Second Party System [1828–1854] IV Flashcards
(46 cards)
Review - Timeline: A Nation on the Move - Westward Expansion, 1800-1860
1803 - Thomas Jefferson brokers ‘Louisiana Purchase’. 1805 - Lewis and Clark’s expedition reaches the Pacific Ocean. 1819 - U.S. acquires Florida under the Adams-Onis Treaty. 1820 - Missouri Compromise divides Louisiana Purchase into “slave” and “free” states. 1845 - United States annexes Texas. 1846 - U.S. declares war on Mexico; Great Britain cedes Oregon territory to U.S. 1848 - Mexican Cession adds vast new territory to U.S. 1849 - California Gold Rush begins. 1850 - Henry Clay brokers ‘Compromise of 1850’.
*The Westward Spirit*
While a few bold settlers had moved westward before the middle of the nineteenth century, they were the exception, not the rule. The “great American desert,” as it was called, was considered a vast and empty place, unfit for civilized people. In the 1840s, however, this idea started to change, as potential settlers began to learn more from promoters and land developers of the economic opportunities that awaited them in the West, and Americans extolled the belief that it was their Manifest Destiny—their divine right—to explore and settle the western territories in the name of the United States.
*The Westward Spirit* - Demographics
Most settlers in this first wave were white Americans of means. Whether they sought riches in gold, cattle, or farming, or believed it their duty to spread Protestant ideals to native inhabitants, they headed west in wagon trains along paths, such as the Oregon Trail. European immigrants, particularly those from Northern Europe, also made the trip, settling in close-knit ethnic enclaves out of comfort, necessity, and familiarity. African Americans escaping the racism of the South also went west. In all, the newly settled areas were neither a fast track to riches, nor a simple expansion into an empty land, but rather a clash of cultures, races, and traditions that defined the emerging new America.
Westward Expansion - Continentalism
Continentalism refers to the agreements or policies that favor the regionalization and/or cooperation between nations within a continent. The term is used more often in the European and North American contexts, but the concept has been applied to other continents including Africa, Asia, and South America. Historically, continentalism in the US later became largely associated with the ideology of Manifest Destiny, which included Spanish territories (now Latin America), the western U.S., as well as Canada. Due to this, continentalism grew so much in the United States that it transformed into nationalism. Most of the inhabitants of this country, if not all, call themselves “Americans” as a demonym (a proper noun used to denote the natives or inhabitants of a particular country, state, city, etc.), and say America to refer to the country instead of the continents of North and South America.
Westward Expansion - ‘Rush–Bagot Treaty’ of 1818
The ‘Rush–Bagot Treaty’ or ‘Rush–Bagot Disarmament’ was a treaty between the United States and the United Kingdom during the Monroe presidency limiting naval armaments on the Great Lakes and Lake Champlain, following the War of 1812. It was ratified by the United States Senate on April 16, 1818, and was confirmed by Canada, following Confederation in 1867. This was done in conjunction with the ‘Treaty of 1818’ that reached a joint occupancy agreement in what is today Oregon; thousands of settlers crossed overland to the new territory.
Westward Expansion - Manifest Destiny
Manifest Destiny was the idea that white Americans were divinely ordained to settle the entire continent of North America. It inspired a variety of measures designed to remove or destroy the native population.
Westward Expansion - Journalist who coined the phrase Manifest Destiny
In the year 1845, a journalist named John O’Sullivan coined the phrase Manifest Destiny.
Westward Expansion - Reasons for Territorial Expansion in regards to Manifest Destiny (1820-1850)
- God-given purpose (or destiny) - National defense. - Economic reasons and secure ports to Asia on the West Coast. - Influence of slavery into new places. - Baby boom plus dramatic increases in immigration more than quadrupled the population between the turn of the century and 1850, and all those people needed somewhere to go. - Economic downturns occurred in both 1818 and 1839. - And new technology, such as steam power and the telegraph, made the prospect of moving westward a little less intimidating.
Westward Expansion - Executive Expansionists
President James Monroe (1817-1825) worked to achieve continentalism, securing America’s border with Britain/Canada at the Rocky Mountains (49th parallel), with the ‘Treaty of 1818’, and with Spain/Mexico at the Pacific Ocean (42nd Parallel), with the ‘Adams–Onís Treaty’ completed in 1819. He established the ‘Rush-Bagot Treaty’ in 1818 which disarmed the Great Lakes with Britain, he purchased Florida from Spain (‘Adams–Onís Treaty’), and he wrote the Monroe Doctrine. President John Quincy Adams (1825-1829), also a member of the Democratic-Republican Party, went beyond the idea of mere expansion. His goal was called continentalism because he intended that the United States would not just occupy the lands void of European settlers, but encompass all of North America. See also: President James Polk (1845-1849).
