Harrison (Whig elected)› Bad president: Clay ran most of show› Died 4 weeks after being elected

John Tyler replaced him› Switched from Jacksonian Democrat to

Whig› was from minority party› “Tyler Precedent”

Mexico believed that Texas was a territory in revolt

Texas negotiated with Britain and France.

Britain wanted an independent Texas to control American southward expansion. France was thinking the same thing.

Texas was also an area without Tariffs.

The North against the south for Before Polk took office, he called for a

joint resolution to annex Texas because he could not get a 2/3rds Senate vote. › A joint resolution meant that each house

must have a majority vote (a simple majority) to pass an annexation.

› Texas was invited into the Union in 1845.

Oregon was a territory under much dispute with Spain, Russia, Britain, the US,

Spain backed out after the Adams-Onis Treaty (Florida Purchase) and the Russians backed above the 54*40’ line after treaties with Britain and the US.

Treaty of 1818 – Joint territory Population increase in the U.S.

› The issue was tossed into the election of 1844.

James A Polk › Speaker of the House› supported by Jackson - called “Young

Hickory Democrats were passionate about

Manifest Destiny › (expansion from east to the west and the

north to the south) Whigs tried to condemn them by

bringing up the spread of slavery issue. Democrats treated this as an “OK”

from the voters to take Texas.

If Mexico wasn’t mad at the US, Polk could have bought California

Mexicans thought Texas was just revolting.

There was also a rumor that California was being eyed by the British. › If the British acquired it, then the Monroe

Doctrine would be violated › Polk sent John Slidell to Mexico City to

propose up to $25 million to buy CA.› The Mexicans felt insulted by this act.

Polk sent Taylor to Mexico April 25, 1846 - Mexican troops crossed

the Rio Grande and attacked Taylor’s group, 16 casualties

Congress agreed to war and the war machine was started. › Polk lied about bloodshed› feared that California would be claimed by

somebody else› Dispute over who started war

California fell easily Zachary Taylor was where all the action was in

Texas where he fought his way south into Mexico. › At Buena Vista, the Americans managed to

fight off a force of 20,000 with only 5,000 weakened men later leading Taylor into a presidency.

General Winfield Scott was sent to Mexico City› Underprovided for but made it to the city.

Trist signed the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo on Feb 2, 1848, and sent the treaty back to Washington.› Terms gave Texas and California to

America, cutting Mexico to half size.› America would pay $15 million for the land

and assumed the claims of its citizens in amount of $3,250,000

Small war, big end. West Point and Annapolis were founded Foreign countries had respect for U.S. The Mexican war was a factor that led

to the Civil War Wilmot Amendment – an

amendment that would prevent slavery in any of the new territory. › Not passed