1841 - John Tyler replaces Harrison

• southern, states rights, anti-Jackson Democrat
• opp'd Whig nationalism, bank, protectionism
• became the "man without a party"

1842 - Whig "Little Tariff" raises duties

• vetoed by Tyler, along with distribution

1843 - Abel Upshur replaces Webster

• pro-slavery, anti-British
• rejects Aberdeen-Everett talks on Oregon boundary at 49th, dual use of Col. R.
• Duff Green mission to Brit to get more info
• Aberdeen plan of loan to Texas, abol slavery
• Texas seeks Brit. protection ag. Santa Anna
• Upshur uses "bogeyman" to annex Texas
• promises troops to protect Texas border
• killed in Princeton explosion 2/28/44

1844 - John C. Calhoun replaces Upshur

• signs 4/12 Treaty of Annexation, assume $10m debt
• Clay's 4/27 Raleigh letter opposed treaty "annexation & war with Mexico are identical"
• S. Whigs in Senate defeat treaty 6/8
• seeks to play on French interest in Texas ag. Brit
• sends King dispatch 8/12 to minister in France
  • blame Brit for abol slavery in West Indies
  • aids in fall of Guizot, Louis Philippe
  • released to public 12/3
• Tyler speech 12/3 seeks joint resolution to annex

1844 election - Polk vs. Clay

• Democrats link Texas and Oregon
• newspapers create slogan "54-40 or Fight"
• public opinion united behind "manifest destiny"
• Birney and Liberty party get 15000 votes in NY
• causes Clay to lose NY's 36 electoral votes to Polk

1845 - Buchanan replaces Calhoun

• fears war, but Polk uses bluff & bluster
• "our title to Oregon is clear and unquestionable"
• Polk wants no compromise with Brit
• Pakenham rejects Buchanan's offer of 49th line
• Polk ultimatum to Brit to end Oregon joint occup
• Polk invokes Monroe Doctrine
• Congress and press approve
• but Brit debate over corn law repeal avoids conflict

1845 - Annexation of Texas

• Texas annexed by joint resolution 3/01
• Mexico breaks diplomatic relations 3/28
• Buchanan sends Gillespie to Larkin in Calif 4/01
  • Larkin reports Brit consul at Monterrey 7/10
  • Larkin made confidential agent of U.S. 10/17
  • Gillespie seeks aid of Fremont in Dec.
• Polk orders Taylor to defend Texas 6/15 "on or near the Rio Grande"
• Taylor with 3500 to south Nueces River 7/31
• Polk order Comm. John Sloat to California
• Polk sends John Slidell to Mexico City 11/07
  • settle claims, Texas boundary,
  • buy Calif. and N.Mex. for $30m.
• Paredes replaces Herrera in Mexico
  • no more negotiation with Slidell
  • reasserts Sabine River border
  • Santa Anna exiled to Cuba

1846 - Year of Destiny

• Jan. 13 - Marcy orders Taylor from Nueces to Rio Grande
• Mar. 15 - Taylor builds Fort Texas north of Matamoros
• Apr. 24 - Arista orders Torrejon with 1600 north of the river
• Apr. 25 - Torrejon ambushes Col. Seth Thornton
  • 11 Americans killed at Rancho de Carricitos
• May 2 - Ampudia attacks Ft. Texas; kills Maj. Jacob Brown
• May 8 - Battle of Palo Alto
  • won by artillery of Maj. Sam Ringgold
• May 9 - Battle of Resaca de Palma
• May 11 - U.S. declares war
• June 30 - Kearny and 300 form 2nd Army of the West
  • leave Leavenworth on 1600 mi. march to Calif.
• July 28 - Stockton replaces Sloat; issues proclamation
• July 29 - Fremont and USS Cyane seize San Diego
• Aug. 8 - David Wilmot Proviso; Polk bribes Santa Anna
• Aug. 13 - Stockton seizes Los Angeles
• Aug. 18 - Kearny captures Santa Fe
• Sep. 21 - Battle of Monterey
  • Taylor allows Ampudia to withdraw
  • Polk decides to form 3rd army under Scott
• Oct. 31 - Stockton retakes San Diego; builds Ft. Stockton
• Dec. 6 - Battle of San Pasqual
  • Kearny loses 18 vs. Pico's Californios
  • Kit Carson gets help from San Diego

1847 - Year of Victory

• Feb. 22 - Battle of Buena Vista
  • Taylor sets trap for Santa Anna
• Mar. 9 - Winfield Scott lands at Veracruz with 10000
• Apr. 15 - Nicholas Trist gets instructions
  • to buy territories for $30m
• Apr. 18 - Battle of Cerro Gordo
  • Robert E. Lee finds pathway
• August Armistice at Mexico City
  • Trist negotiates with Santa Anna
• Aug. 20 - Battle of Churubusco
  • Scott wins bridge into the city
• Sep. 8 - Battle of Molino del Rey
  • 54 deserters of St. Patrick Brigade hung
• Sep. 12 - Battle of Chapultepec
  • Los Ninos military cadets fight
• Sep. 14 - Scott captures Citadel and Palace
  • the "Halls of Montezuma"
• Nov. 16 - Trist receives recall
  • but negotiates with Anaya
• Dec. 7 - Polk demands all Calif. & N. Mex.
• Dec. 22 - Lincoln's Spot Resolution
• Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo signed Feb. 2, 1848, and summary of important phrases