Manifest Destiny and Sectional Divide

1
Manifest Destiny and Sectional Divide

• Chapter 13
• What factors led to the emergence of Manifest
  Destiny in the 1840s, and how would Manifest
  Destiny contribute to the sectional debate?

2
1840s Territorial Expansion

• Manifest Destiny belief that America was
  destined to expand from coast to coast, occupying
  entire continent
• 4 points of territorial interest
• Maine
• Oregon Country
• Texas
• California

3
Tippecanoe and Tyler, Too!

• 1840 Presidential election ascension of the
  Whig party under William Henry Harrison
• John Tyler VP
• Daniel Webster secretary of State
• Henry Clay (head of the Whig party) spokesman
  of Senate
• Harrison dies 4 weeks into office
• Tyler (former Jacksonian democrat) assumed
  Presidency known as a Democrat in Whigs
  clothing
• Opposed Whig platform of being pro-bank,
  protective tariff, and internal improvements

4
Tyler-a President without a Party

• Whigs revealed nationalistic party platform after
  election victory (engineered by Clay)
• Passed bill ending independent treasury of Van
  Burens 1840 bill hoping to create new BUS
• BUS vetoed by Tyler!!! Whig Party Members ?!?!
• Entire cabinet resigned except for Webster
• Tyler vetoed initial bill for protective tariff,
  but passed bill with lower rate realizing
  politics of situation

5
War of Words with Britain

• Deep rooted resentment caused by 2 Anglo-American
  Wars, death of Federalist Party, ascension to
  Jacksonian Democrats
• Panic of 1837 signaled economic paralysis to
  relationship as Britain creditors forced to
  collect from Yankee borrowers
• Problem w/ Canada - insurrection led to American
  support for Canadians
• Caroline Incident American ship supplying
  insurrection attacked by British ship
• Creole ship overtaken by Virginian slaves and
  promised freedom in British Caribbean (British
  previously abolished slavery)

6
Maine

• Aroostook War (1840s) lumberjacks from both
  Maine and Canada claimed section of land situated
  upon St. Lawrence River
• Ashburton-Webster Treaty split difference on
  Maines territory and permanently fixed Maines
  boundary
• British secured Halifax-Quebec road
• U.S. gained territory in Minnesota Mesabi
  mountain range provided iron ore

7
Texas

• Texas remained an independent republic since 1836
  until 1845
• Mexico threatened war if Texas became a state
• Texas secured treaties with France, Holland, and
  Belgium as protective alliance
• France and England especially interested for
  political advantage foothold for abolitionism,
  tariff free trade, and cotton supplier

8
Texas and the Presidential Election of 1844

• Texas became leading issue
• Pro-expansionist and Democratic candidate James
  Polk elected to office with mandate to acquire
  Texas over Whig Clay
• Conscience Whigs feared the annexation of
  Texas to perpetuate growth of slavery
• Lame duck president Tyler annexed Texas in last
  days via joint resolution bypassed treaty

9
Oregon Fever

• Oregon Country extended from Northern
  California to Alaska border - 5440 line
• Oregon Territory jointly occupied by England
  and US (Oregon Treaty of 1818)
• Oregon Fever (1840s) American pioneers
  traveled Oregon trail and settled the frontier
  lands
• Question of the future and border to be decided
  by 1844 election

10
Mandate for Manifest Destiny

• James Polk (The Expansionist) first dark
  horse candidate elected in presidential campaign
• Election of 1844 centered upon Manifest destiny
  and expansionism spread of democracy and empire
• Liberty Party funneled much needed votes away
  from Clay, ensuring Polk victory
• Democrats interpreted victory as mandate from the
  people to expand and realize manifest destiny

11
Polk Administration

• Polks objectives
• Tariff Walker Tariff of 1846 lowered tariff
  and boosted revenue
• Independent Treasury restored in 1846 against
  Whig opposition
• California and Oregon Territory
• Oregon border fixed at 49th parallel thru 1846
  Treaty despite democratic yell for 5440 or
  fight
• California Polk eager to buy from Mexico, but
  diplomatic relation severed with annexation of
  Texas
• Border dispute Nueces or Rio Grande?
• Rejection of John Slidell and offer to buy CA for
  25 mil

