Westward Expansion / Manifest Destiny (Florida, Texas, War W/ Mexico) DBQ
Westward Expansion / Manifest Destiny (Florida, Texas, War w/ Mexico) DBQ
Florida
Document 1
The Treaty of San Lorenzo, (Pinckney's Treaty) , 1796
ARTICLE V.
The two...contracting parties [United States & Spain] shall by all the means in their power maintain peace and harmony among the several Indian nations who inhabit the country [Florida]...both parties oblige themselves expressly to restrain by force all hostilities on the part of the Indian nations living within their boundary: so that Spain will not suffer her Indians to attack the citizens of the United States...nor will the United States permit these last mentioned Indians to commence hostilities against the subjects of his Catholic Majesty or his Indians, in any manner whatever.
Question(s)
1) What is the main idea of Article 5 in Document 1?
Document 2
Background - Most of Monroe's second annual message to Congress focuses on one of the major controversies of Monroe's presidency, the invasion and occupation of Florida by American forces led by Major General Andrew Jackson. Many American politicians considered Jackson's invasion of East Florida as a violation of international law, and Jackson was accused by some of having exceeded his orders.
James Monroe’s Second Annual Message to Congress, (1818)
Adventurers from every country, fugitives from justice, and absconding [avoiding arrest] slaves have found an asylum [shelter] there [in Florida]. Several tribes of Indians, strong in the numbers of their warriors, remarkable for their ferocity...inhabit those Provinces. These different hordes of people, connected together, disregarding on the one side the authority of Spain, and protected on the other by an imaginary line which separates Florida from the United States, have violated our laws....and committed every kind of outrage on our peaceable citizens which their proximity to us enabled them to perpetrate [commit]...throughout the whole of those Provinces to which the Spanish title extends the Government of Spain has scarcely been felt...The right of self defense never ceases...In authorizing Major-General Jackson to enter Florida in pursuit of the Seminoles care was taken not to encroach on the rights of Spain.
Question(s):
2) What are the problems President Monroe identifies with regards to the people living in Florida and the Spanish government?
3) Why did President Monroe send General Jackson to Florida in pursuit of the Seminoles?
Texas
Document 3
José María Sánchez, visiting the Mexican territory of Texas in 1828.
The Americans from the north have taken possession of practically all the eastern part of Texas, in most cases without the permission of the authorities. They immigrate constantly, finding no one to prevent them, and take possession of the sitio [site] that best suits them without either asking leave or going through any formality other than that of building their homes.
Repeated and urgent appeals have been made to the Supreme Government of the federation regarding the imminent danger in which this interesting Department is becoming the prize of the ambitious North Americans...
Question(s):
4) What is the author’s opinion of the Americans coming in to Texas?
Document 4
Miguel Barragan, Dispatch on Texas Colonists (October 31, 1835)
Background: Barragan is a Mexican writing about the American-Texan attitude towards Mexico/Mexicans in 1835.
For a long time the ungrateful Texas colonists have made fun of the national laws of Mexico; disregarding the fact that Mexico gave them a generous welcome and kept them close to our bosom; dispensing to them the same-and even more- benefits than to our sons.
To the Texas colonists, the word MEXICAN is, and has been, an execrable [being inferior/less than] word. There has been no insult or violation that our countrymen have not suffered, including being jailed as “foreigners” in their own country.
All this has reached the point where the flag of rebellion has been raised; the Texans aspiring shamelessly to take over one of the most precious parts of our land. Accomplices to this wickedness are adventurers from the state of Louisiana who foment disturbances and give necessary support to the rebels.
The civilized world will not delay in pronouncing the judgment they deserve for this infamous and detestable conduct. The [Mexican] Supreme Government knows its duties and knows how to execute them. The Government believes that not one Mexican worthy of his country will favor the treason of foreign rebels...
Question(s):
5) Why does the writer of this article have an unfavorable view of the conduct and attitude of American-Texans?
