Ch. 17
Creole Incident
130 slaves took over a ship and the Brits offered asylum in the Caribbean
Caroline Incident
1837; British attacked the American ship Caroline and set it on fire; overexaggerations used as propaganda to get Americans upset over Brits
Webster-Ashburton Treaty
1842; solved Arostook War; Americans got 7000 miles of 12000 mile dispute; Brits got Halifax-Quebec Route
Polk's Presidential Plan
California (obtain) Oregon (settle land dispute) Independent Treasury (Whigs against it) Lower tariffs (Walker Tariff Bill)
Tariffs: democrats v. republicans
Democrats: DECREASE tariffs Republicans: RAISE tariffs
Stephen W. Kearny
General who, in 1846, led 1700 troops over Santa Fe Trail and captured outposts
Obtaining Cali
Mexico did not want to give it up; Polk DETERMINED to get it --> sent Trist to Mexico w $25mil --> Mexico said NO! --> Polk ready to declare war --> 1846: Mexico fires first on "American soil" w Z. Taylor (hero of Buena Vista later in war) --> Spot Resolutions (Abraham Lincoln)
Election of 1840
William Henry Harrison (Whig) dies 30 days into office and John Tyler (claimed to be Whig; hated Jackson; had democracy ideals; "president without party")
conscience Whigs
antislavery; denounced war with Mexico
Liberty Party
antislavery; small but absorbed the votes of those who might have voted for the wavering Clay; helped ensure election of pro-TX Polk
something else to think about!!
dylan o'brien............... just think about him
John C. Frémont
helped overthrow ME. rule in 1846
disadvantages of American men in war with Mexico
inadequate numbers of troops, expiring enlistments, more numerous enemy, mountainous terrain, disease, and political backbiting in US
General Winfield Scott
managed to battle his way to Mexico City by 1847; v distinguished
Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
negotiated by Trist; confirmed American title to TX and yielded area stretching westward to OR and ocean (with CA) and cost $15mil as well as $3,250,000 that US had to pay to assume claims of Mexican citizens
Wilmot Proviso
never passed; stipulated that all lands obtained from Mexico should not have slavery
Arostook War
not so much war as conflict between American and Canadian lumberjacks on Maine border; solved by Webster-Ashburton Treaty
Tariff of 1842
reluctantly signed by Tyler to increase additional revenue
Election of 1844
while Tyler was still in office, he annexes TX using joint resolution (majority and not 2/3 of Senate); Polk (D) v. Clay (W); Polk wins; ANNEXATION OF TEXAS BIG ISSUE