Native Americans in the United States and James K. Polk Essay

6. Compare the working outist foreign policies of Presidents Thomas Jefferson and James K. Polk. To what extent did their policies beef up the United States? 1. President Thomas Jefferson a. Anti-Federalist usually weary of the Statesn expansionism b. lanthanum Purchase i. After Spain gave New Orleans to the French, Jefferson sent Monroe to France to buy the strategical land for $2 million ii. France about to engage in fight in Europe and dealing with a slave revolt in Haiti, offered to sell the entire Louisiana Territory for $15 million and Jefferson accepted, as yet though he wasnt sure that the Constitution allowed for it iii.Congress cursorily approved the agreement iv. Strengthened the United States because gave them complete control all over the strategically crucial Mississippi River c. Louis and Clark i. Sent expedition to explore dominion west ii. Encountered many new animals, plants, and Indian tribes iii. Strengthened the United States in that the West was no long er completely un-chartered territory, and knowledge was deepened after the multitudinous scientific discoveries 2. President James K. Polk a. Democrat who favored vast expansion at a rapid rate b. Rallied for the immediate annexation of Texas, which Tyler accomplished right before Polk took office c.Oregon Territory i. Acquired from a treaty with Great Britain made peacefully in 1846 ii. Established current blue border for the region iii. Strengthened America because of more territory and great control of the continent, less outside influence d. Mexican-American War i. Polk wanted to study the Southwest from Mexico ii. Mexico wouldnt sell the territory, so Polk provoked Mexican army with the stationing of American troops and declared contend iii. After a happy invasion of Mexico City and the war was over, Mexico signed the Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo in 1848 cede most of the modern Southwest over to the United States iv.Strengthened America because the acquisition of the ne w territory increased Americas authority wealth and asserted American dominance over Mexico 3. Texas fight with Mexicans, an unbosom for US to gain territory 4. Polks platform of manifest hazard 5. Thorton affair ? spark of war. Mexicans crossed Rio Grande and attacked Texas dragoons 6. Mexico loses half its territory 7. Many Whigs called the war an expansion of slavery 8. The newly acquired territories contributed to a new patriotic thought in US.