road connecting Halifax to Quebec. The U.S reluctantly agreed to that and after this war, they won more land and England got their road. The U.S. obtained the Mesabi Iron Ore which would greatly help in the steel and iron booms in future years.
Walker Tariff
It reduced the average rates of the Tariff of 1842 by 25%-32%. This produced good revenue. The North cried that U.S. manufacturing will be ruined as a result of the Walker Tariff and there will be economic despair.
“50, 40 or Fight!”
the boundary at which people wanted to take Oregon territory. Americans did not want the territory to be divided by the 49th parallel, but Polk agreed to this anyway. The “50, 40 or Fight!” was the basis of Polk’s campaign.
Creole
the 130 slaves that captured the Creole ship and Britain gave asylum to all. This scared the South because they realized England may team up with North to end slavery
Polk’s Mision
1) Lower Tariff
2) Restore independent treasury (put more money in U.S. non government banks)
3) clear up Oregon Boundary issue
4) Take over California
Polk’s Reasons to Declare War with Mexico
with Mexico 1) Unpaid Claims 2) Slidell’s rejection.
John Slidell
was told by Polk to go to Mexico City as a minister in order to attempt to buy California from the country for $25 million. He was rejected.
Winfield Scott
General who was sent to Mexico City and by conquering this land, he ultimately allowed the U.S. to win the Mexican American War.
Nichola P. Trist
Chief clerk of state department, negotiated and signed the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
David Wilmot
Created the Wilmot Provision which attempted to outlaw slavery in all conquered territories. This passed in the House, but since Senate was an equal number of northern and Southern representative, it failed in the Senate.
Robert Gray
Explored the coast of the Columbia River and Oregon territory, giving the U.S. an advantage with familiarization of the land.
John C. Frémont
He appeared in California at the same time as Winfield Scott and they defeated California rule. He began to call California the Bear Flag Republic.
Fiscal Bank
the bank proposed to Tyler in order to have a new national bank, but Tyler opposed because he believed that the federal treasury was not overflowing and there was no need for a federal bank to support that.
“Spot Resolution”
Abraham Lincoln wanted to know the exact spot where the first shed of American blood was, on the Mexican side or American side. He refused to agree to the mexican American War until he knew the answer.
Bear Flag Revolution
The revolt of California settlers against the Mexican rule. This ignited the Mexican American War and ultimately turned California into a state.
Hudson’s Bay Company
Founded in 1670 in London by a group of British Merchants eager to exploit the resources of Northern Canada.
