Manifest Destiny

Define Americans’ “God-given” right to expand West – east coast to west coast In the 1840s, America realized its “manifest destiny” by acquiring all lands to the Pacific Ocean: In 1845, the USA annexed the independent nation of Texas In 1846, the U.S. settled a dispute with England to gain Oregon In 1848, the USA gained new lands in the SW by winning the Mexican-American War

Why did people move west? Land Running from debt Gold – make $$$ Start over Freedom (of religion etc)

Notes on the West (1803-1850)

1803-06 Lewis & Clark Expedition explore the Louisiana Territory

1811 The Nat’l Road connects Cumberland, Maryland with Columbus, Ohio and continues west!

1825 The Erie Canal connects the Atlantic Ocean & the Great Lakes Called the “Big Ditch,” it greatly improved shipping

1835 American farmers in Texas begin a war of rebellion against Mexico

1837 John Deere produces the steel plow, which now allows farmers to burst through the touch prairie soil, known as sod

1837 Cyrus McCormick produces the mechanical reaper, allowing farmers to greatly reduce the amount of labor needed to harvest grain crops

1842 The Oregon territory opens for settlement; many would be settlers travel along a 2,000 mile pathway across the Great Plains & the Rocky Mountains known as the Oregon Trail

1844 James K. Polk used the slogan “54º40’ or fight!” to push for the connection of the Oregon territory, setting the U.S. Northern border at the latitude line.

1847 Led by Brigham Young, the Mormons end their journey, along the Mormon trail at the shores of the Great Salt Lake in the Utah territory

1848 The Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo gives all the Mexican lands north of the Rio Grande to the U.S.

1850 Bavarian-born Levi Strauss patents and sells a new style of work trousers made from a French fabric known as denim or genes cloth to many of the gold miners arriving in California

War for Texas Independence 1835-1836 Texas fights for freedom from Mexico!

1821 Mexico gains independence from Spain Mexico invites Americans to settle in Texas by offering cheap land. New immigrants received exemptions from paying taxes for 10 years but they had to convert to Roman Catholicism.

1825 Stephen Austin established successful American colony (Washington-on-the-Brazos) in Texas Helped persuade 1,500 families to settle in his colony.

1830 Mexico closed its borders to American settlers and tax goods traded to discourage trade with the US. Why? Americans refused to accept Mexican laws & religion. They would not: convert to Catholicism, ban slavery, and wanted a voice in government

1833 Austin asks Santa Anna (Mexican leader) for more self-gov’t By 1834, Mexican president Santa Anna began to view Anglos as a threat & had Austin arrested and imprisoned for treason. In 1835, Texans were in open rebellion against the Mexican government

1835 Austin Released from prison and saw negotiation was pointless and encouraged Texans to organize army. Texans declare independence and draft there constitution Sam Houston takes leadership of the army

1836 Battle at the Alamo All Americans slaughtered Texans lost at the Alamo, but the battle created inspiration: “Remember the Alamo!” Battle of San Jacinto Led by Sam Houston, Americans attack Mexico – “Remember the Alamo!” “ Remember Goliad” Hundreds killed and 700 captured from Ana’s army which included Santa Anna himself.

1836 Texans, led by Sam Houston, captured Santa Anna & won their independence in 1836 ( Forced Santa Anna to sign treaty and order his army out of Texas) Treaty of Valasco Ends war & Texas gets independence “Lone Star Republic” Mexico refused to acknowledge treaty

1838 From 1836 to 1845, Texas was an independent nation; Sam Houston (Pres of Texas) asks U.S. to annex (add) Texas, but the debate over slavery kept America from adding Texas as a state

1845 Texas becomes the 28th state in the USA

Why did Texans did declare independence in 1836? Hypotheses

Why did Texans did declare independence in 1836? With your table, read documents A-D and complete graphic organizer.

Why did Texans did declare independence in 1836? A- Why did Texans declare independence? Were Texans justified in declaring independence? H- Were these honorable men, fighting for freedom, or greedy slaveholders? What evidence from the documents supports your position?

Why did Texans did declare independence in 1836? A- Which of these pieces of evidence do you find more/less trustworthy? Why? Why do historians still debate this question? H- Once Texas declares and wins its independence, is the U.S. free to annex it? Why would Mexico object to the American annexation of Texas?