Mid19th CenturyPresidents and Expansion

Calhoun, Clay, Webster

• John C. Calhoun (Democrat; South)

• Henry Clay (Whig founder; “West”)– Great Compromiser

• Daniel Webster (Whig; North)

• “Great Triumvirate” 1812-50

• Represented regional interests and worked to keep the country out of Civil War

Andrew Jackson

• Elected 1828

• Democrat– Birth of the Democratic Party (“Jackass”)

• Strong expansionist; spoils system

• Indian Removal Act 1830

• Nullification Crisis

• “Bank War”

Martin Van Buren

• Elected 1836

• Democrat

• Panic of 1837

• “Trail of Tears”

• One term

W.H. Harrison – John Tyler

• Elected 1840; Whig Party– “Tippecanoe and Tyler, too!”

• Harrison dies after getting pneumonia from inaugural address

• Tyler – “His Accidency”– Thrown out of Whig Party

• Annexation of Texas– Just before leaving office

James K. Polk

• Elected 1844; Democrat

• Expansionist

• Mexican-American War– Wilmot Proviso

• Oregon Territory– “5450’ or Fight”

• Chose not to run for second term

Zachary Taylor - Millard Fillmore

• Elected 1848; Whig Party

• Taylor dies 1850; Fillmore takes over

• Compromise of 1850– California free– Fugitive Slave Act

• Commodore Perry opens trade with Japan

Franklin Pierce

• Elected 1852, Democrat

• Kansas-Nebraska Act– “Bleeding Kansas”

• Gadsden Purchase

• Not nominated for second term

James Buchanan

• 1856; Democrat

• Dred Scott Case

• Panic of 1857

• Utah War– Buchanan v. Brigham

Young

• Disintegration into Civil War

Expansion