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Polk and Expansion

Polk and Expansion. 1844-1846. Background: Texan Independence. 1824: Mexico granted empresarios (Austin) large land grants, abolished slavery Many Americans moved to Texas, with slaves, violating Mexican law 1835: Santa Anna invaded Texas; Alamo defeat, massacre

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Polk and Expansion

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  1. Polk and Expansion 1844-1846

  2. Background: Texan Independence • 1824: Mexico granted empresarios (Austin) large land grants, abolished slavery • Many Americans moved to Texas, with slaves, violating Mexican law • 1835: Santa Anna invaded Texas; Alamo defeat, massacre • 1836: Houston & Texans defeated Santa Anna: recognition of Independent Texas • Border agreement was not clear: Which river was the border? • Key question for Americans: Would slavery in Texas cause slavery to spread Westward?

  3. James Polk • Stiff, politically astute, energetic work ethic • Promised to expand US to fulfill Manifest Destiny • Promised to serve only one term • Polk cleverly used circumstances to add Oregon, Texas, California, southwest territories to US

  4. Annexation of Oregon Andrew Melrose, westward the star of empire takes its way--near Council Bluffs Iowa, 1867 • Before 1846, Northwest territory administration was shared between US and Britain • Extreme believers in Manifest Destiny demanded US control up to 54°40’; rest of US-Canada border suggested 49° • Polk knew 54°40’ would require war; knew that UK couldn’t afford war • Polk ended joint occupation: gave UK year to negotiate • 1846: UK chose negotiations over war: 49° treaty

  5. Mexican American War: Causes • Mexico failed to pay $2 million owed to US citizens • Alamo massacre stirred American patriotism • Polk’s election increased strength of pro-annexationists • 1845: Congress voted to annex Texas, but Texas refused, fearing Mexican invasion • Polk promised Texas to extend border to Rio Grande • Mexican government politically could not make concessions to US, so refused to negotiate • Polk ordered General Taylor to move troops to Rio Grande “border”, baiting Mexico to attack

  6. Mexican American War: Events • When Mexico attacked, Polk claimed to Congress that war had already started • Anti-war Whigs had little choice but to support Polk (remember Federalists in 1812) • US artillery, weapons, training easily defeated Mexico, despite fewer troops • 1847: Mexico City taken, Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo by which US paid $15M and assumed debt to US citizens

  7. Mexican American War: Results • US territory expanded to Rio Grande • Texas annexed into US • California became US territory (gold rush soon to follow) • Southwest became US territory (including western Colorado) • Polk achieved goals of dramatically enlarging country

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