Chapter 17
Winfield Scott
"Old Fuss and Feathers" whose conquest of Mexico City brought U.S. victory in the Mexican War.
Joint Resolution
Act of both houses of congress by which texas was annexed
Nicholas Trist
American Diplomat who chose to stay in Mexico after being recalled and negotiated the Treaty of Guadelupe Hidalgo which ended the Mexican War
Zachary Taylor
American military hero who invaded northern Mexico from Texas in 1846-1847 and later became President.
"Concience Whigs"
Antislavery Whigs who opposed both the Texas annexation and the Mexican war on moral grounds.
Rio Grande
Claimbed by the United States as the southern boundary of Texas which was crossed by Taylor's troops in 1846
Abraham Lincoln
Congressional author of the "spot resolutions" criticizing the Mexican war, and later the 16th president of the U.S.
David Wilmot
Congressional author of the resolution forbidding slavery in the territory gained from mexico (Wilmot Proviso)
Wilmot Proviso
Controversial amendment, which passed the House but not the Senate, saying that slavery should be forbidden in any territory gained from Mexico
James K. Polk
Dark-horse presidential winner in 1844 who effectively carried out ambitious expansionist campaign plans.
John C. Fremont
Explorer who led the overthrow of Mexican rule in California after war broke out. First presidential candidate from a major party to run on a platform in opposition to slavery
49° Compromise Line
Final Compromise line that settled the Oregon boundary dispute in 1846
Webster-Ashburton Treaty
Gave Britain their desired Halifax-Quebec land while America got land north of maine and the Mesabi Range of Iron ore in Minnesota which lates provited iron when steel became popular.
Texas
Independent nation that was the object of British, Mexican, and French scheming in the early 1840s, became part of the U.S. form the Treaty of Guadelupe Hidalgo
John Tyler
Leader elected vice president to William H. Harrison, and quickly became president after Harrison died. Spent most of his presidency in bitter feuds with his fellow whigs
Henry Clay
Leader of the Senate Whigs and unsuccessful presidential candidate against Polk in 1844.
Santa Anna
Mexican military leader who failed to stop a humiliating American invasion of his country
Spot Resolution
Resolution offered by Congressman Abraham Lincon demanding to know the precise location where Mexicans had allegedly shed American blood on "American soil"
Robert J. Walker
Sec. of Treasury to Polk. Lowered the tariff from 32% to 25% with the help of Southerners in Congress. Northerners industrialists did not like this.
Buena Vista
Site of major victory by American troops under Zachary Taylor over Mexican troops under Santa Anna
Liberty Party
Small antislavery party that took enough votes from Henry Clay to cost him the election of 1844.
Aroostook War
The clash in Maine, between Canada and America over disputed timber country; settled by the Webster-Ashburton Treaty
California
The rich mexican province that Polk tried to buy and Mexico refused to sell. (also became part of the U.S. after the Treaty of Guadelupe Hidalgo)
Maine
The state where the "Aroostook War" was fought over a disputed boundary with Canada.
Manifest Destiny
The widespread American belief that God had ordained the United Sates to occupy all the territory of North America
Guadelupe Hidalgo
Treaty ending the Mexican War and granting huge territories to the U.S.
Oregon Trail
Two-thousand mile long path which thousands of Americans traveled to the Willamette Valley in the 1840s
Daniel Webster
Whig leader and secretary who negotiate the end to the Maine boundary dispute in 1842 (Webster-Ashburton Treaty)
