Unit 4: Westward Expansion (Class Notes)

Annexation of Texas- 11/12/10
- As the USA expanded there was conflict over what should be done w/ land in the W

- 1821 Missouri Compromise: Maine (was part of Massachusetts) becomes a separate free state if Missouri becomes a free state

- This draws a line @ 36 30° with all states above it (except Missouri) being free states, this means that slave states would include Louisiana (w/ New Orleans), Arkansas and Missouri while free states would include everything above it, at the time it was believed that this area above was a desert

Why do the Southern farmers want to do W?

- They need more land since cotton monoculture depletes the soil

- The Mexico Government allows them to immigrate to their country (which included Texas @ the time) to increase the population and granted them empresarios (huge land grants)

- Moses Austin received a land grant and sold some land and brought a lot of people, his son the “father” of Texas, Stephen F. Austin continued his legacy

- Then the Mexican gov, during Santa Anna’s rule outlaws slavery, which wasn’t widely used in Mexico

- The immigrants rebel with help from other people like those from Tennessee “the volunteer state” and include some of the following: David Crockett, Bowie and Sam Houston

- Though the Texans and allies lose battles like Alamo and Goliad they end up winning the war @ the Battle of San Jacinto, Texas becomes an independent nation for 9 years before being annexed to the USA as “The Lone Star Republic” (Texas War for Independence)

- Santa Anna did not have the support of the people he was a military leader who did no relate to mestizos or native populations and was an opium addict

- Northerner did not want Texas annexed b/c the slave holding and free states would not have equal representation

- In the next election, the Whigs nominate Harrison for pres. and Tyler for vice, they run on the slogan of Tippecanoe and Tyler too and log cabin and hard cider, they win over van Buren who was blamed for the panic of 1837, though it was b/c of Jackson’s policies

- '''Pres. Tyler''' contrary to Whig ideals supported states’ rights and planters; he was kicked out by the Whigs and replaced the cabinet

- 1844 election, Clay a Whig lost while, Polk a democratic won by supporting manifest destiny (expansion of the USA) and annexation

- The Liberty Party, a 3rd party did participate enough to force the larger parties to begin to speak about slavery which they were against, the larger parties often avoided issue that were very controversial to keep getting votes