12
War with Mexico

• Polk ordered US troops to march to Rio Grande
  River under command of General Zachary Taylor to
  meet eminent Mexican threat
• American casualties led to Polk asking for
  declaration of war
• Issue American or Mexican soil?
• Whig Congressman Abraham Lincolns spot
  resolutions called for exact spot of
  hostilities to determine justification for war
• War seen as necessary to carry out mandate and to
  secure future of California

13
Mexican-American War (1846-1848)

• Return of Santa Anna to power double crossed
  Polk and promised to sell CA
• Generals Zachary Taylor and Winfield Scott
  provided victorious American campaign in Mexico
• Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo (1848) penned by
  Nicholas Trist, concluded war
• Texas recognized as American state
• Territory from Texas to Oregon territory ceded to
  US including CA (Mexican Cession) larger than
  LA Purchase
• US to pay 15 mil

14
Impact of War

• Sharp increase in pursuit of Manifest Destiny
• Fighting provided experience for Civil War
• Justification for the armed forces
• War provided additional fuel to slavery and
  sectional debate
• Defeat of Wilmot Proviso- called for banning
  slavery from Mexican Cession
• Mexican War and desire for land foreshadowed
  Civil War

15
Sectional Struggle (1848-1854)

• What events led to revival of sectionalism in
  American politics in the 1850s?

16
Popular Sovereignty

• Slavery presented a threat that would lead to
  purely sectional political parties and certain
  civil war
• For 1848 election, Democrats nominated War of
  1812 hero General Lewis Cass (Polk refused 2nd
  term due to chronic diarrhea)
• Although Democrats sought to remain silent on
  slavery issue, Cass adopted belief of Popular
  Sovereignty- the independent people of a given
  territory have the democratic right to chose
  status of state as either free or slave
• Theory of Popular Sovereignty- appealed to people
  and politicians alike, tossed slavery issue into
  their hands and out of politicians realm But-
  possibility for extension of slavery was
  fundamental flaw of theory

17
The Whigs and Zachary Taylor

• War hero Zachary Taylor nominated by Whigs who
  also avoided slavery issue (Taylor himself
  wealthy plantation owner and slave owner)
• Anti-slaveryites organized Free Soil political
  party to address slavery question
• Heavy support from conscience Whigs
• Nominated ex-President Martin Van Buren
• Taylor won election of 1848

18
California Gold Rush

• 1848-49 marched in the gold rush in Northern CA
  (San Francisco 49ers- NFL)
• Lawlessness accompanied pioneers into CA
• 1849 CA Constitution- excluded slavery and sought
  admission to the union

19
Sectionalism Southern Perspective

• The Southern advantage
• Boasted of Presidential administrations, from GW
  to Taylor
• Held majority in Cabinet and Supreme Court (CJ
  Roger Taney)
• Equal Representation in Senate
• King Cotton reaching climax
• The Southern Disadvantage
• Admission of CA destroy sectional balance
• Mexican Cession being shaped by non-slave owning
  voices
• Abolition seemed eminent in D.C.
• Loss of Runaway slaves Harriet Tubman and the
  underground RR
• Demand for stricter fugitive slave law

20
Senatorial Leadership Clay, Calhoun, and Webster

• Admission of CA encouraged fire eaters to
  threaten secession
• Clay (KY)- proposed N to compromise on CA
  admission and to grant fugitive slave law in
  order to preserve union
• Calhoun (SC)- advocated a laissez-faire approach
  to slavery, stricter fugitive slave law, and
  restore sectional balance
• Webster (MA)- urged stricter fugitive slave law
  with teeth and the preservation of union
• 7th of March Speech- appealed to N to make
  compromise and union possible

