{"id":350,"date":"2015-08-21T17:59:30","date_gmt":"2015-08-21T17:59:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/courses.candelalearning.com\/ushistory1os2xmaster\/?post_type=chapter&#038;p=350"},"modified":"2022-07-25T19:16:47","modified_gmt":"2022-07-25T19:16:47","slug":"oregon-california-and-texas","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/wm-ushistory1\/chapter\/oregon-california-and-texas\/","title":{"raw":"Oregon, California, and Texas","rendered":"Oregon, California, and Texas"},"content":{"raw":"<div class=\"bcc-box bcc-highlight\">\r\n<h3>Learning Objectives<\/h3>\r\n<ul class=\"im_orderedlist\">\r\n \t<li>Describe the annexation of Oregon<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Describe the annexation of Texas<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<h2>American Expansion Intensifies<\/h2>\r\n<p id=\"fs-idp93247040\">Tensions between the United States and Mexico rapidly deteriorated in the 1840s as American expansionists eagerly eyed Mexican land to the west, including the lush northern Mexican province of California. In 1842, a U.S. naval fleet, incorrectly believing war had broken out, seized Monterey, California. While Monterey was returned the next day, the episode only added to the uneasiness with which Mexico viewed its northern neighbor. The forces of expansion, however, could not be contained, and American voters elected James Polk in 1844 because he promised to deliver more lands. President Polk fulfilled his promise by gaining the Oregon territory and, most spectacularly, provoking a war with Mexico that ultimately fulfilled the wildest fantasies of expansionists. By 1848, the United States encompassed much of North America and at last stretched from the Atlantic to the Pacific.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<section id=\"fs-idp225728592\">\r\n<h3>The Oregon Treaty<\/h3>\r\n<p id=\"fs-idp142423744\">A fervent belief in expansion gripped the United States in the 1840s. As previously stated, in 1845, New York newspaper editor, John O\u2019Sullivan, introduced the concept of \u201cmanifest destiny\u201d to describe the popular idea of the special role of the United States in overtaking the continent. Manifest Destiny asserted the divine right and duty of White Americans to seize and settle the American West, thus spreading Protestant, democratic values. In this climate of opinion, voters in 1844 elected James K. Polk, a slaveholder from Tennessee, because he vowed to annex Texas as a new slave state and obtain the Oregon Country solely for the U.S., as it had been shared with Great Britain since 1818.<\/p>\r\n<span style=\"font-size: 1rem; text-align: initial;\">Annexing Oregon was an important objective for U.S. foreign policy because it appeared to be an area rich in commercial possibilities. Northerners favored U.S. control of Oregon because ports in the Pacific Northwest would be gateways for trade with Asia. Southerners hoped that, in exchange for their support of expansion into the Northwest, Northerners would not oppose plans for expansion into the Southwest.<\/span>\r\n\r\n<\/section><section id=\"fs-idp225728592\">\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"390\"]<img src=\"https:\/\/s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/courses-images-archive-read-only\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/883\/2015\/08\/23202500\/CNX_History_11_04_OregonMap.jpg\" alt=\"A map of the Oregon territory during the period of joint occupation by the United States and Great Britain shows the area whose ownership was contested by the two powers. The uppermost region is labeled \u201cRupert\u2019s Land (British),\u201d which lies in between the \u201c54\u00b0 40\u2032- Extreme U.S. Claim\u201d and \u201c49\u00b0\u201d lines. The central region, which lies in between the \u201c49\u00b0\u201d and \u201c42\u00b0 - Extreme British Claim\u201d lines, contains Oregon Country. Beneath the \u201c42\u00b0 - Extreme British Claim\u201d line lies Mexico.\" width=\"390\" height=\"424\" \/> <strong>Figure 1<\/strong>. This map of the Oregon territory during the period of joint occupation by the United States and Great Britain shows the area whose ownership was contested by the two powers.[\/caption]\r\n<p id=\"fs-idm20059424\">President Polk\u2014whose campaign slogan in 1844 had been \u201cFifty-four forty or fight!