Oregon Territory
Occupied by British and Americans
1845
5000 Americans lived below the Columbia River
British mostly in present day Washington, Americans in Oregon
Texas
Occupying Mexican territory
Lots of white settlers
Texas revolts, wants to join US
Texas originally was planned to join as 4 states
Whigs hated, because slave state Texas would get more representatives
Southerners didn't want Texas to join at all, for fear of war with Mexico
Annexation
Add on
Congress voted to annex, and Tyler vetoes
Tyler sucks
Primed for 1844 Presidential Election
Clay runs for the Whigs with Frelinghusen
Polk for the Democrats with George Dallas as VP
Polk wins pop. vote 3.1 Mil to 1.2 Mil
Electoral college was close
Texas was main issue
Polk agrees to only serve one term
Perhaps because the election was so close
Polk annexes Texas with Rio Grande as Southern boundary
Mexicans want higher border and Mexican War begins
Jan. 1846, General Taylor is ordered to advance to other side of the Rio Grande into Texas
General W. Worth comes into Mexico from the West side, w/ 5000 troops
Between them, nearly the entire US Army
John Slidell attempts to buy New Mexico
15-40 Million dollars
US Navy in Texas near Rio Grande
Also send it down to Vera Cruz
Port close to Mexico City
Mexico refuses to negotiate with Slidell until navy leaves Vera Cruz
Mexico troops: 32000, US: 8600
Railroads and communication lines did not extend to Texas
Friction among Generals
June, 1846, John Fremont, Naval Commander, starts Bear Flag Revolt
Tries to take California and join US
Little resistance, plays on Mexicans who wanted independent Californian nation
Fremont leads army all the way to Senoma Valley
Followed by Stockton
Stockton becomes Governer, w/ Fremont still Mil. Commander
Mexican revolt, strong in S. California
US has full control of North
Should CA join as slave state?
Middle of 36-30 Parallel
Wilmot Proviso
Offered 2 Million dollars for S. CA
Quiet rider banned slavery in any territory acquired from Texas
House passes, Senate kills it
War Hawks: "54-40 or Fight"
British agreed to 49th Parallel, excluding Vancouver Island
Flood of white settlers into CA after gold discovered
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