21
Congressional Debate of 1850

• Young Guard Congressmen- unionism not first
  priority
• William Seward (NY)- strong anti-slaveryite and
  non-concessionist adhered to principle of
  higher law- Gods law superseded Constitution
• President Taylor vowed to veto any Compromise-
  threatened union
• Death of President Taylor and succession of
  Millar Fillmore to office made Compromise
  possible
• Compromise ushered in 2nd Era of Good Feelings-
  peace before the storm

22
Compromise of 1850

• Henry Clay- Once again, the Great Compromiser
• CA admitted as free state- permanently tipped
  sectional balance in favor of the North
• Popular Sovereignty- opened to territories of New
  Mexico and Utah
• Texas paid 10 mil for disputed territory
• Slave trade prohibited in D.C.
• South received Fugitive Slave Law of 1850-
  Bloodhound Bill
• North responded by passing personal liberty
  laws- denied jails and federal officials ability
  to enforce terms of fugitive slave law
• 1850s strengthened union and abolitionist causes
• Compromise clearly benefited North- provided
  moral and political cause to win Civil War

23
Election of 1852

• Whigs nominated 2nd dark horse candidate in
  American history, Franklin Pierce (NH)
• Suffered painful groin injury during M-A War-
  OUCH!!!!!
• Considered to be a pro-Southern Northerner
• Fully endorsed Compromise of 1850 and future
  territorial expansion
• Whigs nominated war hero General Winfield Scott
• Nomination of Scott permanently split Whig Party
  over Slavery issue
• Democrats able to Polk them in 44, and Pierce
  them in 52, as Southern Whigs refused to
  support Scott and voted for Webster

24
Impact of the 1852 Election

• Whig party split and near death
• End of national political parties and beginning
  of purely sectional parties
• Whig Legacy
• Secured Presidency in 40 and 48
• Preserved National unity and unionism due largely
  to the efforts of Clay and Webster (both died
  during 52 election)- Exs?
• Fugitive slave law proved to be decisive factor
  in killing Whig unity

25
Expansionism South of the Border?

• Central America- site of potential for future
  control of Atlantic-Pacific trade routes
• Treaty b/w U.S. and New Grenada (Columbia) signed
  in 1848, guaranteed American transit across
  isthmus in return for protecting sovereignty of
  route and neutrality
• Treaty provided backbone for TR to acquire land
  for construction of canal
• Clayton-Bulwer Treaty (1850)- stipulated that
  neither U.S. or England could fortify or seek
  exclusive control over future trans-isthmian
  waterway
• William Walker- American adventurer who attempted
  to seize control of Nicaragua with aid of South
  hoped to spread slavery

26
Cuba

• Polks offer to buy island from Spain for 100
  mil refused
• Filibustering Expeditions- southern attempts to
  seize island by force, but failed
• Ostend Manifesto (1854)- Pierce proposed plan to
  secretly but Cuba for 120 mil, but justified war
  if offer refused
• Plan leaked and Northern Free Soilers quick to
  publicize plan and crush and hopes of annexing
  Cuba

27
The Far East

• Treaty of Wanghia (1844)- first treaty b/w U.S.
  and China
• Negotiated under Tylers administration by Caleb
  Cushing
• Secured Most favored nation status as well as
  extraterritoriality for American citizens
• Treaty opened up trading and missionary
  opportunities
• 1852- President Millard Fillmore sent Commodore
  Matthew Perry to forcibly open up Japan to
  trading

28
The RR and the Gadsden Purchase

• Transportation in Mexican Cession emerged as
  problem following M-A War
• Trans-continental RR solution to problem (not
  proposed camels)
• RR construction sure to set off sectional debate-
  who would build it, and where would it terminate-
  N or S?
• Gadsden Purchase (1853)
• James Gadsden negotiated purchase with Santa Anna
  for small section of land necessary for RR
  construction for 10 mil
• Purchase secured fate of RR to run through south-
  Texas already a state and New Mexico being
  organized for admission
• Northerners responded with please to organize
  Nebraska territory for admission and RR
  construction