\u201d\u2014asserted the United States\u2019 right to gain full control of what was known as <strong>Oregon Country<\/strong>, from its southern border at 42\u00b0 latitude (the current boundary with California) to its northern border at 54\u00b0 40' latitude. According to the Treaty of 1818, Great Britain and the United States held joint ownership of this territory, but the 1827 Treaty of Joint Occupation opened the land to settlement by both countries. Realizing that the British were not willing to cede all claims to the territory, Polk proposed the land be divided at 49\u00b0 latitude (the current border between Washington and Canada). The British, however, denied U.S. claims to land north of the Columbia River (Oregon\u2019s current northern border). Indeed, the British foreign secretary refused even to relay Polk\u2019s proposal to London. However, reports of the difficulty Great Britain would face defending Oregon in the event of a U.S. attack, combined with concerns over affairs at home and elsewhere in its empire, quickly changed the minds of the British, and in June 1846, Queen Victoria\u2019s government agreed to a division at the forty-ninth parallel. The U.S. too had its own problems to deal with, as the Mexican-American War had broken out in April 1846. Both countries knew that another war between them was not worth the cost, and so the treaty was signed without incident.<\/p>\r\n<p id=\"fs-idp125561104\">In contrast to the diplomatic solution with Great Britain over Oregon, when it came to Mexico, President Polk and the American people proved willing to use force to obtain more land for the United States.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<div class=\"textbox exercises\">\r\n<h3>Link to Learning<\/h3>\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=7F0k3qlmItg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">This video details some of the history of the Oregon territory<\/a> and how the British, French, Spanish, Russians, and Americans all laid claim to the land (which was already occupied by Indigenous tribes).\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"textbox tryit\">\r\n<h3>Try It<\/h3>\r\n<p class=\"p1\">https:\/\/assess.lumenlearning.com\/practice\/eb370a2c-9088-4305-9795-6ac86f7e24db<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<h3>The Annexation of Texas<\/h3>\r\nTexas annexation had remained a political landmine since the Republic declared independence from Mexico in 1836. American politicians feared that adding Texas to the Union would provoke a war with Mexico and reignite sectional tensions by throwing off the balance between free and slave states. However, after his expulsion from the Whig party, President John Tyler (James Polk's predecessor) saw Texas statehood as the key to saving his political career. In 1842, he began presenting annexation as a national debate. Harnessing public outcry over the issue, Democrat James K. Polk rose from virtual obscurity to win the presidential election of 1844. Polk and his party campaigned on promises of westward expansion, with eyes toward Texas, Oregon, and California.\r\n\r\nIn keeping with voters\u2019 expectations, President Polk set his sights on the Mexican state of California. After the mistaken capture of Monterey, negotiations about purchasing the port of San Francisco from Mexico broke off until September 1845. Polk also made overtures about purchasing Upper California and New Mexico as well, which went nowhere. The Mexican government, angered by U.S. actions, refused to recognize the independence of Texas because they felt that the U.S. had helped Texas to rebel so that they could claim the territory for themselves (which was mostly true).\u00a0In the final days of his presidency in March 1845, President Tyler had extended an official offer of statehood to Texas. The Republic accepted the offer on July 4th, and President Polk officially agreed in December 1845, making Texas the newest slave state.\r\n<h3>Mexico's Reaction<\/h3>\r\nIncensed that the United States had annexed Texas, the Mexican government refused to discuss the matter of selling land to them, including California, which Polk desperately wanted. Indeed, Mexico refused even to acknowledge Polk\u2019s emissary, John Slidell, who had been sent to Mexico City to negotiate the sale of California for $25 million. Not to be deterred, Polk encouraged Thomas O. Larkin, the U.S. consul in Monterey, to assist any American settlers and any <strong>Californios<\/strong>, the Mexican residents of the state, who wished to proclaim their independence from Mexico. By the end of 1845, Mexico had broken diplomatic ties with the United States over Texas and was growing increasingly alarmed by American actions in California. The Mexican government warily anticipated the Americans' next move and it did not have long to wait.\r\n<div class=\"textbox tryit\">\r\n<h3>Try It<\/h3>\r\nhttps:\/\/assess.lumenlearning.com\/practice\/12a1d3d6-48e3-4f4e-bc8f-a86091665bb3\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/section><section id=\"fs-idm285993808\" class=\"summary\">\r\n<div class=\"textbox learning-objectives\">\r\n<h3>Glossary<\/h3>\r\n<strong>Californios:\u00a0<\/strong>Mexican residents of California\r\n\r\n<strong>Oregon Country:\u00a0<\/strong>territory encompassing modern-day Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and part of southwestern Canada above the 49th parallel. It was jointly settled by Britain and the U.S. in an effort at compromise, but the U.S. negotiated for all the territory south of the 49th parallel, giving up a small parcel of land in modern-day Montana to the British in exchange.