Maine

Territorial Expansion by Mid-19th CenturyCanadaCanada•In 1839, fighting broke out between Maine & Canada over the disputed Maine border

•Webster-Ashburton Webster-Ashburton TreatyTreaty (1842) settled the issue:

•The U.S. received ½ the disputed land

•Established a clear border in Maine

War With Mexico

Tyler and TexasIn 1844, President Tyler called for

the annexation of Texas:–Tyler & Calhoun created a

propaganda campaign that England wanted Texas & would end to slavery there

–Northern Senators did not fall for it & refused to ratify the treaty to annex Texas

–Tyler was not nominated by either party in the 1844 election

Tyler needed to make Texas a campaign issue in the election of 1844 because he

had been kicked out of the Whig Party & hoped to appeal to the common man

Polk & Texas AnnexationIn 1844, the Whigs nominated

Henry Clay & the Democrats nominated James Polk

Polk won on expansionist platform– Called for Texas annexation – Called for an end to the joint

U.S.-British control of Oregon Polk & Congress interpreted the

election as mandate for expansion & Texas was quickly made a state

Appealed to the North

Appealed to the South

“Dark Horse” candidate

Oregon

Territorial Expansion by Mid-19th CenturyOregonOregon• U.S. & Britain

jointly occupied Oregon (Spain relinquished its claims to Oregon in the Adams-Onis Treaty of 1819)

• Britain claimed a greater stake of Oregon via Hudson Bay Co. (fur trade)

Polk and the Oregon QuestionIn 1846, President Polk notified

Britain that the U.S. wanted full control of Oregon

England proposed & the Senate approved the division of Oregon along 49o parallel in 1846

BenefitsBenefits: the U.S. gained its 1st deep-water port in the Pacific & Northern abolitionists saw Oregon as a balance to slave-state Texas

Oregon residents wanted the entire territory—“54º40’ or fight!”

Northwest Boundary Dispute

54’ 40º or Fight!

England & the U.S. agreed to

divide Oregon at

the 49o parallel

Mexican-American WarMexico recognized Texas’

independence & U.S. annexation, but disagreed over Texas’ northern border

In May 1846, Polk sent U.S. General Zachary Taylor beyond the Rio Grande River which led to the Mexican-American War

The Mexican-American WarZachary Taylor won in

northern Mexico

John C Fremont won in California

Stephen Kearney captured New Mexico

Winfield Scott captured Mexico City

Settling the Mexican-American WarIn 1848, U.S. & Mexico agreed to

the Treaty of Guadalupe HidalgoTreaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo:–Rio Grande became the U.S.

southern border–The U.S. grew 20% by adding

the Mexican CessionMexican Cession—present-day NM, AZ, CA, Utah, NV, & parts of CO & WY

–Added territory in NM & AZ with the Gadsden PurchaseGadsden Purchase in 1853

The Mexican CessionThe Mexican Cession

Not everyone supported the Mexican-American War

Whigs opposed it

Northerners saw it as a Southern

“slave-power” plot to extend slavery

Wilmot Proviso The 1846 Wilmot Proviso was a bold attempt by

opponents of slavery to prevent its introduction in the territories purchased from Mexico following the Mexican War. Named after its sponsor, Democratic representative DAVID WILMOT of Pennsylvania, the proviso never passed both houses of Congress, but it did ignite an intense national debate over slavery that led to the creation of the antislavery REPUBLICAN PARTY in 1854.

California

Territorial Expansion by Mid-19th CenturyCalifornia

•In 1833, the new Mexican gov’t awarded land grants to rancherosrancheros who quickly replaced the missionary padres

•In 1830s, the U.S. was eager to enter the cowhide trade

California settlers used John Fremont’s occupation of California during the Mexican-American War as an opportunity to revolt from Mexico in 1846

The Bear Flag RepublicLike Texas, California operated as an

independent nation; the California Republic existed for one month from June 1846 to July 1846 when it was

annexed by the United States

California became a U.S. state as part of the Compromise of 1850

The California Gold RushThe discovery of gold in 1848 led

to a massive influx of prospectors in 1849 (the “forty-niners”) :

–Few miners struck it rich; Real money was in supplying miners with food, booze, & provisions

–Led to a population boom, agriculture, & multicultural society in California

Where the 49ers Came From80%

13%7%

UnitedStates

Europe &Asia

LatinAmerica

San Francisco before the gold rush

San Francisco after the gold rush

ConclusionsConclusions: The Costs of Expansion

U.S. Territorial Expansion

The Costs of ExpansionThe impact of territorial expansion:

–Historian Fredrick Jackson Turner noted in the 1890s that expansion shaped Americans into an adventurous, optimistic, & democratic people

–But, expansion created sectional conflicts between the North & South, especially over slavery