Westward Expansion - Monroe Doctrine
The Monroe Doctrine was a United States policy of opposing European colonialism in the Americas beginning in 1823. It stated that further efforts by European nations to take control of any independent state in North or South America would be viewed as “the manifestation of an unfriendly disposition toward the United States.” At the same time, the doctrine noted that the U.S. would recognize and not interfere with existing European colonies, nor meddle in the internal concerns of European countries. The Doctrine was issued on December 2, 1823 at a time when nearly all Latin American colonies of Spain and Portugal had achieved, or were at the point of gaining, independence from the Portuguese and Spanish Empires.
*Homesteading: Dreams and Realities*
The concept of Manifest Destiny and the strong incentives to relocate sent hundreds of thousands of people west across the Mississippi. The rigors of this new way of life presented many challenges and difficulties to homesteaders. The land was dry and barren, and homesteaders lost crops to hail, droughts, insect swarms, and more. There were few materials with which to build, and early homes were made of mud, which did not stand up to the elements. Money was a constant concern, as the cost of railroad freight was exorbitant, and banks were unforgiving of bad harvests. For women, life was difficult in the extreme. Farm wives worked at least eleven hours per day on chores and had limited access to doctors or midwives. Still, they were more independent than their eastern counterparts and worked in partnership with their husbands. As the railroad expanded and better farm equipment became available, by the 1870s, large farms began to succeed through economies of scale. Small farms still struggled to stay afloat, however, leading to a rising discontent among the farmers, who worked so hard for so little success.
*The Loss of American Indian Life and Culture*
The interaction of the American Indians with white settlers during the western expansion movement was a painful and difficult one. For settlers raised on the notion of Manifest Destiny and empty lands, the Indians added a terrifying element to what was already a difficult and dangerous new world. For the Indians, the arrival of the settlers meant nothing less than the end of their way of life. Rather than cultural exchange, contact led to the virtual destruction of Indian life and culture. While violent acts broke out on both sides, the greatest atrocities were perpetrated by whites, who had superior weapons and often superior numbers, as well as the support of the U.S. government. The death of the Indian way of life happened as much at the hands of well-intentioned reformers as those who wished to see the Indians exterminated. Individual land ownership, boarding schools, and pleas to renounce Indian gods and culture were all elements of the reformers’ efforts. With so much of their life stripped away, it was ever more difficult for the Indians to maintain their tribal integrity.
Westward Expansion - Manifest Destiny from 1820 to 1860 (1820 to 1840)
1825 - Erie Canal opens in the NE allowing booming industrial towns, like NYC, a much easier way to get their goods to the West. 1830 - With the Indian Removal Act of 1830 the U.S. Congress forcibly moved all Native Americans living in the Southeast to west of the Mississippi River. 1838 - With the 1838 Trail of Tears the U.S. government forced the Cherokee nation to relocate from the East Coast to Oklahoma. 1840 - Hundreds of thousands of settlers bagin to take the dangerous Oregon Trail route in search of new life in the West.
Westward Expansion - Oregon Trail
The Oregon Trail, starting around 1840, is a 2,170-mile (3,490 km) historic East–West, large-wheeled wagon route and emigrant trail in the United States that connected the Missouri River to valleys in Oregon. The eastern part of the Oregon Trail spanned part of the future state of Kansas, and nearly all of what are now the states of Nebraska and Wyoming. The western half of the trail spanned most of the future states of Idaho and Oregon.
Westward Expansion - Manifest Destiny from 1820 to 1860 (1840 to 1860)
1845 - Texas becomes a state on Dec. 29th. 1846 - With the’ Oregon Treaty of 1846’ the U.S. gained the Oregon Territory from England. 1846-1848 - Mexican-American War and the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo gave the U.S. not only Texas, but the massive area that would become parts of Nevada, Utah, New Mexico, Arizona, and California. 1848 - Gold discovered at Sutter’s Mill setting off the California Gold Rush. 1860–1861 - The Pony Express was a mail service delivering messages, newspapers, and mail.
Westward Expansion - Oregon Treaty of 1846
The Oregon Treaty is a treaty between the United Kingdom and the United States that was signed on June 15, 1846, in Washington, D.C. Signed under the presidency of James K. Polk, the treaty brought an end to the Oregon boundary dispute by settling competing American and British claims to the Oregon Country; the area had been jointly occupied by both Britain and the U.S. since the Treaty of 1818.
Westward Expansion - Filibusters/Freebooters and William Walker
Some expansionists didn’t want to wait for the US government to achieve manifest destiny. Unauthorized soldiers known as filibusters or freebooters carried out private military expeditions to secure land. The infamous William Walker (1824-1860), an American physician, lawyer, journalist, and mercenary, attempted to colonize parts of Mexico and Nicaragua. Walker usurped the presidency of the Republic of Nicaragua in 1856 and ruled until 1857, when he was defeated by a coalition of Central American armies. He returned in an attempt to reestablish his control of the region and was captured and executed by the government of Honduras in 1860.
