APUSH CH 17

Conscience Whigs

Antislavery Whigs who opposed both the Texas annexation and the Mexican War on moral grounds

Aroostook War

war fought in Maine over the Northern boundary of the U.S. in relation with the timber country and the U.S.-American border

Joint Resolution

act of both houses of Congress by which Texas was annexed

Oregon Trail

2,000 mile long path along which thousands of Americans journeyed to the Willamette valley in the 1840s

Manifest Destiny

the widespread belief that God had ordained the .S. to occupy all the territory of North America

Liberty Party

small, antislavery party that took enough votes from Henry Clay to cost him the election of 1844

Nueces

River that Mexico claimed as the Texas-Mexico boundary, crossed by Taylor's troops in 1846

Rio Grande

Claimed by the U.S. as the southern boundary of Texas

Texas

Independent nation that was the object of British, Mexican, and French scheming in the early 1840s

Oregon

Northwestern territory in dispute between Britain and U.S., subject of "Manifest Destiny" rhetoric in 1844

Spot Resolutions

resolutions offered by Congressman Abraham Lincoln demanding to know the precise location where the Mexicans had allegedly shed American blood on "American" soil

Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo

Treaty ending the Mexican War and granting vast territories to the U.S.

Wilmot Proviso

controversial amendment, which passed in the House but not the Senate, stipulating that slavery should be forbidden in territory acquired from Mexico

Popular sovereignty

the notion that no law or rule is legitimate unless it rests directly or indirectly on the consent of the

Bear Flag Revolt

a revolt from Fort Devenworth to Santa Fe in 1846. Lead by John C. Fremont, Americans in California wanted to be independent of Mexican rule, and when the war with Mexico began, these Californians revolted and established an independent republic called th

Clayton-Bulwer Treaty

in order to ensure that neither super-powers, the U.S. or Britain, would attempt to build a canal, they created this treaty, which stated that neither country would seek exclusive control of the canal or territory on either side of such a canal, fortify a

Gadsden Purchase

was made in 1853 for $15 million. This track of land was not only bought based on "Manifest Destiny," otherwise we wouldn't have paid as much. Its main importance was to allow us to build an inter-costal railroad, since that was the only land for miles th

Webster-Ashburton Treaty

a compromise over the Maine boundary. America received more land but England got the Halifax-Quebec route. It was patched up the Caroline Affair of 1837

Ostend Manifesto

took place in 1854 when a group of southerners met with Spanish officials in Belgium to attempt to get more slave territory, feeling this would balance out congress. They tried to buy Cuba but the Spanish would not sell it. Southerners wanted to take it b

John Tyler

Leader elected vice president on the Whig ticket in 1840, but became president after Harrison died. He spent most of his presidency in bitter feuds with his fellow Whigs

Henry Clay

Leader of the Senate Whigs and unsuccessful presidential candidate against Polk in 1844

Daniel Webster

Whig leader and secretary who negotiated an end to Maine boundary dispute in 1842

James K. Polk

Dark-horse" presidential winner in 1844 who effectively carried out ambitious expansionist campaign plans

John C. Freemont

Dashing explorer/adventurer who led the overthrow of Mexican rule in California after war broke out

Abraham Lincoln

Congressional author of the "spot resolutions" criticizing the Mexican war

Zachary Taylor

American military hero who invaded northern Mexico from Texas in 1846-1847

Winfield Scott

Old Fuss and Feathers," whose conquest of Mexico City brought U.S. victory in the Mexican War

Santa Anna

Mexican military leader who failed to stop humiliating American invasion of his country

Nicholas Trist

Long-winded American diplomat who negotiated the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo

David Wilmont

Congressional author of resolution forbidding slavery in territory acquired from Mexico, but was turned down 3 times

John Slidell

was sent to Mexico in 1845 as a minister, and was given instructions to offer $25 million to the Mexicans for California. He was rejected by the Mexicans and they called this offer "insulting". This refusal was one of the factors that lead to war

Canada

British Colony where Americans regularly aided anti-government rebels

Britain

Nation that strongly backed independence for Texas, hoping to turn into an economic asset and antislavery bastion

49� Line

Final compromise line that settled the Oregon boundary dispute in 1846

California

Rich Mexican province that Polk tried to buy and Mexico refused to sell

54' 40

Northern boundary of Oregon territory jointly occupied with Britain, advocated by Democratic party & others as the desired line of American expansion