6) Analysis: What “duties” might the writer expect the [Mexican] Supreme Government to “execute?”
Document 5
Excerpts from the Texas Declaration of Independence (Adopted March 2nd 1836)
When a government has ceased to protect the lives, liberty and property of the people, from whom its legitimate powers are derived, and for the advancement of whose happiness it was instituted, and so far from being a guarantee for the enjoyment of those inestimable and inalienable rights, becomes an instrument in the hands of evil rulers for their oppression.
The Mexican government, by its colonization laws, invited and induced the Anglo-American population of Texas to colonize its wilderness under the pledged faith of a written constitution, that they should continue to enjoy that constitutional liberty and republican government to which they had been habituated in the land of their birth, the United States of America.
In this expectation they have been cruelly disappointed...the late changes made in the government by General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna, who having overturned the constitution of his country, now offers us the cruel alternative, either to abandon our homes...or submit to the most intolerable of all tyranny...
It incarcerated in a dungeon, for a long time, one of our citizens, for no other cause but a zealous endeavor to procure the acceptance of our constitution, and the establishment of a state government.
It has failed and refused to secure, on a firm basis, the right of trial by jury, that palladium of civil liberty, and only safe guarantee for the life, liberty, and property of the citizen.
It denies us the right of worshipping the Almighty according to the dictates of our own conscience, by the support of a national religion.
It has demanded us to deliver up our arms, which are essential to our defence, the rightful property of freemen, and formidable only to tyrannical governments.
Question(s):
7) What rights has the Mexican government violated against the settlers of Texas?
Document 6
Broadside to Recruit Volunteers for the Texas War for Independence (1836)
FREEDOM’S call once more summons us to action! Humanity beckons-Philanthropy beseeches-Duty Commands us to hasten to the rescue of our fellow countrymen...and avenge the slaughter of our butchered brethren.
The Texians are, emphatically, “blood of our blood, and bone of our bone:” they confidently cast their eyes to the United States for assistance in their struggle for Independence. Shall they be disappointed? Shall the blood of Fannin, Travis, Bowie, Crockett, and a host of other martyrs of Freedom, have been shed in vain?
Each Volunteer serving 3 months, shall receive 320 acres of land....Those individuals who have no other aim in this life than the mere accumulation of riches, where will they have so favorable an opportunity to realize their hopes as is now offered upon the plains of Texas? If wealth then, be your sole desire, go to Texas, “the fairest of a thousand lands!”
See! the torch is applied, and now the awful, deafening shriek ensues! ....the curling smoke ascends towards Heaven, and bones and ashes are the sad remnants of our countrymen! Who does not cry aloud for vengeance? Who does not burn with impatience to chastise the Mexican bloodhounds?....
Question(s):
8) What incentives [motivations] does this recruitment poster provide in order to attract volunteers to join the Texas army?
Document 7
The Treaty of Velasco, as negotiated by Santa Anna and the Republic of Texas (1836)
Articles of an agreement entered into between his Excellency David G. Burnet of the President of the Republic of Texas of the one part & His Excellency General Antonio Lopez de Santa Ana President General in Chief of the other part--
Article 1: General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna agrees that he will not take up arms nor will he exercise his influence to cause them to be taken up against the People of Texas during the present War of Independence--
Article 3: The Mexican troops will evacuate the territory of Texas passing to the other side of the Rio Grande del Norte [river].
Question(s):
9) What does Santa Anna and his army have to do as a result of the Treaty of Velasco?
Document 8
United States Congress Joint Resolution offering terms of annexation to the Republic of Texas
(Approved, March 1, 1845)
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress Assembled, That Congress doth consent that the Territory properly included within, and rightfully belonging to, the Republic of Texas, may be erected into a new state, to be called the State of Texas, with a republican form of government, to be adopted by the people of said Republic, by deputies in convention assembled, with consent of the existing government, in order that the same may be admitted as one of the States of this Union.
Question(s):
10) Who does the resolution say that the Territory of Texas belongs to?