29
The Gadsden Purchase
30
Douglas and the Kansas-Nebraska Act (1854)

• Senator Stephen Douglass (Illinois)- known as the
  Little Giant
• Determined to organize Nebraska territory to
  realize construction of RR that would terminate
  in home city of Chicago
• Proposed the Kansas-Nebraska Act
• Nebraska Territory to be divided into 2
  territories
• Status of slavery to be determined via popular
  sovereignty
• Anticipated Kansas to become slave, and Nebraska
  to become free
• Act required repeal of Missouri Compromise and
  3630 line

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32
Impact

• President Pierce fully endorsed Act (seemed to
  benefit S) but strongly opposed by Free Soilers
• Douglass indifferent to slavery, yet act had
  potential to severe union
• Act passed by Congress and ushered in period of
  sectional intensity and bloodshed
• Required repeal of Missouri Compromise and
  Compromise of 1850
• Act would lead to demise and split within
  Democratic Party
• Act would lead to emergence of Republican Party-
  represented disgruntled Whigs, Democrats, Free-
  Soilers, Know-Nothings, and opponenents of k-N
  Act although emerged as purely sectional party,
  contributed to legacy of 2 Party System
• Civil War eminent

33

• How did the events of the late 1850s make civil
  war a reality?

34
Uncle Toms Cabin

• Uncle Toms Cabin published in 1852
• Inspired by Fugitive Slave Law, 2nd Great
  Awakening, and personal loss of child
• Novel extremely popular, and evolved into
  political tool
• So youre the little woman who wrote the book
  that made this great war- Abraham Lincoln, 1862
• Novel made international impact in drawing
  attention to evils of slavery
• Hinton Helpers The Impending Crisis of the
  South- non-aristocrat from N.C. that argued that
  slavery was hurtful to non-slave owning whites
• Both books banned and even burned in South

35
Kansas

• Both pro and anti-slavery groups moving into
  Kansas territory to participate in popular
  sovereignty
• 1855 election for legislative representatives
  resulted in pro-slavery border ruffians from
  Missouri pouring into Kansas to vote several
  times over
• Shawnee Mission- puppet govt established by
  pro-slaveryites
• Topeka- govt established by free soilers
• Tensions resulted in bloodshed at Lawrence- free
  soil town destroyed by pro-slaveryites

36
Bleeding Kansas

• John Brown- abolitionist from Ohio who moved into
  Kansas sought revenge for recent attack at
  Lawrence
• Led band of followers to Pottawatomie Creek in
  1856, where they mutilated 5 pro-slaveryites
• Resulted in Civil War within Kansas (1856-65)
• 1857- Kansas ready to apply for statehood
• Pro slaveryites devised Lecompton Constitution-
  people to vote on Constitution wither with, or
  without slavery
• Existing slavery allowed to continue, regardless
  of outcome
• 1856 Presidential Election- Democrat James
  Buchanan won
• Supported Lecompton Constitution, whereas Stephen
  Douglass opposed due to violation of popular
  sovereignty
• Rift b/w Buchanan and Douglass permanently split
  Democratic party b/w Northern and Southern
  Democrats-

37
Kansas Territory
38
Sumner and Southern Chivalry 1856

• Senator Charles Sumner from MA beaten with cane
  by Senator Preston Brooks from SC in 1856 over
  Kansas issue
• Brooks resigned, but was re-elected and presented
  with golden cane
• Sumner sought medical attention in Europe for
  damage to nervous system

39
1856 Election

• Democrats nominated James Buchanan- enemy less,
  but was a bachelor and did have an eye defect
• Republican Party burst onto scene by nominated
  explorer/adventurer John Fremont (enemy less)
  rather than higher law Seward
• Know-Nothing Party nominated ex-President Millard
  Fillmore in wake of Irish-German immigration and
  growth of Nativism
• Although Buchanan won election, 2 important
  results
• Republicans made strong showing
• Civil War avoided for 4 more years- need for
  stronger President (Lincoln would fill shoes)