Lead up to Mexican-American War - Summarize how Texas became independent from Mexico.
After Mexico gained independence in 1821, it was soon embroiled in a civil war. They had difficulty preventing settlers from migrating into the Northeast, so they loosened their immigration standards and encouraged Americans to settle in the modern Texas area. In response, President Jackson allowed American settlers to emigrate to Texas. They disobeyed Mexican law by practicing slavery, refused to learn Spanish, and disrespected the Catholic Church. Mexico, realizing their plan was more successful than they suspected, imposed a series of laws regarding immigration, religion, taxation, cash crops, and, most importantly, slavery. In 1835, Sam Houston, a friend of Jackson, launched a revolt against Mexico, declaring Texas free and sovereign. After their infamous ‘Alamo’, Texan forces eventually defeated Mexican General Santa Ana and declared independence on March 2, 1836. In his final days as president, Andrew Jackson extended diplomatic recognition to Texas.
Lead up to Mexican-American War - Identify the main issues the United States had with annexing Texas.
President Jackson ignored them, President Van Buren turned them down, and President Harrison died on them. Despite political debate over slavery and other issues, President Tyler decided to pursue annexation, but his treaty was ultimately defeated in the Senate. There was debate between Northerners, Southerners, and Westerners whether if non-caucasian people in Texas should become American citizens, adding seats to the Senate would disrupt political equilibrium, the U.S. was overextending itself, there was a foreign conspiracy by Great Britain to end slavery in the U.S., and if war with Mexico was worth it.
John Tyler (W/U)
John Tyler (1790-1862) served as America’s 10th president from 1841 to 1845. He assumed office after the death of President William Henry Harrison (1773-1841), who passed away from pneumonia after just a month in the White House. Nicknamed “His Accidency”, Tyler was the first vice president to become chief executive due to the death of his predecessor. A Virginian, he was elected to the state legislature at age 21 and went on to serve in the U.S. Congress and as governor of Virginia. A strong supporter of states’ rights, Tyler was a Democratic-Republican; however, in 1840 he ran for the vice presidency on the Whig ticket. As president, Tyler clashed with the Whigs, who later tried, unsuccessfully, to impeach him. Among his administration’s accomplishments was the 1845 annexation of Texas. Before he died, Tyler voted for Virginia’s secession from the Union and was elected to the Confederate Congress.
Lead up to Mexican-American War - Understand how John Tyler, a former Democrat, ended up becoming a Whig.
John Tyler entered national politics after a congressman died, adhering strictly to the Jeffersonian Democratic-Republican platform. Later, as a senator, he fell out of favor with the party leadership and resigned his senate seat because of his opposition to President Andrew Jackson’s methods. He aligned with the anti-Jacksonian Whig Party, and although he didn’t support their platform, the Whigs nominated Tyler for vice president in 1840 since he could draw Southern votes away from the Democratic Party.
Lead up to Mexican-American War - Describe how Tyler became the president as well as his problems with Congress during his term.
Harrison died just a month into his term, and Tyler set the example of actually becoming the president rather than just fulfilling presidential duties. Dubbed ‘His Accidency’, President Tyler was again at odds with his party, which disowned him and kicked him out of their party after he rejected their banking bills. They opposed almost all of his actions, and many Southern Whigs left the party to join the Democrats, dividing the nation along sectional lines between North and South. When Tyler vetoed a bill that increased spending during a budget crisis, Congress attempted to impeach him for the first time in American history.
Lead up to Mexican-American War - Discuss how President John Tyler sought to annex Texas.
President Tyler attempted to annex Texas by first secretly negotiating with the Republic and implementing a public relations campaign to increase popular support (it may have been the Tyler administration that started rumors about Britain’s plot to end slavery in America). He then brought a treaty before the Senate and it was defeated, along with serious damage to his chances for reelection. However, he signed a new bill accepting the republic into the Union as a final action after his loss to Polk in the presidential elections.
Lead up to Mexican-American War - Discuss Tyler’s achievements as president and his lasting impact.
President Tyler did accomplish some foreign policy achievements. The ‘Webster-Ashburton Treaty’ (1842) resolved a long-standing border dispute between Canada and Maine, and the Seminole War (1817-1858) was finally brought to an end. He pushed the nation closer to its Manifest Destiny by significantly increasing the navy, helping Florida became a state (1845), and he took steps toward annexing Hawaii. He also emphasized American interests in the Pacific Ocean, and he reached a commercial treaty with Qing-China. His treaty to annex Texas was rejected, but he signed a bill accepting the republic into the Union after the presidential election in which he was defeated. Tyler formed a third party to help ensure that the pro-Texas candidate, James Polk, was elected over Henry Clay (the Whig candidate).
