chapters 17-19 Flashcards
(53 cards)
John Tyler
Vetoed an effort by the Whigs to start another Bank of the U.S., grudgingly signed the Tariff of 1842 (after facing impeachment threats for vetoing such bills), was burned in effigy & received death threats, was kicked out of the Whig party & lost all his cabinet members (except Sec. of State Daniel Webster)
Caroline raid
The Caroline was bringing supplies across the Niagara River to Americans during a small-scale border conflict with the British in 1837. The British set fire to the ship on the NY shore (1 man died)
Creole incident
British officials in the Bahamas offered asylum to 130 rebelling VA enslaved people who had captured the American ship Creole. Southerners worried that the British W. Indies (where slavery was illegal) would become a haven for runaways
Aroostook War & Webster-Ashburton Treaty
Aroostook War: angry fights between lumberjacks flared up, & both sides summoned troops.
Webster-Ashburton Treaty: Lord Ashburton met Sec. of State Webster & agreed to split the land roughly in half. The Brits also surrendered land in modern-day Minnesota
Oregon Trail & joint occupation of Oregon
Many pioneers traveled the 2,000-mi. Oregon Trail, causing the American population to grow rapidly
James Polk
(54, 40’ or Fight!”), Manifest Destiny President. He had been Speaker of the House & Governor of TN. He was determined, industrious, & intelligent. The spirit of Manifest Destiny fueled Polk’s campaign
Manifest Destiny
It was seen as Americans’ God-given right to expand across the continent
Polk’s 4-point program
- Lower the tariff (achieved w/ Walker Tariff)
- Reintroduce the independent treasury
- Acquire CA
- Settle the Oregon dispute
Texas annexation
Tyler pushed for annexation by joint resolution (simple majority in both houses) b/c he didn’t think he could get a ⅔ approval in the Senate for a treaty. TX was annexed in 1845
confusion over boundary with Mexico
Texans insisted that the boundary was the Rio Grande, not the Nueces River (as the Mexicans believed)
“spot resolutions”
Lincoln’s speech that asked Polk & the Democrats to point out exactly the “spot” where American blood has been shed. He argued that American blood had not been shed on “American soil”
Democrats vs. “Conscience Whigs”
Santa Anna
Double-crossed the Americans by convincing Pres. Polk to let him slip through the American blockade from Cuba to Mexico, then used a $10,000 bribe from the Americans (“to arrange peace”) to bolster Mexican defenses instead
Californios
Mostly Spanish-speaking, Catholic descendants of the original Spanish colonizers
Bear Flag Republic
Americans in CA revolted against the Californions & formed the short-lived “Bear Flag Republic”
General Zachary Taylor
Dominated the Mexican army w/ General Winfield Scott
General Winfield Scott
Dominated the Mexican army w/ General Zachary Taylor
Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
Diplomat Nicholas Trist & Gen. Winfield Scott arranged an armistice with Gen. Santa Anna. The terms: U.S. title to TX confirmed, about ½ of Mexico’s territory (including TX) was signed over to the Americans, & the U.S. paid $15 million + $3.25 million in land claims
Gadsden Purchase
U.S. paid $10 million to Mexico for a small strip of land (now southern AZ & NM). this was ideal land for a transcontinental railroad
Clayton-Bulwer Treaty
Stated that neither G.B. nor the U.S. would fortify or seek exclusive control in isthmus waters
filibustering/freebooting
an attempt to obstruct a particular decision from being taken
Ostend Manifesto
A top-secret plan to allocate $120 million for the purchase of Cuba
Treaty of Wanghia
Focused on trading rights (Tea & luxury products became more readily available for American traders, many Maine sea captains participated in trade with China, which peaked after the Civil War)
Treaty of Kanagawa
Provided proper treatment of shipwrecked sailors, set up coaling rights (to refuel vessels), & established consular relations (keep American diplomat there)
