Lecture 28 + 29 - Texas and Westward Shift

Question 1

Election 1840.

Answer 1

• Martin Van Buren vs. William Henry Harrison.
• Buren was basically picked as successor by Jackson.
• Buren lost popularity when he won the election of 1836, because the Panic of 1837 was largely blamed on him although it was probably the fault of Andrew Jackson.
• Harrison was a Whig; “Tippercanoe and Tyler too” was their campaign slogan bc. Harrison was the war hero of the Battle of Tippercanoe and John Tyler was his running mate.
• That popularity of Tippercanoe led Harrison to win by a landslide.

Question 2

Mexican Colonization Law: when, why, what?

Answer 2

• 1824.
• Passed by Mexican gov’t because 20 years after Mexico received independence and attained control of Texas, that is, in the 1820s, illegal immigration to Mexico from the US was an issue, with approx. 3000 illegals, most of whom were in Texas.
• The law allowed illegals to become Mexican citizens, encouraged in fact, with the purpose to colonize Texas, solidifying Mexico’s claim to independence.

Question 3

How did the Mexican gov’t encourage illegal immigration? What were the immigrants and their native Mexican counterparts called?

Answer 3

• With the Mexican Colonization Law, illegal immigrants would get a “league and labor,” or a “league” of 4500 acres for livestock and the “labor” of 177 acres for growing, IF…
• The immigrants agreed to obey Mexican laws, they would receive this for free.
• Immigrants from US called themselves Texans. Mexicans already there were Tejanos.

Question 4

What frictions did the Mexican Colonization Law result in?

Answer 4

• Friction between Texans and Mexican gov’t; Texans want slaves to grow cotton, Mexico outlawed slavery. Texans brought slaves with them anyways, violating Mexican law and therefore also their part in the agreement.
• Friction between Tejanos and the Mexican gov’t because Tejanos want more protection.

Question 5

Stephen F. Austin.

Answer 5

• Facilitated migration from US to Mexico and in exchange he received more land from the Mexican gov’t.
• His title was “Empresario.”

Question 6

What was the context of the War for Texas Independence?

Answer 6

• By 1835, 35000 Americans illegally fled to Mexico (in Texas). These Texans never assimilated, and ended up allying with the Tejanos, both groups being unhappy with the Mexican gov’t.
• President of Mexico was Antonio Hopez de Santa Anna, whose goal in the conflict was to limit the power of states in Mexico; he led Mexican forces against the Texans and Tejanos.

Question 7

Battle of the Alamo.

Answer 7

• No strategic importance in the war.
• Alamo was a tiny fort, housed by 187 Texans, including Jim Bowie and Davy Crocket.
• Was attacked by 4000 Mexicans.
• Everyone died. Texans lost.
• Was only glorified afterwards.

Question 8

Battle of Goliad.

Answer 8

• 5000 Texans were taken prisoner and killed.

* Battlecry for Texans and Tejanos later on.

Question 9

Battle of San Jacinto

Answer 9

• Final battle of the war.
• Santa Anna was captured and forced to sign a recognition of the Lone Star Republic.
• Tensions remained after the war bc. Mexico refuses to recognize that signatory bc. Santa Anna signed while taken hostage.
• In the battle, Mexican forces were absolutely slaughtered.

Question 10

Why was there a westward population shift in the US?

Answer 10

• Bc. pop. exploded and land was getting scarce.
• Areas began to be densely populated, even west of the Mississippi River.
• From 1815 to 1850, lots of new states and territories arose.

Question 11

Explain dispute over the Texas border and how that related to the US.

Answer 11

• Texas says their border with Mexico is at the Rio Grande. Mexico says it’s further North at Nueces River.
• Officially independent in 1836, Texas wanted to be in the US as a slave state, but US didn’t consider it bc. of all the disputed land; US didn’t want war with Mexico.

Question 12

Manifest Destiny.

Answer 12

• Term coined by John L. O’Sullivan.
• Asserted that it’s the US’ obvious destiny to expand from the East Coast to the West Coast.
• American culture has to be spread. Says it’s a god given right to expand West bc. religion, solving land scarcity, and defense. Also claim fabrication.
• Dems support it. Whigs were generally sort of against it.

Question 13

Election of 1844.

Answer 13

• Dem candidate was James K. Polk. Campaigned on Manifest Destiny; promised to add Oregon, Texas, California, and then resign after a single term.
• Whig candidate was Henry Clay.
• Polk won.
• Before taking office, Congress annexed Texas, so Polk focused his attention on the Oregon Territory (present Washington + Oregon); split between Brit and US claims.
• Polk said “54.50 or fight” regarding what the border for Oregon was going to be; if that wasn’t the border, he said he’d go to war with Britain, which didn’t happen.

Question 14

Oregon Treaty.

Answer 14

• Compromise on Polk’s campaign promise.
• Set the border between US and Britain for the Oregon territory at the 49th parallel, where present day Washington and Oregon are.