Figure 1.--k

The Democratic Party in the 1844 election championed expansion. The Party supported the annexation of Texas to appeal to the southern wing of the Party and asserted a claim to all of the Oregon Territory up to 49º40' which appealed to the northern wing of the Party. Nominee James K. Polk was adament about Texas which would mean war with Mexico. Southern Democrats were increasingly interested in expanding slavery even at the cost of undoing the Missouri Compromise. Gaining Texas a a new slave state was first step in this enterprise. Whig nominee Henry Clay opposed expansion. This probably cost him the election. The possibility of a third war with Britain loomed. And by a 1840 American-British relations were approaching a crisis. Polk was, however, willing to compromise over Oregin as the United States could no go to war with both Mexico and Britain. Polk's bold statements were designed to obtain an acceptable compromise with the British.

Democratic Convention (May 1844)

The Democrats held their convention in Baltimore (May 1844). The Democratic Party in the 1844 election championed expansion. The Party supported the annexation of Texas to appeal to the southern wing of the Party and asserted a claim to all of the Oregon Territory up to 49º40' which appealed to the northern wing of the Party. The Party also opposed Federal-financed internal improvements and any resurrection of the Federally-chartered Bank of the United States. It was assumed that they would remominate President Van Buren. It was unheard of to deny the nomination to an elected president, especially the president that had played such a key role in fashioning the Demoratic Party machine. The formr-President had, however, lost the 1840 election and could not muster the 2/3s vote required at that time for the nomination. The convention was deadlocked. Finally James K. Polk who was strongly supported by Andrew Jackson. He gained support over Vsan Buren in part because of his string support for Texas statehood. [Borneman] He was nominated on the 9th ballot. Polk was a Jackson loyalist with a substantial record in Congress. .

Whig Convention

President Tyler while elected on the Taylor Whig ticket was a Democrat and had throughly alienated Whig stalwarts. There was no division among the Whig Party. Sensing victory, they nominated Congressman Henry Clay unanimously.

Issues

The major issue of the electiion was expansion. Nominee James K. Polk was adament about Texas which would mean war with Mexico. Southern Democrats were increasingly interested in expanding slavery even at the cost of undoing the Missouri Compromise. Gaining Texas a a new slave state was first step in this enterprise. Whig nominee Henry Clay opposed expansion. President Tyler had dropped a nombshell in the election when he submitted a treaty to annex Texas (April 1844). This help to ensure that expansion (Manifest Destiny) and slavery would be at the heart of tghe campaign.

Liberty Party

The Liberty Party emerged as an one-issue abolitionist political organization centered in upstate New York (1839). Organized abolitionism developed along different issue lines. One of the most important focused on the constitutionality of the institution of slavery. Here William Lloyd Garrison who became the major fifure in the American Anti-Slavery Society, attackedv the Constitution as a "covenant with death and an agreement with hell." The Liberty Party opposed this approach to opposing slavery. The Liberty Party nominated James G. Birney in 1840. Birney was a Kentucky-born lawyer and former slaveholder who converted to the abolitionist cause. Mob violence forced him to relocated to Ohio. Birney garnered only about 7,000 voyes in 1840 and was not a factor in the race. The Party in 1844 again nominated Birney. A rising force in the Party, Salmon P. Chase, had doubts based primarily on Birney's ability to generate popular appeal. The debate over Texas appears to generated substantial support to the Liberty Party. He had no channce of election, but hoped to affect some state races. Birney in fact won more than 60,000 votes which had a major impact on the election. It was also an indication that the abolitionists were making headway. Chase as a result was convinced that abolitionists should begin to organize an anti-slavery party with more broadbased appeal. The end result would be the Republican Party.

Campaign

Henry Clay who had longed dreamed of the presidency seemed likely to win the election at the onset of the campaign. Many thought he would win an easy victory over the lesser-known Polk. He soon became tied up on the increasingly bitter sectional divide. He was from Tennesse, a slave state, yet he opposed the annexation of Texas. This denied him much of his southern support, but gained him little support in the north. There he faced a growing and increasingly vocal abolitionist movement. The press attacks on the two candidates were extremely stinging. Polk was labeled a coward and Clay a drunkard. President Tylercould have caused problems for Polk, but Jackson helped dfuse this problem. The Roorback Hoax attempted to tarnish Polk as an abusuve slave trader who branded his slaves. In fact he held very few.

Election

Clay's principled opposition to expansion probably cost him the election. Polk won decisesly in the Electoral College, by combining victories in the South to enough northern states to win in the electoral college. The actual election was much closer. Polk carried New York by only 6,000 votes. Here the Liberty Party candidate, James Birney, siphoned off votes from Clay.

War and Western Expansion

The possibility of a third war with Britain loomed. And by a 1840 American-British relations were approaching a crisis. Polk was, however, willing to compromise over Oregin as the United States could not go to war with both Mexico and Britain. Polk's bold statements were designed to obtain an acceptable compromise with the British.

Mexican War (1846-48)

As expected, American annexation of Texas brought war with Mexico. It is one of the most important wars fought by the United States because of the vast area of land annexed, about one-third of Mexio. It has, however, been given relatively little attention by American historians, possibly because it does not fit well into America's self image. Assessments of the War vary among both Mexican and American historians and among American historians. And these assessments have varied over time. The War began when Mexican units attacked U.S. troops in dispured territory between Mexico and Texas (April 25, 1846). Ther initial fighting took plasce in northern Mexico when General Zacrarry Taylor attacked across the Rio Grande. A small American force took New Mexico and California. When Mexico refused to make peace the United States invaded Mexico at Vera Cruz. The forced commanded by Gen. Winfield Scott moved inland and occupied Mexico City (September 14, 1847). A peace treaty was signed a few months later at Guadalupe Hidalgo (February 2, 1848). Mecico recognized the U.S. annexation of Texas and ceded California and New Mexico to the United States. Mexian historians have always seen the Mexican War as naked agression by the United States. Some American historians in recent years have also come to this conclusion. This is considerable truth in this, but a strong jigoist element in Mexico desiring to retake Texas has to be considered. One often ignored question is why so few Mexicans moved into the northern territories. One reason the United States prevailed in the War was that so few Mexicans lived in California and New Mexico. The War is also notble because of the roles played by key figures in the coming American Civil War.

Sources

Borneman, Walter. Polk.

Strong, Douglas M. Perfectionist Politics: Abolitionism and the Religious Tensions of American Democracy.

Created: 5:05 AM 3/18/2007
Last updated: 2:38 PM 7/5/2008