...as or society grew and had more cultural influences, our government has changed as well. James Knox Polk, one of the few “pre-modern” presidents, influenced the American government by creating new forms of executive authority through his presidency. President John Polk was a democrat who demonstrated the use of authority not explicitly granted to him, executive power, and that sometime its plays an essential role in government. Executive power is almost giving the president complete authority at times until a limit is met. His view-point on executive power could be described as a privilege by the president to be used by certain means necessary. He exhibits the use of his executive privilege to show that the power has a meaningful role in government in that there are certain circumstances that require the use of such power. Over the course of Polk’s presidency, he experienced many complications, but they are almost insignificant when compared to his achievements. For starters, his election was one of the closest in American history. The desire for additional territory in the United States was high, even after the most recent annexation of the Texas territory. Soon, America had acquired the Oregon territory known as the 49th parallel. The next action was to gain ownership of California, Mexican territory. By May 13, 1846, the United States and Mexico were at war over the territory. Polk had moved troops into the disputed territory just north of the Rio Grande. In late April...
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...The Reach of the Three-Fifths Clause (from Gary Wills, ''Negro President": Jefferson and the Slave Power) 1. The effect of the clause was that slave states always had more than one-third more seats in Congress than their free population warranted; hence-- 1793—47 instead of 33 1812—76 instead of 59 1833—98 instead 73 2. Between 1788 and the Compromise of 1850 slaveholders controlled: a. the presidency for 50 years b. the speaker’s chair in the House for 41 years c. the chairmanship of House Ways and Means Committee for 42 years 3. The only men to be reelected president—Washington, Jefferson, Madison, Monroe—were all slaveholders 4. Eighteen of 31 Supreme Court justices were slaveholders 5. Southerners controlled the patronage in federal positions—e.g., 57% of the high civil service positions under Adams, 56% under Jefferson, 37% under Jackson 6. Many of Jefferson’s actions and concerns were specifically designed to maintain Southern numerical strength in the political system through the “slave power” (the power of south to control American politics through the 3/5 clause a. survey of the West b. Louisiana purchase c. fear of Burr’s detaching part of the Southwest from the Union d. University of Virginia—a place where southerners could send their best and brightest, rather than to Yale or Harvard where they might hear too much criticism of southern slavery 7. Slavery...
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...Soon after the election of John Tyler was elected as US president in 1841, he vigorously pursued the idea of annexing Texas and other western territories. In 1843, secret negotiations between the US and Texas began and consequently an annexation treaty was drafted by John C. Calhoun (Text p. 440). John C. Calhoun centered his Erin Rall 11-5-15 History 113 Prof. Townsend political career around the defense of slavery and had been the Senate’s most vocal advocate for the expansion of slavery. However the annexationists came together and nominated James Knox Polk as their chosen candidate and taking advantage of the deadlocked convention of the Democrats, these gave a new lease of life to the annexation process. The combination offered a winning formula and subsequently led to Whig candidate changing his stance on the annexation issue. The United States House and Senate, in turn, accepted the Texas state constitution in a Joint Resolution to Admit Texas as a State which was signed by the president. On December 29, 1845, Texas was successfully annexed into the United States of America and admitted to the union as its 28th member state (Ch. 14 PowerPoint). Texas’ nickname is the “Lone Star State” as a reminder of its struggle for...
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...With the presence of the Bear Flag was easy to seize California for the United States. President Polk sent John C. Fremont to California with a secret plan to take over the land. Back then, there was a group of rebels in California, which were tired of the Mexican rules; thus, some of the rebels started to help Fremont like Ezekiel Merritt who captured horses and took them to Fremont's camp. Then, Merritt's comrades captured General Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo, the wealthiest man in California and a prominent citizen; then, Vallejo was imprisoned at Sutter's Fort for two months. During that time, Sutter declared his support for the American settle, and Ide, a rebel man, emerged as the leader of the America guerrilla force named Bears. In 1846, the rebels raised a banner made for William Todd (a nephew of Abraham Lincoln) and with that declared California independent....
