1841: Two Deaths (Interactive Timeline)

[Kevinstat]

Van Buren/Wright

[Andy Jackson]

VOTE TALLY - Voting is closed!

Mangum/Webster: 2 Votes

Van Buren/Wright: 4 Votes

I'll get to work on 1845 really soon and about the second term of Martin Van Buren.

[Andy Jackson]

1845


12th - Martin Van Buren (1845-?) Democratic

House of Representative Elections, 1844
Even with the nation voting in Martin Van Buren and the Democratic Party in to power, the House would have the Whigs gain ten seats and soon have 100 seats to the 121 Democratic seats and would soon hope to regain the House in the 1846 election and the anti immigration and anti catholic American Party based on "Nativist" ideals gains 6 seats.

Democratic: 121 (-8)
Whig: 100 (+10)
American: 6 (+6)

A "Return to the Old Way" - The Inauguration of Martin Van Buren
The Inaugural Address by the now second term of Martin Van Buren would try to support an opposite idea to the Whig attacks that Van Buren would return them to his first term at which put the Whigs in power with William Henry Harrison. Van Buren would say that he would bring the many ideals of Andrew Jackson and the Democratic Party to the fore front during his tenure as President. Oregon would be pushed forward as Democrats said that the United States should aggressively expand in the name of Manifest Destiny and Van Buren's State Secretary James Polk would use a slogan "Fifty-Four Forty or Fight!" and would begin to struggle with the Oregon issue.

"Manifest Destiny" - The Expansion of America
After many Democrats threw there support behind Polk and James Polk would tell President Van Buren of the idea of expansion into the Oregon Country, the debate would rage until Louis McLane the Minister to the United Kingdoms would work with President Van Buren to craft the Oregon Settlement of 1845 that would draw the border along the 49th parallel and this would be hailed as a non violent course of expansion but James Polk and numerous other representatives and senators that backed him, said that "Van Buren gave up on Fifty-Four Forty of Fight plan". After Oregon was annexed to the United States, the other issue of expansion, Texas would then be brought up after the Oregion issue was solved and after the trouble from State Secretary Polk was "Violent on expansionism" and removed him and replaced him with Van Buren's friend and now popular negotiator Louis McLane to be the new State Secretary under Van Buren.

The Republic of Texas - A Nation in Question
The Republic of Texas and it's populace were all leaning towards annexation to the United States and being admitted as a slave state and hopefully be the 28th state. With Texan President Anson Jones hearing the cries of annexation he would ask the US for the admittion of Texas into the United States but after talking with State Secretary McLane, Martin Van Buren would say that he would "wait and see things play out". Mexico was continually harassing the Texan Republic as a wary President Van Buren would continue to wait as Polk's Expansionist "Gang" would continue to harass Van Buren and his "Waiting" policies on Texas and other areas of interest.

[Andy Jackson]

1846

"To Make a Choice" - The Coming Storm with Mexico
Decisions were at hand as both Texas and the United States faced problems, the major one being about the admission of Texas to the United States as some politicians wouldn't want war with Mexico over the "Lone Star Republic". The Presidents of the two nations, Anson Jones and Martin Van Buren would give a waiting policy of sorts as Jones gave the Texan people two choices, one of independence and the other annexation. Van Buren was continually criticized by a number of his own party members in Congress.

The "Nation on the Coast" - California and the growing sentiment for War
Mexican raids across the Rio Grande River, the proposed border which was favored by the Texan Government to the Nuecess, would become more prevalent as Anglo's in the area between the Rio Grande and the Nuecess would be harassed continually as a new sentiment was growing against the Mexican government in Texas, the United States and other areas of Mexico with high Anglo populated areas. Soon sentiment grew until the the Anglo and restless populace in the areas known as California grew to the point of rebellion occurred as the "Bear Flag" Revolt began.

Indecision and Terror
Texas was rocked by terror as President Anson Jones was shot and killed by an ardent annexation supporter, forcing the sickly Vice President Kenneth L. Anderson into office, who would do little in the short time as President as he would die from natural causes shortly into his term of office, forcing Texas Speaker of the House John M. Lewis into office. This quick ascension of Presidents in Texas would have the Mexican government thinking of taking advantage of this and would as Mexican forces crossed the Rio Grande and made there way to the Nuecess. Texan President Lewis called for aid from the United States and President Martin Van Buren, but indecision fraught the Van Buren Administration.

"From the Nuecess, we shall hold" - The Texan-Mexican War and the Ultimate decision of Van Buren
What become known as the "Texan-Mexican War" was a war of seeming futility as Texan forces did what they could to hold back the Mexican forces, with much of Southern Texas being flooded with Mexican troops, defeated seemed inevitable. A line to stave off defeat came with eagar supporters of annexation in the United States, mainly southerners who were sympathetic to Texas began to march alongside the Texan Army in battle. Mexican leaders were furious and would say that Van Buren was trying to send forces in quietly as he said publicly that he would "wait". After the breakdown of diplomatics with the US and Mexico, Van Buren proclaimed that "War was here" and in a vote, war was declared against the Mexican Republic by the United States.

The War Expands
With the declaration of war from the United States, the war expanded into an "American" war against Mexico as annexation became more favorable to the US Congress. United States troops made there way through the most northern Mexican lands easily and began there eventual march towards the Mexican capital of Mexico City. Texas, under President Lewis would ask Congress to officially annex the Republic into the United States, the vote would pass and make the "Lone Star Republic" no more.

