Chapter 12: Manifest Destiny

The Oregon Country Included what is now Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and parts of Montana and Wyoming Joint occupation: both Brits and Americans could settle there First to settle were fur traders, rough mountain men who had to be very skillful and resourceful; depleted beaver supply and had to find other work

Missionaries also came to bring Christianity to Natives Economic Panic of 1837 (the first depression) sent many Americans west on the “Oregon Trail” Many believed in “Manifest Destiny” America should be a model of democracy and freedom We should spread that freedom by occupying the entire continent

Independence for Texas Conflict began in 1803 with LA Purchase: Americans claimed TX as part of the deal, but Spain protested 3000 residents, mostly Tejanos: Mexicans whose home was Texas; but also Comanche, Apache, and Kiowa Spanish wanted to promote growth, so they offered land grants to settlers Stephen Austin recruited 300 families, they got 960 acres each, called selves The Old Three Hundred

By 1830 Americans outnumber Tejanos, and had not assimilated: they had promised to learn Spanish, become Mexican citizens, and convert to Catholicism! Mexican gov’t said no more American settlers, placed tax on goods imported from US This angered the colonists there, and some called for statehood 1833 new Mexican Dictator Santa Anna (self appointed) removed ban on American settlers, but would not agree to make TX a state

Santa Anna sent an army to TX to control criticism Texans called on volunteers to join the fight, drove back the troops at Gonzales: the first battle of TX Revolution The army liberated San Antonio from Mexican army Mexican army marched north and found a small TX army (180) barricaded in a mission at the Alamo They had cannons, but low on gunpowder Americans sent letters out for help; held off Mexicans for 12 days

March 6, 1836, Mexican cannon fire smashed the walls of the Alamo, and the Americans couldn’t hold them back Mexicans massacred almost everyone and fought like “devils” Americans had worn down the Mexican army and bought some time March 2 the Americans had made a declaration of independence from Mexico (very similar to US Decl. of Ind.) They named Sam Houston commander: had come to TX in 1832, raised among Cherokee, fought with Andrew Jackson

Houston gathered an army of 900 April 21 launched a surprise attack on Santa Anna and Mexican army nearby They killed 600, captured 700 May 14 Santa Anna signed the treaty to free Texas Sam Houston became president of Texas: he wanted to join US, but Pres. Jackson didn’t want to admit another slave state, so it was an independent nation for the moment 1845 it became a (slave) state under President Polk: Manifest Destiny

War with Mexico New Mexico included present day NM, AZ, NV, Utah, parts of CO, and WY Conquistadors, Spanish, and missionaries all settled there, lived with the Natives It governed itself separately from Mexico 1821 Santa Fe Trail became a busy trade route Manifest Destiny! Make it a state! CA too! Needed access to the Pacific

Spanish used the mission system to settle CA Wealthy settlers lived on ranches to raise horses and cattle: treated Natives like slaves 1840s American families began to settle CA would be a great addition: ports for trade with China and Japan, & US would be safely bordered on both sides Prez. Polk offered to buy it 2x from Mexico, they said no, but he was determined to fulfill Manifest Destiny!!!

Polk wanted to provoke Mexico into firing first to “justify” war to Congress Border wars for years: US said Rio Grande River (S), Mexico said Nueces River (N) Polk sent a man to “negotiate” with Mexico: $30 million for CA and NM, to trade for acceptance of Rio Grande and paying off their debts Mexico didn’t want to talk, so Polk sent Gen Zachary Taylor to march across the border and build a fort Mexicans attacked the fort (just as he’d hoped)

Polk had a three part plan 1) Drive Mexican forces out of border region and secure the border 2) Seize NM and CA 3) Take Mexico City (capital of Mexico) US lost 1721 men to battle, 11,000 to disease, cost $100 million

Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo was signed February 1848 Mexico gave up all claims to TX, agreed to Rio Grande as border, gave CA and NM to the US US paid Mexico $15 million 1853 US paid $10 million for Gadsden Purchase, a strip of land along south border of AZ and NM After this purchase, US mainland reached its present size

America is destined for better deeds America is destined for better deeds. We have no interest in the scenes of antiquity, only as lessons of avoidance of nearly all their examples. The expansive future is our arena, and for our history. We are entering on its untrodden space, with the truths of God in our minds, beneficent objects in our hearts, and with a clear conscience unsullied by the past. We are the nation of human progress, and who will, what can, set limits to our onward march? Providence is with us, and no earthly power can. We point to the everlasting truth on the first page of our national declaration, and we proclaim to the millions of other lands, that "the gates of hell" -- the powers of aristocracy and monarchy -- "shall not prevail against it." Who, then, can doubt that our country is destined to be the great nation of futurity?