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...following of the War of 1812 and Madison, President James Polk thirty-four years later, found himself in a conflict involving the Mexican-American War (1846-1848). The Mexican-American war marked the first U.S. armed conflict chiefly fought on foreign soil. It pitted a politically divided and militarily unprepared Mexico against the expansionist-minded administration of U.S. President James K. Polk, who believed the United States had a “manifest destiny” to spread across the continent to the Pacific Ocean. Soon after gaining its independence in 1836 from Mexico, the United States rejected annexing the newly freed Texas, due to the political interests of the north who were against the addition of a new slave state. The Mexican government...
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...notwithstanding all our efforts to avoid it, exists by the act of Mexico herself, we are called upon by every consideration of duty and patriotism to vindicate with decision the honor, the rights, and the interest of our country.” - Special message of President James Polk asking Congress to declare war with Mexico on May 11, 1846.( Carey 26) Mexico was furious when Texas became part of the United States in 1845. A formal complaint was made by a Mexican ambassador to Washington, D.C. and returned to Mexico city. In turn, the American ambassador withdrew from Mexico. The two nations poised for war.( ---) Trying to avoid any conflict, the United States tried to obtain the territory that now makes up California and New Mexico peacefully. President James Polk sent an envoy to Mexico City of $30 million or more to buy the territory for California and New Mexico. Mexico refused to consider the offer. (-----) By May of 1846, many people in the United States wanted to declare war on Mexico and grab as much territory, but the U.S. Secretaries of state and of war argued that it would be illegal. (-----) They insisted that they would not allow the country to go to war unless Mexico attacked first. (-----) At just that time, President James Polk had already ordered General Zachary Taylor to lead a detachment of American troops into western Texas, between the Nueces and the Rio Grande, to patrol the boarder.(-----) The Mexican commander ordered him to withdraw, but instead Taylor penetrated all...
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...Timeline April 6, 1830, The Mexican Gov. was concerned that Americans had too much influence on Mexican citizens, so Mexico banned immigration except to people from Europe. 1833, Texans were unhappy with the new regulation, so they made a list of complaints about the law, a Texas Constitution some might say, but Mexico rejected the complaints and the law continued. October 2, 1835, Mexican soldiers were sent to Gonzales to take back a cannon the Mexican Government lent to Texas to scare away Indians. Texans did not let the soldiers into town and fired on them. This marks the day when the “Come and take it” flag was flown, and the Battle of Gonzales ensued. October 9, 1835, Texas settlers attack Mexican soldiers near Goliad. They win and...
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...Internal turmoil was common in the 19th century, in both Europe and the United States. Governments and rulers struggled to keep their countries united as many called to make countries of their own. Some rulers made agreements with the rebels, while others fought wars against them to keep them from seceding. These decisions and compromises resulted in different ways, but a common factor in all the winners was a strong, decisive government, a powerful military, cultural unity, and The United States had the most tumultuous experience with unification by far out of all the countries. Problems arising as early as the Mexican American War did not dissipate, partly because the problems were large ones, but also because the government chose not to make decisions on them. The first of these problems began as the United States began to look beyond its borders, to the western land below Oregon Country owned by the Mexicans. Possessing that land would complete the east-to-west ownership that the Americans had already begun (Image D). It would also be fulfilling what God had ordained them to do, according to the Manifest Destiny. Taking over North America was the plan, and perhaps even delve into South America. The solution to the piece of missing land was provoking a war. The movement of soldiers into disputed territory was a way to initiate a war if the Mexicans attacked first. The Mexicans struck first, so the Americans had a solid reason for declaring war. The war dragged on longer than...