\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/section>","rendered":"<div class=\"bcc-box bcc-highlight\">\n<h3>Learning Objectives<\/h3>\n<ul class=\"im_orderedlist\">\n<li>Describe the annexation of Oregon<\/li>\n<li>Describe the annexation of Texas<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<h2>American Expansion Intensifies<\/h2>\n<p id=\"fs-idp93247040\">Tensions between the United States and Mexico rapidly deteriorated in the 1840s as American expansionists eagerly eyed Mexican land to the west, including the lush northern Mexican province of California. In 1842, a U.S. naval fleet, incorrectly believing war had broken out, seized Monterey, California. While Monterey was returned the next day, the episode only added to the uneasiness with which Mexico viewed its northern neighbor. The forces of expansion, however, could not be contained, and American voters elected James Polk in 1844 because he promised to deliver more lands. President Polk fulfilled his promise by gaining the Oregon territory and, most spectacularly, provoking a war with Mexico that ultimately fulfilled the wildest fantasies of expansionists. By 1848, the United States encompassed much of North America and at last stretched from the Atlantic to the Pacific.<\/p>\n<section id=\"fs-idp225728592\">\n<h3>The Oregon Treaty<\/h3>\n<p id=\"fs-idp142423744\">A fervent belief in expansion gripped the United States in the 1840s. As previously stated, in 1845, New York newspaper editor, John O\u2019Sullivan, introduced the concept of \u201cmanifest destiny\u201d to describe the popular idea of the special role of the United States in overtaking the continent. Manifest Destiny asserted the divine right and duty of White Americans to seize and settle the American West, thus spreading Protestant, democratic values. In this climate of opinion, voters in 1844 elected James K. Polk, a slaveholder from Tennessee, because he vowed to annex Texas as a new slave state and obtain the Oregon Country solely for the U.S., as it had been shared with Great Britain since 1818.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 1rem; text-align: initial;\">Annexing Oregon was an important objective for U.S. foreign policy because it appeared to be an area rich in commercial possibilities. Northerners favored U.S. control of Oregon because ports in the Pacific Northwest would be gateways for trade with Asia. Southerners hoped that, in exchange for their support of expansion into the Northwest, Northerners would not oppose plans for expansion into the Southwest.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"fs-idp225728592\">\n<div style=\"width: 400px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/courses-images-archive-read-only\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/883\/2015\/08\/23202500\/CNX_History_11_04_OregonMap.jpg\" alt=\"A map of the Oregon territory during the period of joint occupation by the United States and Great Britain shows the area whose ownership was contested by the two powers. The uppermost region is labeled \u201cRupert\u2019s Land (British),\u201d which lies in between the \u201c54\u00b0 40\u2032- Extreme U.S. Claim\u201d and \u201c49\u00b0\u201d lines. The central region, which lies in between the \u201c49\u00b0\u201d and \u201c42\u00b0 - Extreme British Claim\u201d lines, contains Oregon Country. Beneath the \u201c42\u00b0 - Extreme British Claim\u201d line lies Mexico.\" width=\"390\" height=\"424\" \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><strong>Figure 1<\/strong>. This map of the Oregon territory during the period of joint occupation by the United States and Great Britain shows the area whose ownership was contested by the two powers.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p id=\"fs-idm20059424\">President Polk\u2014whose campaign slogan in 1844 had been \u201cFifty-four forty or fight!\u201d\u2014asserted the United States\u2019 right to gain full control of what was known as <strong>Oregon Country<\/strong>, from its southern border at 42\u00b0 latitude (the current boundary with California) to its northern border at 54\u00b0 40&#8242; latitude. According to the Treaty of 1818, Great Britain and the United States held joint ownership of this territory, but the 1827 Treaty of Joint Occupation opened the land to settlement by both countries. Realizing that the British were not willing to cede all claims to the territory, Polk proposed the land be divided at 49\u00b0 latitude (the current border between Washington and Canada). The British, however, denied U.S. claims to land north of the Columbia River (Oregon\u2019s current northern border). Indeed, the British foreign secretary refused even to relay Polk\u2019s proposal to London. However, reports of the difficulty Great Britain would face defending Oregon in the event of a U.S. attack, combined with concerns over affairs at home and elsewhere in its empire, quickly changed the minds of the British, and in June 1846, Queen Victoria\u2019s government agreed to a division at the forty-ninth parallel. The U.S. too had its own problems to deal with, as the Mexican-American War had broken out in April 1846. Both countries knew that another war between them was not worth the cost, and so the treaty was signed without incident.