American History, 1841-1850. Westward Extension (English Edition)

In his two first chapters the author considers the spirit of expansion and the three directions - Texas, Oregon, and California - in which extension of the republic seemed possible. In chapters III and IV, he disposes of the political questions of Tyler's administration, and in chapter V of the Maine boundary; then in chapters VI to X, the annexation of Texas is carefully followed from the independence of that republic, in 1836, to its incorporation into the Union in 1846. Chapter XI describes the adjustment of the Oregon question, and the consequent formal recognition of the fact that the United States was a Pacific power. Another chapter describes the fiscal legislation of Polk's administration. In three chapters, XIII to XV, the causes, progress and outcome of the Mexican War are discussed. Chapter XVIII is on Isthmian Diplomacy and the beginnings of a Panama Canal policy. Chapters XVI, XVII, XIX and XX survey the territorial adjustment made necessary by the annexation of New Mexico and California, and the consequent Compromise of 1850. Within this stirring period are such hotly contested questions as the responsibility for the breach between Tyler and the Whigs; the real boundaries of Texas under Spanish and Mexican rule; the progress of negotiation for the annexation of Texas; a very important discussion of the Slidell Mission of 1845; the responsibility for the Mexican War; and the origin of the Wilmot Proviso...

Contents: Expansion Movement (1790-1841). The Field for Expansion (1800-1841). Election of 1840 (1839-1840). The Quarrel Between Tyler and the Whigs (1841-1842). Adjustment of the Maine Boundary Controversy (1841-1842). The Texan Question (1819-1841). The Boundary of Texas (1748-1841). Diplomatic Negotiations for the Annexation of Texas (1841-1844). The Election of 1844 (1843-1844). Annexation of Texas by Joint Resolution of Congress (1844-1846). Adjustment of the Oregon Controversy (1827-1846). Fiscal Reorganization and Tariff Readjustment (1841-1846). The Rupture with Mexico (1843-1846). The Slidell Mission (august, 1845-march, 1846). Conquering a Peace (1846-1848). The Wilmot Proviso (1846-1847). The Election of 1848 (1847-1848). Isthmian Diplomacy (1846-1850). The Complex Slavery Issue (1847-1849). The Compromise of 1850 (1849-1850).