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...Americans eyes and it needed to be concurred by another race. For economic situations America would prosper from colonization in California, socially and politically it would expand the system making American’s unify and succeed. Many did see this situation coming ahead of time, such as John L. Sullivan (Doc. 4) who claimed America would soon claim much of the land west of Texas. There was so much good that came out of expansion, schools, collages, courts, mills, meeting houses would all pull a great contribution to American society. The Mexican war was the most important piece to unifying America. It was the start for major territorial expiation and taking action towards declaring a war with them was the next step for America. President James Polk Addresses his citizen by questioning the peace bestowed between Texas and the U.S. (Doc. 6). Though we know that the war occurred, and expansion unified the people of America there were laws that came with new land. The American people took new territory over No territory (Doc. 3) because of their ideal vision for manifest destiny. The territorial expansion in the United States created by the belief in manifest destiny unified the people as a whole. Politically, socially, and economically America did well facing only minor conflicts that would later lead to the Civil war in 1861. ...
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...Was it an invasion or not? Mexico won its independence from Spain in 1821. Texas won its independence from Mexico in 1836. The real question in my own words is “Was it really ok for the the U.S. to go take Texas from the Mexicans?” The United States was justified in going to war with Mexico because the Mexicans had a very bad government, Mexico also had a law that conflicted with current slavery practices in the U.S. , and lastly, the U.S. wanted to increase their territory to the Pacific Ocean. One reason the Mexican War was justified was because the Mexicans did not have a good government. (Doc A) Sullivan said “Imbecile and distracted, Mexico will never exert any real government authority over such a country.” What he is basically saying, is he thinks that Mexico does not have enough people to govern and inhabit all the land from Texas through California that runs up the Pacific Coast. Mexican leaders were aware of the near emptiness of their lands and did not have enough people to settle it and make schools, colleges, courts and meeting houses. This evidence shows that the U.S was justified in going to war with Mexico because Mexico had a bad government. A second reason the Mexican War was justified was because the Mexicans and the U.S. had conflicting laws regarding slavery. (Doc. D) Mexicans would charge the Americans for wrongful robbery when they would bring slaves into Mexican territory. But, back in the U.S. you would be allowed to be slaveholders...
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....S. History ©2014 Unit 3—Expansion and Reform (1815-1850) 1. Why was the primary characteristic of the “Era of Good Feelings” (1815-1819) after the War of 1812? 2. How did the Industrial Revolution affect the nation’s economy?. 3. How was nationalism reflected in domestic and foreign policies during the Era of Good Feelings? 4. Describe the sectional issues and events that brought an end to the Era of Good Feelings. 5. What was “Jacksonian Democracy”? 6. Describe the impact of federal government’s Indian policies under Andrew Jackson. 7. What issues impacted American politics while Andrew Jackson was president? 8. What was the Second Great Awakening and what effect did it have on social movements in the mid-1800s? 9. Identify the major reform movements of the mid-1800s. 10. What effect did the women’s rights movement have? 11. Identify significant figures in the abolitionist movement and describe their efforts to end slavery. 12. How did territorial expansion into Texas lead to conflict and change? 13. Explain how “Manifest Destiny” resulted in westward expansion. 14. Describe how the Mexican War resulted in increased sectionalism. 15. Which territorial acquisitions were a result of the Mexican War? Flashcards: http://www.quia.com/jg/2615676.html Words to know 1. nationalism 2. protective tariff 3. internal improvement 4. sectionalism 5. doctrine 6. suffrage 7. patronage 8. nullification 9. reform ...
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...1860) how many antebellum presidents were where? • 9 5.) If in 1836 Texas had won its independence, why would Great Britain care about Texas independence in the 1840s? • It would stop southward expansion for the US 6.) In the presidential campaign of 1844 what was THE #1 issue confronting the contenders? • Texas 7.) Where was James K. Polk originally from? • North Carolina 8.) Who would have advocated "Texas or disunion," what geographic region would that person - most likely - have been from? 9.) Added to the Union in _______ Texas was what # state? • 1845 • 28 10.) By the opening salvos of the American C.W. how many states were there in the Union? • 34 11.) Regarding Oregon, which FOUR countries laid claim to it (and which TWO dropped out of the race for Oregon)? • Spain Russia Britain US 12.) THE principal waterway (river) in the Oregon controversy was what? • Columbia River 13.) Considered the "St Lawrence of the West" what is being spoken of? 14.) How is "Oregon Fever" explained? • In the 1840s Americans settled south of the Columbia River 15.) As the 11th president of the United States it is said of James K. Polk that he had a four-point program; what were those points? 15.A) Lowered tariff 15.B) Restoration of the independent treaty 15.C) acquisition of California 15.D) Settlement of Oregon dispute 16.) Explain the 1846 Walker Tariff (What was it - its purpose)? • To cut the high rates of the Black Tariff that was imposed by whigs 17...