House of Representative Elections, 1846
War with Mexico and annexing Texas would be the big issues as in a suprise, the Whig Party took control of the House with a 16 seat gain as they would now hold a small majority over Democrats.

Whig: 116 (+16)
Democratic: 112 (-9)
Independent: 1 (+1)
American: 1 (-5)

[Andy Jackson]

1847

Slowdown and Speedup
The war against Mexico began slowly as American troops forced out the Mexican army from Texas and began there slow march across the Rio Grande into Mexico. After several months of slow fighting, things began to pickup after quick victories by General Winifield Scott and the American Army gained ground and pushed further into Mexico.

"Overthrown and Veracruz"
Mexico experienced political turmoil as Santa Anna violently took the Presidency and would soon call for a complete war against the Americans. This went with little effort as with more victories, the US seemingly began to roll over the Mexican forces, cultivating in the taking of Veracruz by General Scott after the siege of the city.

Capitulation and Mexico City Falls
The city of Puebla would capitulate to Scott's forces when he neared after Puebla's mistrust of Santa Anna, this would occur in several other areas of Mexico and with this Mexico City seemed ready for the picking. Several other battles emerged as American forces defeated Mexican forces on their movement to the capital.

Yucatan Intervention
After the neutral Republic of Yucatan sent letters to the US, Britain and France saying if any of these nations could help with the Mayan uprising would gain sovereignty over the nation. The US would use the Monroe Doctrine to discourage any mumbles from Europe about Yucatan. Soon as troops became available, they were sent to aid Yucatan. The Yucatano Government began to ready themselves for this as they said they would live up to the letter.

Arrival and the beginnings of a Treaty
General Scott marched into Mexico City, this was a symbolic measure as the war between Mexico and America was virtually over. US and Mexican representatives soon met and drew up an Treaty to end the war.

1848

The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
Mexico would haveover a large parcel of land to the United States for a designated amount of money, Mexico would also affirm that the Rio Grande was the border and numerous other bylaws would be apart of the Treaty that ended the war between Mexico and the US. The US Congress would ratify this treaty and soon what would be the next task would come with the haggling out of Yucatan and of control over it. After talks an separate purchase would put the former Republic of Yucatan under US sovereignty.

"The Beginning of something Gold" - Prelude to the Gold Rush
After the turnover of the large lump of land to the United States, soon sleepy California would be invigorated as gold was discovered on Sutter's Mill. This began to spread as other areas began to birth gold seemingly and Americans filled with the dreams of riches began the journey to California.

Prelude to the 1848 Presidential Election
Now as the United States expands under the weary President Van Buren of what is called the "Manifest Destiny" of the Nation, soon another challenge would come and not one of war but of politics. The Election of 1848 rolled about and the nomination process began. President Van Buren would say he wasn't going to run for a third term.

*Please vote for one of the designated candidates in each category, thank you.

Whig Candidates
-Winifield Scott
-Henry Clay
-Daniel Webster

Whig VP Candidates
-Millard Fillmore
-Abbott Lawrence
-Andrew Stewart
-John M. Clayton

Democratic Candidates
-Lewis Cass
-James Buchanan
-Louis McLane
-Levi Woodbury

Democratic VP Candidates
-John A. Quitman
-William O. Butler
-Levi Woodbury
-James Buchanan
-James Polk
-William R. King
-John Y. Mason
-James I. McKay

Free Soil Candidates
-John P. Hale
-Salmon Chase
-Charles F. Adams, Sr.

[Californian Tony]

Whig: Clay/Fillmore

Democratic : Cass/Polk

FS : Hale

[HappyWarrior]

Whig: Clay/Stewart
Democratic: McLane/ Polk
Free Soil: Adams

[dialectical fetishist]

Whig: Clay/Fillmore

Democratic: Cass/Buchanan

Free Soil: Adams

[Senator Ben]

Whig: Webster/Clayton
Democratic: Woodbury/Polk
Free Soul: Adams

[Andy Jackson]

VOTE TALLY - Voting is still open

Whig-
Webster: 1
Clay: 3
Scott: 1

Whig VP-
Clayton: 1
Fillmore: 3
Stewart: 1

Dem-
Woodbury: 1
Cass: 2
McLane: 1
Buchanan: 1

Dem VP-
Polk: 3
Buchanan: 1
King: 1

Free Soil-
Adams: 4
Hale: 1

[Sewer]

Whig: Scott/Fillmore

Democratic: Buchanan/King

Free Soil: Adams

[Andy Jackson]

VOTE TALLY - Voting is now closed

Whig
Webster: 1
Clay: 3
Scott: 1

Whig VP
Clayton: 1
Fillmore: 3
Stewart: 1

Dem
Woodbury: 1
Cass: 2
McLane: 1
Buchanan: 1

Dem VP
Polk: 3
Buchanan: 1
King: 1

Free Soil
Adams: 4
Hale: 1

[Andy Jackson]

Presidential Tickets: Vote for ONE of the tickets

Democratic: Cass/Polk

Whig: Clay/Fillmore

[Californian Tony]

Cass/Polk

[HappyWarrior]

Cass/Polk

[dialectical fetishist]

Clay/Fillmore

[Andy Jackson]

VOTE TALLY - voting is still open

Cass/Polk: 3

Clay/Fillmore: 3

[Sewer]

Clay/Fillmore

[Senator Ben]

Clay/Fillmore

[a Person]

Cass/Polk

[Scam of God]

Clay/Fillmore