Document 9
London Times article concerning the Annexation of Texas
LONDON, SATURDAY, MARCH 22, 1845
This assembly deliberately resolved, that the scheme of annexing Texas to the United States is a plain violation of the Constitution, and as calculated and designed by the open declarations of its friends to uphold the interests of slavery, extend its influence, and secure its permanent duration; and they protested, that "Texas rebelling against "the laws of Mexico which abolished slavery - Texas wrested from Mexico by citizens of the United States - Texas the support and defence of American slavery, can never be joined to this Union but in "bonds of mutual infamy.
Question(s):
11) What is the opinion of the London Times in regard to the annexation of Texas?
12) What does the London Times see as the real reason for the U.S. annexation of Texas?
Document 10
John L. O’Sullivan writing for the Democratic Review, 1845
It is wholly untrue, and unjust to ourselves...that the Annexation [of Texas] has been a measure of ...unrightful and unrighteous...military conquest under forms of peace and law.... If Texas became peopled with an American population, it was by no contrivance [skill] of our government, but on the express invitation of that of Mexico itself;
California will, probably, next fall....Imbecile and distracted, Mexico never can exert any real governmental authority over such a country.... Already the advance guard of the irresistible army of Anglo-American emigration has begun to pour down upon it, armed with the plough and the rifle, and marking its trail with school and colleges, courts and representative halls, mills and meeting-houses. A population will soon be in actual occupation of California, over which it will be idle for Mexico to dream of dominion.
Question(s):
13) According to the author, who is to blame for the annexation of Texas?
14) Which Mexican territory will fall next and why?
Document 11
President JOSÉ JOAQUIN DE HERRERA
Palace of the National Government, City of Mexico, June 4, 1845
Background: Mexico’s response to the United States annexation of Texas
1st. The Mexican nation calls upon all her children to the defence of her national independence, threatened by the usurpation [wrongful seizure] of Texas, which is intended to be realized by the decree of annexation passed by the congress, and sanctioned by the president, of the United States of the north.
2d. In consequence, the government will call to arms all the forces of the army, according to the authority granted it by the existing laws; and for the preservation of public order, for the support of her institutions, and in case of necessity, to serve as the reserve to the army, the government, according to the powers given to it on the 9th December 1844, will raise the corps specified by said decree, under the name of "Defenders of the Independence and of the Laws."
Question(s):
15) What has caused the President of Mexico to create an army called “Defenders of the Independence and of the Laws?”
Document 12
Gen. Francisco Mejia, at Matamoros. A Proclamation
March 18, 1846
Background: The general-in-chief of the forces assembled against the enemy [United States], to the inhabitants of this department and the troops under his command.
“The annexation of Texas to the United States...does not yet satisfy the ambitious desires of the degenerate [immoral] sons of Washington. The civilized world has already recognized in that [annexation] all the marks of injustice, iniquity, and the most scandalous violation of the rights of nations. The right of conquest has always been a crime against humanity. To the United States, it has been reserved to put in practice in order to obtain possession, in the midst of peace, of the territory of a friendly nation, which generously relied upon the faith of promises and the solemnity of treaties.
Fellow-countrymen: With an enemy which respects not its own laws, which shamelessly derides the very principles invoked by it previously, in order to excuse its ambitious views, we have no other resource than arms.”
Question(s):
16) What is the opinion of Gen. Mejia of the United States after its annexation of Texas?
War with Mexico
Document 13
President James K. Polk of the United States of American asking for a Declaration of War against Mexico, 1846
In my message...I informed you that upon the earnest appeal both of the Congress and convention of Texas I had ordered an efficient military force to take a position "between the Nueces and Rio Grande del Norte." This had become necessary to meet a threatened invasion of Texas by the Mexican forces, for which extensive military preparations had been made. The invasion was threatened solely because Texas had determined...to annex herself to our Union, and under these circumstances it was plainly our duty to extend our protection over her citizens and soil.