Video Clips https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XGmVFl6E28w 11:00-15:50 56:00-1:07 1:08-1:10

Why do you think this cartographer in 1816 drew the map with both coasts and all that Mexican territory?

Manifest Destiny 1830s -1850s The commonly held belief that is was the divine destiny of white Americans to expand west to the Pacific Ocean, convert people to Christianity, and utilize the resources of the land to make America prosper

Manifest Destiny By the 1840’s 10,000 squatters are in the Willamette Valley of Oregon, hoping the US annexes Oregon and legitimizes their land claims (British also want the area) Oregon/California Fever: By 1860 over 250,000 migrants had made the journey overland to either Oregon or California Many of the migrants were poor farmers seeking land they could own California Gold Rush and the whole concept of “starting over” or “striking it rich” will be a major reason why people move west

Californios Mexican and mixed race peoples living in Mexican held California (Only a few thousand of them) Subject to the rule of Mexico, but lived over 1000 miles from Mexico City and the Mexican Government and felt very independent Rugged frontier lifestyle Many were wealthy landowners and owned huge ‘Ranchos’ (thousands of acres) Once Americans begin to flood into California after 1849, their way of life will never be the same

Election of 1844: The Expansionists Western policies are becoming major issues in American politics Admitting Texas to the Union and annexing Oregon are major questions James K. Polk runs an aggressive expansionists campaign against Henry Clay and the divided Whigs Slavery and Western Migration will be intertwined and have dire consequences as more territory is acquired

James K. Polk Slave owning and pro-expansion Jacksonian Democrat known as “Young Hickory” in some circles Wanted to defy British claims to Oregon and open up as much land as possible for American settlement “Fifty-Four Forty or Fight!” is a reference to a Latitude/Longtitude line on the map. Became a rallying cry for Polk supporters during the camping.

James K. Polk/Expansionists Polk is just one of many expansionists in the US Dispatches exploring parties to map routes in further detail (John C. Fremont and his famous explorations) He and others now have their sights on taking all of the Mexican territory north of the Rio Grande The Mexican-American War will be a minor with major implications and lasting effects