Chapter 17 questions
Due Monday.
Answer fully, specifically, and in your own words. Answers must be handwritten. INCLUDE DATES WHERE AT ALL POSSIBLE!!!! That means put the dates next to events!
1. What was the origin and meaning of the term “Manifest Destiny?” What overriding question would interfere in the pursuit of our “Manifest Destiny?
2. Who were the real leaders of the Whig Party? How did they view Harrison, and why? What kinds of people belonged to the “minority wing” of the party?
3. Why did John Tyler become a Whig? What exactly were his political beliefs and inclinations (look up the meaning of the phrase “lone wolf” to help)? Why had he been placed on the 1840 ticket?
4. How did Tyler become president? What stance did he take toward many Whig programs, especially the independent treasury system and tariffs? What happened to his cabinet, and why?
5. Let’s talk about nicknames….What euphemisms did the Whigs use to try to sneak a new Bank of the US across Tyler? What did angry Whigs call Tyler, and what was the “Tyler grippe?” What were the specific consequences of his veto of a new central banking system, whatever the name?
6. Why did Whigs support tariffs (we have talked about this before in the chapter on Jackson)? What did the Tariff of 1842 do to tariff rates?
7. How did American economic expansion lead to resentment of Britain?
8. Explain how specific events (Canadian insurrection, the Caroline affair, the McLeod affair, the Creole affair, Aroostook War, Oregon joint resolution, etc.) influence British- American relations during the years between the War of 1812 and the Civil War (You might want to make a cause-effect chart)? What was the “Third War with England?”
9. What was the purpose of the Webster-Ashburton Treaty, and what were its effects?
10. How and why did the British interfere in Texas? What about the French? What role did cotton play?
11. Explain how Texas was eventually annexed. Which president actually oversaw the annexation, and how? What effect did that have on American relations with Mexico? Why were abolitionists opposed to annexation (I have already explained this—remember?)?
12. Exactly what were the original boundaries of the Oregon Country? How many countries had originally had claims in this area? What were the British and American claims based upon? How did missionaries influence America claims?
13. What is the relationship between the Anglo-American Convention of 1818 and the “joint occupation” plan? How did “Oregon fever” doom “joint occupation?” What exactly was the area in dispute? What group most supported annexation of the entire Oregon country, and why?
14. Why was James K. Polk the answer to the Democrats’ deadlock in 1844? What were his positives? What was the specific Democratic platform that year?
15. What were Clay’s positives and negatives in 1844? How was Texas his Achilles’ heel?
16. Explain each of the four points on Polk’s “must list.”
17. Why was Polk willing to accept the 49th parallel offer from Britain regarding the Oregon country? Why were the British willing to deal?
18. What role did California and Texas play in our tensions with Mexico? What were the specific grips between our two countries? What was John Slidell supposed to do?
19. How exactly did Polk force a showdown with Mexico? Why exactly did we go to war? How did slavery influence Mexican actions?
20. Explain “American blood has been spilled on American soil!” Explain “spotty Lincoln’s” response.
21. Explain why the “Conscience Whigs” opposed the war. What did the Wilmot Proviso attempt to do?
21. Summarize the roles that each of these military men played in the war with Mexico: Santa Anna, Stephen Kearney, Zachary Taylor, John C. Fremont, and Winfield Scott.
22. What were the terms of the Treaty of Guadalupe- Hidalgo? How did Nicholas Trist make the negotiations much more interesting?
23. What were the specific effects of the Mexican War? Consider territorial expansion, military experience, and of course the slavery controversy in your answer.
24. What specific role did the Catholic Church play in the settlement of Mexico by Europeans as well as on the treatment of the indigenous people who lived there? What happened at Sutter’s Mill in 1848?
