Manifest Destiny Chapter 9 What role did Mountain Men play in Westward Expansion? 2. What difficulties and opportunities awaited migrants to the west?

Spanish Colonies Fail Texas, New Mexico, & California were all part of the Spanish Empire There were few Spanish colonists in these territories. Indian raids brought fear to the citizens and poverty In 1821 revolution ended Spain’s strong hold Mexico became its own nation. (Texas, New Mexico, and California became part of Mexico)

Manifest Destiny Expansionist saw the 3 territories rich with resources Many argued that the Mexican government was weak and did not deserve to keep the lands “The American claim is by the right of our manifest destiny to spread and possess the whole of the continent which providence has given us for the development of the great experiment of liberty and ….self-government entrusted to us.” John L. O’Sullivan New York Morning News December 27, 1845

Santa Fe Trail After the Spanish Empire failed in North America Mexico opened its borders to trade with America Missouri started Trading across the Great Plains with Santa Fe, NM Horses, mules, furs, and silver in exchange for manufactured goods Sailors also began sailing around South America to California for Trade Mountain Men Explored the Mountain passes in pursuit of Furs and trade

Oregon Trail 1836 Marcus and Narcissa Whitman went west and founded an Indian Mission called Walla Walla. Wagon trains of 10-100 wagons went west Most were farmers looking for bigger farms on the West Coast The Whitman’s were killed in 1847, but by then the flood of emigrants could not be stopped Between 1840-1860 260,000 people went West

Indian Restrictions The Government wanted to protect emigrants that were moving west from Indian attacks In 1851 the Treaty of Fort Laramie was passed This bounded Natives to lands away from the major trails crossing the Continent Most Natives did not follow the treaty, insisting to follow their traditional nomadic lifestyle (following the buffalo herds)