<\/p>\n<p id=\"fs-idp125561104\">In contrast to the diplomatic solution with Great Britain over Oregon, when it came to Mexico, President Polk and the American people proved willing to use force to obtain more land for the United States.<\/p>\n<div class=\"textbox exercises\">\n<h3>Link to Learning<\/h3>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=7F0k3qlmItg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">This video details some of the history of the Oregon territory<\/a> and how the British, French, Spanish, Russians, and Americans all laid claim to the land (which was already occupied by Indigenous tribes).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"textbox tryit\">\n<h3>Try It<\/h3>\n<p class=\"p1\">\t<iframe id=\"assessment_practice_eb370a2c-9088-4305-9795-6ac86f7e24db\" class=\"resizable\" src=\"https:\/\/assess.lumenlearning.com\/practice\/eb370a2c-9088-4305-9795-6ac86f7e24db?iframe_resize_id=assessment_practice_id_eb370a2c-9088-4305-9795-6ac86f7e24db\" frameborder=\"0\" style=\"border:none;width:100%;height:100%;min-height:300px;\"><br \/>\n\t<\/iframe><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<h3>The Annexation of Texas<\/h3>\n<p>Texas annexation had remained a political landmine since the Republic declared independence from Mexico in 1836. American politicians feared that adding Texas to the Union would provoke a war with Mexico and reignite sectional tensions by throwing off the balance between free and slave states. However, after his expulsion from the Whig party, President John Tyler (James Polk&#8217;s predecessor) saw Texas statehood as the key to saving his political career. In 1842, he began presenting annexation as a national debate. Harnessing public outcry over the issue, Democrat James K. Polk rose from virtual obscurity to win the presidential election of 1844. Polk and his party campaigned on promises of westward expansion, with eyes toward Texas, Oregon, and California.<\/p>\n<p>In keeping with voters\u2019 expectations, President Polk set his sights on the Mexican state of California. After the mistaken capture of Monterey, negotiations about purchasing the port of San Francisco from Mexico broke off until September 1845. Polk also made overtures about purchasing Upper California and New Mexico as well, which went nowhere. The Mexican government, angered by U.S. actions, refused to recognize the independence of Texas because they felt that the U.S. had helped Texas to rebel so that they could claim the territory for themselves (which was mostly true).\u00a0In the final days of his presidency in March 1845, President Tyler had extended an official offer of statehood to Texas. The Republic accepted the offer on July 4th, and President Polk officially agreed in December 1845, making Texas the newest slave state.<\/p>\n<h3>Mexico&#8217;s Reaction<\/h3>\n<p>Incensed that the United States had annexed Texas, the Mexican government refused to discuss the matter of selling land to them, including California, which Polk desperately wanted. Indeed, Mexico refused even to acknowledge Polk\u2019s emissary, John Slidell, who had been sent to Mexico City to negotiate the sale of California for $25 million. Not to be deterred, Polk encouraged Thomas O. Larkin, the U.S. consul in Monterey, to assist any American settlers and any <strong>Californios<\/strong>, the Mexican residents of the state, who wished to proclaim their independence from Mexico. By the end of 1845, Mexico had broken diplomatic ties with the United States over Texas and was growing increasingly alarmed by American actions in California. The Mexican government warily anticipated the Americans&#8217; next move and it did not have long to wait.<\/p>\n<div class=\"textbox tryit\">\n<h3>Try It<\/h3>\n<p>\t<iframe id=\"assessment_practice_12a1d3d6-48e3-4f4e-bc8f-a86091665bb3\" class=\"resizable\" src=\"https:\/\/assess.lumenlearning.com\/practice\/12a1d3d6-48e3-4f4e-bc8f-a86091665bb3?iframe_resize_id=assessment_practice_id_12a1d3d6-48e3-4f4e-bc8f-a86091665bb3\" frameborder=\"0\" style=\"border:none;width:100%;height:100%;min-height:300px;\"><br \/>\n\t<\/iframe><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"fs-idm285993808\" class=\"summary\">\n<div class=\"textbox learning-objectives\">\n<h3>Glossary<\/h3>\n<p><strong>Californios:\u00a0<\/strong>Mexican residents of California<\/p>\n<p><strong>Oregon Country:\u00a0<\/strong>territory encompassing modern-day Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and part of southwestern Canada above the 49th parallel. It was jointly settled by Britain and the U.S. in an effort at compromise, but the U.S. negotiated for all the territory south of the 49th parallel, giving up a small parcel of land in modern-day Montana to the British in exchange.