 Early 1840’s marked the turning point whether United States or Britain would control Oregon.  1839 less than 100 Americans lived in Oregon by 1846 there was 10,000. The rapid increase was due to the OREGON TRAIL!  Began at Independence, Missouri and followed rivers for 1,000 miles across the Great Plains to the Rocky Mountains.  Took 6 months to complete. Disease, starvation, encounters with Native Americans, and exhaustion all caused death!

 Wanted a constitution similar to the Mayflower Compact.  Settlers met in a abandoned warehouse in Oregon, drew up their ideal constitution and ratified it.  This document was what settlers followed till the United States took control of Oregon.

 Democrat from Tennessee  Achievements:  Admitted Texas into the Union (1845)  Oregon dispute settled (1846)  Territories California and New Mexico as a result of Mexican War ( )  Lowered tariffs (1846)  Independent treasury (1846)

 First resistance of Texans was at Gonzales.  Mexicans set out under Santa Anna to San Antonio to the ALAMO*  Texans were outnumbered 30:1  Battle went for 13 days till Mexicans jumped over the walls and finished off the remaining Texans.  Texans surprised attacked Santa Anna and captured him.  He agreed to accept Texas independence if released.  Texas was independent (temporarily)

 First attempt was failed in 1844 due to 2/3 votes not being met.  In December 1845, Texas was entered into Union as a state  Manifest Destiny  President Polk next wanted Northwestern Mexico by purchase or conquest.  Polk offered $25 million for California and $5 million for New Mexico  Mexico refused  War was declared in 1846

 Acquired New Mexico, Texas, and California.  Includes present day Nevada, Utah, Arizona, Oklahoma, Kansas, Colorado, and Wyoming.  United States agreed to pay Mexico $15 million and take over $3.4 million of Mexican debts owed to American citizens.  5 years later  GADSEN PURCHASE  United States paid Mexico $10 million for another piece of Mexico acquired as part of the transcontinental railroad.

 Gold was first discovered in California (1848) at Sutters Mill  Present day Sacramento  Over next year and a half 80,000 people came to California  Traveled by Oregon trail  Panama  Ships  “Forty-Niners”  Gold Seekers  Struggled with food, supplies and housing In 1849, California drafts a constitution and requests entrance into Union! Slave state or free state?  CONFLICT

 Led by Brigham Young  Constructed irrigation ditches, fields of grain and vegetables.  Successful settlement  Provided much needed assistance to people bound for California.  Area became part of United States during Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo.

Election of 1848  Creation of Free Soil Party  Nominated Martin Van Buren  Whigs nominated Zachary Taylor  Won the election  Hero of the Mexican War  Died suddenly in office in 1850  Succeeded by Millard Fillmore (Whig from NY)  Signed the Compromise of 1850

Compromise of 1850  1) California was made a free state and entered the Union (North)  2) The rest of the land won from Mexico was divided into territories of New Mexico and Utah with no restrictions of slavery (South)  3) Texas was paid $10 million for the loss of territory to New Mexico (North + South)  4) The slave trade (but not slavery) was abolished in the District of Columbia (North)  5) Passing of Fugitive Slave Law of 1850 (South)  Positive gain for the South  Required federal, state, and local to help retrieve runaway slaves

Questions:  1) Why was the location and attraction of the Oregon territory so interesting and important?  2) Why did Texas rebel against Mexico?  3) Why was the annexation of Texas delayed?  4) What incident led to the war between United States and Mexico? Who opposed the war? Why did Mexicans favor the war?  5) What settlers flock into California after 1848? What routes were taken? (3 Examples)  6) What were the provisions of the Compromise of 1850? Why and how was it a compromise?