40
1856 Election Map
41
Dred Scott

• Dred Scott vs. Sanford (1857)
• Dred Scott sued owner for freedom after spending
  years in Northern free soil territory
• Chief Justice Roger Taney (MD) ruled in favor of
  Sanford
• Declared slaves to be property, not citizens,
  therefore without political right to appear in
  court
• Decision in effect declared Missouri Compromise
  unconstitutional- property allowed anywhere in
  U.S., therefore Congress had no authority to
  legislate on slavery
• Stephen Douglass upset that ruling contradicted
  democratic principle of popular sovereignty
• Republican party cemented with objective of
  preventing slavery from spreading into west

42
Panic of 1857

• Causes
• CA gold inflation
• Grain overproduction
• Over speculation
• RR construction

• Impact
• North hit hardest
• South remained untouched due to king cotton
• Farmers demanded 160 acres of free land
  (Homestead Act of 1860)
• Treasury surplus led to reduced tariff
• Farmer and industrial support for Republican
  Party

43
Lincoln Douglas Debates (1858)

• Lincoln challenges Douglas to series of debates
  for 1858 Illinois senatorial seat to increase
  Republican visibility
• Freeport Doctrine- most famous debate where
  Lincoln prompted Douglas to discuss popular
  sovereignty vs. Dred Scott decision which
  prevails?
• Douglas responded that popular sovereignty should
  always prevail- further split Democratic party
• Douglas won seat, but secured Lincolns
  nomination for 1860 presidential election

44
John Brown at Harpers Ferry, VA (1859)

• Objective seize federal arsenal at Harpers
  Ferry, VA and incite massive slave uprising to
  create slave sanctuary
• Plan failed miserably and John Brown captured
• Convicted for treason and murder, and
  subsequently hanged
• Martyrdom the aftermath of John Brown
• Execution of John Brown cemented conviction of
  free soilers and abolitionists to stop spread of
  slavery abolitionist movement took on moral
  cause as well

45
Democratic Split

• 1860 Democratic Presidential nomination
  convention split b/w N S
• Democrats nominated 2 presidential candidates
  securing Republican victory
• Northern Democrats nominated Douglas
• Southern Democrats nominated John Breckinridge
• Constitutional Union Party- nominated John Bell-
  sought to preserve union and constitution

46
1860 Presidential Election

• Republican candidate able to establish platform
  that appealed to all non-southern groups
• Non-extension of slavery for free soilers
• Protective tariff for NE manufacturers
• Pacific RR for NW
• Internal improvements
• Free homesteads for farmers
• Election results
• Lincoln won despite being minority President (40
  of popular vote, absent from polls tickets in 10
  S states)
• Although Lincoln won, S still held political
  advantage in Supreme Court and Congress
• Was there a need for secession?

47
1860 Electoral College
48
The South and Secession

• The symbolism of Lincolns win no possibility
  for compromise or co-existence
• Souths goal create independent nation where
  slavery could exist peacefully?!?!
• Following election of Lincoln, SC led charge
  seceding from union, followed by 6 other states
  (11 in total)
• Southern states created Confederate States of
  America, named Jefferson Davis as President, and
  based the capital out of Richmond, VA
• Buchanan and Lincoln powerless during lame duck
  period- pursued wait and see policy

49
Compromise and Disunion

• Crittenden Compromise/Amendments- designed to
  appease South by prohibiting slavery north of the
  3630 line, but fed govt to preserve and protect
  slavery south of line, even with further
  acquisitions (Cuba??)
• Future states would use popular sovereignty to
  decide
• Compromise flatly rejected by free soiler Lincoln
• Reasons for Southern Secession
• Political balance tipped against them (majority
  free states)
• Triumph of Republican party was threat to future
  of slavery
• Wanted to separate themselves from Northern
  Abolitionism
• Did not anticipate war due to importance of
  cotton
• Viewed themselves as culturally distinct from
  North
• Justified by principles of Declaration