Chapter 17: Manifest Destiny and Its Legacy

	(1790 -1862, pres.1841-1845) Tenth President of the United States who succeeded William Henry Harrison after his untimely death four weeks into office. -Though a member of the Whig Party he held many ideals in common with the Democrats, leading him to be at constant odds with the Whigs. -He did not support a centralized bank or other Whig policies like the protective tariff and internal improvements. -Signed the law ending the independent treasury system and the bill for a fiscal bank. -Signed the Tariff of 1842
	(1837) An American steamer the British sunk as it attempted to carry supplies to Canadian insurgents across the swift Niagara River. -At the time popular American sentiment was in favor of a minority group of Canadians who were rebelling against British rule. -The American's furious response led to further conflict with the British.
	(1841) American ship which was captured by 130 rebelling Virginia slaves. -When British officials in the Bahamas offered shelter to those slaves, American tension with Britain increased. -Raised fears in the South that Britain Caribbean possessions would become havens for escaped slaves.
	(1839-1842) Series of clashes between the American and Canadian lumberjacks in the disputed territory of northern Maine, resolved when a permanent boundary was agreed upon in 1842.
	(1774-1848) Nonprofessional diplomat who was sent by the London Foreign office to America. -Established cordial relations with Daniel Webster, with whom he worked out a series of agreements that gave both Britain and the United States something of what they wanted after the Aroostook War.
	-2000 mile trail going west to the Oregon Country which many prospective settlers traveled as part of the "Oregon fever" that seized many pioneers in the early 1840s.
	(1795-1849, pres.1845-1849) Eleventh president of the United States; he was Democrat and the first "dark-horse" or "surprise" presidential candidate though he had been Speaker of the House and governor of Tennessee. -He was determined and industrious, hardworking but not quite brilliant. -Goals: a lowered tariff, the restoration of the independent treasury, the acquisition of California, and the settlement of the Oregon dispute. -Often called "Young Hickory" due to his similarity with Jackson.
	(1840s and 1850s) Belief that the United States was destined by God to spread its "empire of liberty" across North America. -Served as a justification for mid nineteenth century expansionism. -The expansionist and democratic spirit of this movement was an important factor in Polk's election as President in 1844.
	-Protective measure passed by Congressional Whigs, raising tariffs to pre-compromise of 1833 rates. -John Tyler reluctantly signed it despite his dislike of major tariffs, especially protective ones. -Established a 32% tariff that was in some ways a Whig victory over the more democratic Tyler.
	(1793-1871) Minister to Mexico sent by Polk in 1845 to negotiate the purchase of California. -Instructed to offer a maximum of $25 million which the Mexicans did not even allow him to present seeing it as an insult. -This rejection was part of the buildup to a Mexican American conflict.
	(1784-1850) General during America's war with Mexico, who would become the twelfth president of the United States. -He crossed the Rio Grande with his army of four thousand in 1846 provocatively near the Mexican forces in the hopes of provoking war. -Mexicans crossed the river and attacked his command killing sixteen. -Warded off a Mexican force of 20,000 with only 5,000 men at Buena Vista, which made him an overnight hero, "Hero of Buena Vista"
	(1794-1848) General who led seventeen hundred troops over the famous Santa Fe trail from Fort Leavenworth to Santa Fe.
	(1794-1848) American explorer who proved key in the American success in California during the war with Mexico. -Helped to overthrow Mexican rule in 1846 by collaborating with American naval officers and with the local Americans who had hoisted the banner of the short lived California Bear Flag Republic.
	(1786-1866) Most distinguished American general produced between the Revolutionary War and the Civil War. -Given command of the main force against Mexico City in 1847 during the Mexican War. -Hero from the War of 1812, called "Old Fuss and Feathers" because of his uniforms and strict discipline. -He managed to lead a handicapped force to Mexico City in one of the most impressive campaigns in American history.
	(2 Feb. 1848) Treaty that ended the war between Mexico and the United States. -Mexico agreed to cede the territory reaching northwest from Texas to Oregon in exchange for 18.25 million dollars in cash and assumed debts.
	-Amendment that would make it illegal to spread slavery into territories seized from Mexico -It passed through the House twice but was shut down by Southerners in the Senate.
	(1846) Amendment that sought to prohibit slavery from territories acquired in Mexico. -Introduced by Pennsylvania congressman David Wilmont, the failed amendment ratcheted up tensions between north and south over the issue of slavery. -It never became federal law, but was eventually endorsed by the legislatures of all but one of the free states. -It came to symbolize the burning issue of slavery in the territories.