Manifest Destiny

Texas Statehood

Texas then requested to be added to the U.S., but President [Jackson] refused. There were two reasons why the president refused to grant Texas statehood.

• 1. Texas statehood could mean...[war with Mexico]

  2. Texas would also become a [slave] state, which would anger the [abolitionists].

Thus, Texas was an independent nation for a number of years, which is why it is still called today the "[Lone Star State]".

Election of 1844

In the Election of 1844, Tyler and Polk both campaigned with [Manifest Destiny] in mind by supporting [Texas] statehood. As a result, Henry [Clay] (also running) had to change his strategy. Clay said that he would support Texas statehood if...[war with Mexico could be avoided].

Polk ended up winning the election and surprisingly kept his four campaign promises: lower [tariffs], restore the "[Independent Treasury]", settle the [Oregon] issue, and get [California]. The First two promises were easy to keep because Polk was a [democrat] and Congress was controlled by [democrats].

Causes of the War

The Mexican War had a number of causes:

• 1. Mexico was angry that Texas [became a U.S. state].

  2. There was fighting that resulted from a Texas-Mexico [border] dispute.

1. *** This is the cause that [started the war]***

   1. Due to [Manifest Destiny], the nation wanted a war to gain land.

   2. The U.S. hated Mexico for the [Alamo], and Mexico hated the U.S. for their arrogant [expansionist attitude].

   3. A failed [treaty] attempt angered both nations.

Opposition to the War

Despite the nation's leaning towards Manifest Destiny, there was some opposition to the war. [Abraham Lincoln] demanded to find out where the attack occurred. Thoreau refused to [pay his taxes], because it was helping to fight this “unjust” war. Some people even began calling the war “[Mr. Polk’s War]”.

Politics in the War

There was tension between President [Polk] and Generals [Taylor] and [Scott]. This is because the President was a [Democrat] while the generals were [Whigs].

Northern Mexico Campaign

The Campaign in Northern Mexico was led by General [Taylor]. After two early victories he moved on to the city of [Monterrey]. He was able to take that city by moving through the [houses] because each [house] shared a [wall]. The U.S. soldiers would chip at the [wall], place a stick of [dynamite] in the [wall] and blast a hole into the next [house]. The soldiers then cleared this [house] and repeated this process until they took the city.

Due to this success for [Taylor], President [Polk] had him moved to a position outside of the spotlight (due to their [political] differences).

California Campaign

The California Campaign was a success, but due to the [harsh] rule over the population, there was a rebellion in Los Angeles. After re-taking the city, the U.S. ruled more kindly.

Central Mexico Campaign

General [Scott] was in charge of the Mexico City Campaign. He followed the path that [Cortes] used to defeat the Aztecs. After out maneuvering Santa Anna, the U.S. took Mexico City and the war was over.

Results of the War

In the Treaty of [Guadalupe Hidalgo]:

• 1. The U.S. gained a lot of [land] (the Southwestern U.S.)

  2. The [U.S.] paid [Mexico] $15 million

The Mexican War also gave U.S. soldiers fighting experience for the [Civil War] fought about 15 years later. Finally a few years later, the U.S. purchase more land known as the [Gadsden Purchase], which was bought to finish the [transcontinental railroad].