Manifest Destiny Chapter 13

Manifest Destiny to overspread and to possess the whole continent.

In the early 1800’s, 4 nations laid claim to the vast, rugged land known as the Oregon country: The United States Great Britain Spain Russia

Adams-Onis Treaty Spain gave up any claim to Oregon. Russia also surrendered its claim to the land south of Alaska. Only Britain remained a challenge to American control of Oregon joint occupation -People from both the United States and Britain could settle there

Oregon Trail

Settling Oregon Americans began traveling to the Oregon country to settle in the 1830’s Economic troubles at home made new opportunities in the West look attractive

More and more Americans agreed “Fifty-four Forty or Fight” The settlers in Oregon insisted that the United States should have sole ownership of the area More and more Americans agreed p. 360

Election of 1844 Oregon became a significant issue in the 1844 presidential election Polk - supported American claims for sole ownership of Oregon Democrats campaigned using the slogan “Fifty-four Forty or Fight.” The slogan referred to the line of latitude that Democrats believed should be the nation’s northern border in Oregon

Independence for Texas By 1830 Americans in Texas far outnumbered Mexicans These Americans had not adopted Mexican ways The United States had twice offered to buy Texas from Mexico The Mexican government viewed the growing American influence in Texas with alarm. In 1830 the Mexican government issued a decree, or official order, that stopped all immigration from the United States

These new policies angered Texans Trade between Texas and the United States was discouraged by placing a tax on goods imported from the United States These new policies angered Texans

The Struggle for Independence Santa Anna – Dictator of Mexico During 1835 unrest grew among Texans and the Mexican government occasionally resulted in open conflict. Santa Anna sent an army into Texas to punish the Texans for criticizing him The Texans called on volunteers to join in their struggle. They offered free land to anyone who would help Davy Crockett and many others – including a number of African Americans answered the call p. 365

The New Mexico Territory In the early 1800’s, New Mexico was the name of a vast region sandwiched between the Texas and California territories. It included all of present day New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, and Utah and parts of Colorado and Wyoming p. 369

California Gold Rush People from all over the world flocked to California in search of quick riches. More than 80,000 people came there looking for gold in 1849 alone Those who arrived in 1849 were called forty-niners

Life in California As people rushed to a new area to look for gold, they built new communities called boomtowns.

California applied to Congress for statehood in MARCH 1850 California applied to Congress for statehood in MARCH 1850. Because its constitution banned slavery, the request caused a crisis in Congress The Southern states objected to making California a state because it would upset the balance of free and slave states California did not become a state until Congress worked out a compromise 6 months later

Utah Mormons- religious group who migrated to present-day Utah. Brigham Young- Head of the Mormons. Led them to Utah.