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...1846-1848 Some wars fall between the cracks. That appears to be what happened with Polk’s War. James K. Polk was our eleventh president. He is often listed as the worst president we’ve ever had. Polk’s War was actually the Mexican War of 1846-48. Before and during that war, most Americans including congress were not in favor of a war with Mexico. The war was launched on questionable pretexts. Why invade a smaller, poorer neighbor just for land? Mexico’s border with the Republic of Texas was the Nueces River near Corpus Christi. New Mexico, Arizona, California along with other territory belonged to Mexico, having won them from Spain some 25 years earlier. There were debates in Congress that the invasion of Mexico was unconstitutional. America had never invaded others (except the American Indians). A young congressman, Abraham Lincoln, began his move into the national limelight as an avowed opponent to the war. Polk saw America as having a manifest destiny to control the entire continent. The great American attitude of “can do” was increasing in strength. Arrogance was never been in short supply in our brief history. President James K. Polk sent troops to Corpus Christi to move the border to the Rio Grande. This was not something the Mexicans wanted. They responded with some strength and were not the push-over Polk and the war hawks thought they would be. For such a strong nation to invade a...
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...territory. The territory that was obtained via the treaty eventually became New Mexico, Nevada, Colorado, Arizona, and some of Utah.[1] This treaty, especially in the long run, benefited both the United States and Mexico, but there are many arguments about why the war started. Some argue that the United States was power hungry and was continuing its “bulling” of the continent to fulfill their belief that it was God’s will for the United States to control the land from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean. This has now become to be known as Manifest Destiny.[2] Then there are the counter arguments that the dictatorship of Mexico sent troops to invade the United States and killed Americans. In a message to congress on May 11, 1846, President James Polk said, “Mexico invaded our territory and shed American blood upon the American soil.”[3] There are many arguments that say the United States is a racist nation and that this war, like many others, was because of white racism. Whether the battles were all racially motivated will never be known. It is impossible to know what was in the hearts of the Americans who fought in the war. What is know is that during that time Mexico was under an oppressive dictatorship and whether the motives of the United States were malicious or not, everyone should agree that the Mexican-American War and the signing of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo benefitted everyone who lived on that land at the...
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... Cinco de Mayo is the Spanish names for Fifth of May. This holiday has become one of the major ones in the United States due to the large number of Mexican immigrants who brought it with them. Cinco de Mayo is not independence day for Mexico like most starter or unknowledgeable people may think. Mexico's independence day is celebrated on September 16th. Throughout this essay, I will help you understand the history behind this very famous holiday. Cinco de mayo is mostly celebrated in the United States and in Puebla. According to history Cinco de mayo video, " this holiday is celebrated with parties, mariachi music, folk dancing, Mexican food, and last but not least margaritas" (Oracle). This all began on May fifth, 1862. When Mexican forces began battling the French army. As illustrated in the history Cinco de Mayo video, "the Mexican army was outnumbered by the French army two to one" (Oracle). What was according was that the army was trying to invade Mexico by the order of Napoleon iii. But, little did they know that Mexico was going to stand up against them. A Mexican general named Ignacio Zara Seguin , led the Mexican army which was composed of 4,500 Mexican soldiers. On the other hand the French army was composed of 6,500 soldiers. Unlike the Mexican soldiers the French soldiers were heavily armed soldier who have not been defeated in years. But, this didn't stop the them from going to war. According to Kelly Phillips Erb, "the French lost 500 soldiers ...
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