AP US History Chapter 18

James K. Polk

11th President of the United States from Tennessee; committed to westward expansion (believed in Manifest Destiny); led the country during the Mexican War; U.S. annexed Texas and took over Oregon during his administration

Liberty Party

A former political party in the United States; formed in 1839 to oppose the practice of slavery; merged with the Free Soil Party in 1848

The Walker Tariff of 1846

Enacted by the democrats as a way to bring down the "Black Tariff" put up by the Whigs in 1842, this Tariff cut rates by 25-30%. Coinciding with the repeal of the corn laws, this dramatically increased trade

Zachary Taylor

General that was a military leader in Mexican-American War and 12th president of the United States. Sent by president Polk to lead the American Army against Mexico at Rio Grande, but defeated.

William Henry Harrison

Governor of the Indiana territory, that fought against Tecumseh and the Prophet in the battle of Tippecanoe and won. Became the 9th president and first to die in office (just a month after his inauguration)

Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo

Treaty that ended the Mexican War, granting the U.S. control of Texas, New Mexico, and California in exchange for $15 million. Signed February 2nd 1848

John Tyler

elected Vice President and became the 10th President of the United States when Harrison died 1841-1845, President responsible for annexation of Mexico after receiving mandate from Polk, opposed many parts of the Whig program for economic recovery

Santa Anna

elected president of Mexico in 1833, he lead the Mexican War, defeated the Texans at The Alamo and was Captured at San Jacinto

Hudson's bay company

founded in 1670 in London, most important company, important outpost= Fort Vancouver, was corporate monopoly from 1818-1846, moved to Fort Victoria when they knew the British would lose Oregon

Wilmot Proviso

proposed in 1846 that congress ban slavery in all southwestern lands that might become states; passed in the House but not by the Senate; slave states saw it as a northern attack on slavery

Webster-Ashburton Treaty

signed August 9, 1842, was a treaty resolving several border issues between the United States and the British North American colonies, particularly a dispute over the location of the Maine-New Brunswick border. Also banned the slave trade (on the ocean)