Texas Annexation and the Presidential Election of 1844 in the Richmond, Virginia, and New Orleans, Louisiana, Newspaper

This thesis examines the issue of Texas annexation from the viewpoints of two southern cities: Richmond, Virginia, and New Orleans, Louisiana. It looks primarily at four major newspapers, two in each city: the Richmond Enquirer and the Richmond Whig; and the New Orleans Times-Picayune and the New Orleans Whig. These four newspapers were examined thoroughly from January 1844 to July 1845. In addition to the above newspapers, the Congressional Globe and national voting patterns on Texas annexation were examined. Analysis of the editorial articles in the above newspapers offers the best possibility of understanding public sentiment toward Texas annexation and the presidential election of 1844. The evidence examined in this study indicates that Texas annexation became a decisive issue in the presidential election of 1844. It also shows that, although the press and elements within both Democratic and Whig parties were aware that the slavery question was intricately linked to the Texas annexation issue, slavery and sectional politics were not the primary factors influencing annexation. Ultimately, fundamental concerns regarding western expansion in general, especially for the Whigs, and political party loyalty proved the decisive factors in the presidential election of 1844 and Texas annexation. The evidence gathered in this study indicates that Texas annexation deliberately became an issue in the presidential election by the Democratic party. It also shows that although consideration was given to the slavery question by elements of both the Whig and Democratic parties, sectional politics did not enter into play concerning the annexation of Texas.

Grantor dc:publisher

University of North Texas

Year dc:date

2001

Author dc:creator

• Short, Steven W.

Contributors dc:contributor

• Hagler, D. Harland
• Lewis, Adrian R.
• Lowe, Richard
• Golden, Richard M.

• Presidents -- United States -- Election -- 1844 -- Public opinion.
• Texas -- Annexation to the United States -- Public opinion.
• Public opinion -- Virginia -- Richmond.
• Public opinion -- Louisiana -- New Orleans.
• Texas annexation
• presidential election
• newspapers
• viewpoints
• southern cities
• Richmond Enquirer
• Richmond Whig
• New Orleans Whig

Statement dc:rights

• Use restricted to UNT Community
• Copyright
• Short, Steven W.
• Copyright is held by the author, unless otherwise noted. All rights reserved.

Language dc:language

English

Identifier

oclc: 52002498
https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc2998/
ark: ark:/67531/metadc2998

OAI identifier oai:identifier

info:ark/67531/metadc2998