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\t\t\t <section class=\"citations-section\" role=\"contentinfo\">\n\t\t\t <h3>Candela Citations<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t <div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t <div id=\"citation-list-350\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t <div class=\"licensing\"><div class=\"license-attribution-dropdown-subheading\">CC licensed content, Shared previously<\/div><ul class=\"citation-list\"><li>US History. <strong>Provided by<\/strong>: OpenStax. <strong>Located at<\/strong>: <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/openstax.org\/books\/us-history\/pages\/11-4-the-mexican-american-war-1846-1848\">https:\/\/openstax.org\/books\/us-history\/pages\/11-4-the-mexican-american-war-1846-1848<\/a>. <strong>License<\/strong>: <em><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"license\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/\">CC BY: Attribution<\/a><\/em>. <strong>License Terms<\/strong>: Access for free at https:\/\/openstax.org\/books\/us-history\/pages\/1-introduction<\/li><li>http:\/\/www.americanyawp.com\/text\/12-manifest-destiny\/#footnote_30_86. <strong>Provided by<\/strong>: The American Yawp. <strong>Located at<\/strong>: <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/www.americanyawp.com\/text\/12-manifest-destiny\/#footnote_30_86\">http:\/\/www.americanyawp.com\/text\/12-manifest-destiny\/#footnote_30_86<\/a>. <strong>License<\/strong>: <em><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"license\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-sa\/4.0\/\">CC BY-SA: Attribution-ShareAlike<\/a><\/em><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t <\/div>\n\t\t\t <\/section>","protected":false},"author":969,"menu_order":7,"template":"","meta":{"_candela_citation":"[{\"type\":\"cc\",\"description\":\"US History\",\"author\":\"\",\"organization\":\"OpenStax\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/openstax.org\/books\/us-history\/pages\/11-4-the-mexican-american-war-1846-1848\",\"project\":\"\",\"license\":\"cc-by\",\"license_terms\":\"Access for free at https:\/\/openstax.org\/books\/us-history\/pages\/1-introduction\"},{\"type\":\"cc\",\"description\":\"http:\/\/www.americanyawp.com\/text\/12-manifest-destiny\/#footnote_30_86\",\"author\":\"\",\"organization\":\"The American Yawp\",\"url\":\"http:\/\/www.americanyawp.com\/text\/12-manifest-destiny\/#footnote_30_86\",\"project\":\"\",\"license\":\"cc-by-sa\",\"license_terms\":\"\"}]","CANDELA_OUTCOMES_GUID":"f45cf7e8-43f5-4c49-9818-df161b26ca4b,194ca632-e131-4b62-8a9a-510b40b376ff,d6a8c74c-8bab-4a5e-b9de-613e6f81ee83","pb_show_title":"on","pb_short_title":"","pb_subtitle":"","pb_authors":[],"pb_section_license":""},"chapter-type":[],"contributor":[],"license":[],"class_list":["post-350","chapter","type-chapter","status-publish","hentry"],"part":325,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/wm-ushistory1\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/350","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/wm-ushistory1\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/wm-ushistory1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/chapter"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/wm-ushistory1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/969"}],"version-history":[{"count":22,"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/wm-ushistory1\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/350\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8336,"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/wm-ushistory1\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/350\/revisions\/8336"}],"part":[{"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/wm-ushistory1\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/parts\/325"}],"metadata":[{"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/wm-ushistory1\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/350\/metadata\/"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/wm-ushistory1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=350"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"chapter-type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/wm-ushistory1\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapter-type?post=350"},{"taxonomy":"contributor","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/wm-ushistory1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/contributor?post=350"},{"taxonomy":"license","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/wm-ushistory1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/license?post=350"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}