When James Polk ran for President, his platform was that of westward expansion. He wanted to claim the southern part of Oregon territory, annex the American Southwest from Mexico and annex Texas. The Whigs nominated Henry Clay. Clay’s platform was opposed to expansion, but his tactics alienated antislavery supporters and enemies of expansion. Electoral votes gave Polk the presidency. His vision was to annex Mexican territory, Texas and Oregon. Texas was a slave state and popular in the South. Northerners objected to the spread of slavery and opposed annexation. Texas was annexed at the end of 1845. Oregon was simultaneously annexed as a free country. Americans wanted all of Oregon with its northernmost boundary in Russian territory.
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after it won its independence in 1836. President Polk wanted California and New Mexico as well. He offered Mexico $30 million dollars. When Mexico refused, President Polk sent troops to occupy the border across the Rio Grande river, a disputed area of the Texas and Mexico border. Polk declared war when American troops met resistance from the Mexican cavalry. After two years of fighting, with a confused and weak military, Mexico lost the war. A third of its territory went to the U.S., including what is now Utah, California, Nevada, Arizona and Texas. In the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo the U.S. agreed to pay Mexico $15 million dollars and settle all American claims against the Mexican government. The war was over, and President Polk got what he wanted—at the expense of lost lives and costly years of fighting. A prominent newspaper described the treaty as “a peace which every one will be glad of, but no one will be proud …show more content…
The north was against slavery and thought it should be abolished—their view was that it is morally wrong and cruel. Southerners began to view slavery as a “positive good” instead of a “necessary evil”. They actually said that slaves were happy, content and well cared for. (Of course those who made this claim were not slaves). Northern church leaders did not believe—as Southern church leaders did—that slavery was a part of God’s plan. The Methodist and Baptist church split over their differing opinions on slavery. The Methodist church divided and formed the Methodist Episcopal Church. The Baptist church divided and the Southern Baptist Convention was formed. Questions regarding slavery now turned into debates about sin, evil and God’s plan for the nation.
Manifest Destiny did expand the territorial boundaries of the United States. However, along with expansion also came slavery with its issues, death and
after it won its independence in 1836. President Polk wanted California and New Mexico as well. He offered Mexico $30 million dollars. When Mexico refused, President Polk sent troops to occupy the border across the Rio Grande river, a disputed area of the Texas and Mexico border. Polk declared war when American troops met resistance from the Mexican cavalry. After two years of fighting, with a confused and weak military, Mexico lost the war. A third of its territory went to the U.S., including what is now Utah, California, Nevada, Arizona and Texas. In the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo the U.S. agreed to pay Mexico $15 million dollars and settle all American claims against the Mexican government. The war was over, and President Polk got what he wanted—at the expense of lost lives and costly years of fighting. A prominent newspaper described the treaty as “a peace which every one will be glad of, but no one will be proud …show more content…
The north was against slavery and thought it should be abolished—their view was that it is morally wrong and cruel. Southerners began to view slavery as a “positive good” instead of a “necessary evil”. They actually said that slaves were happy, content and well cared for. (Of course those who made this claim were not slaves). Northern church leaders did not believe—as Southern church leaders did—that slavery was a part of God’s plan. The Methodist and Baptist church split over their differing opinions on slavery. The Methodist church divided and formed the Methodist Episcopal Church. The Baptist church divided and the Southern Baptist Convention was formed. Questions regarding slavery now turned into debates about sin, evil and God’s plan for the nation.
Manifest Destiny did expand the territorial boundaries of the United States. However, along with expansion also came slavery with its issues, death and