Manifest Destiny

Define Americans’ “God-given” right to expand West – east coast to west coast John Gast, “American Progress”

Why did people move west? Land Running from debt Gold – make $$$ Start over Freedom (of religion, from persecution 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 (1821) Mexico invites Americans to settle in Texas

1823 Stephen Austin established successful American colony in Texas

1830 Mexico closed its borders to American settlers. Why?

1833 Austin asks Santa Anna (Mexican leader) for more self-gov’t

1835 Battle at the Alamo All Americans killed; including Davy Crockett, Jim Bowie, and Colonel William B. Travis

1836 Battle of San Jacinto Led by Sam Houston, Americans attack Santa Anna – “Remember the Alamo!”

1836 Treaty of Valasco Ends war & Texas gets independence Signed by Santa Anna but rejected by Mexican Gov’t “Lone Star Republic” formed (breakaway province?)

1838 Sam Houston (Pres of Texas) asks U.S. to annex (add) Texas Van Buren refuses due to sectional tensions

1845 Polk annexes Texas after sending Slidell to negogiate for California Texas becomes the 28th state in the USA

Mexican-American War 1846-1848

1845 US asks to buy California & New Mexico from Mexico for $25 million – Mexico upset by Slidell’s appt and non-negotiation of Texas

1845/1846 U.S. President Polk sends American troops to Southern Texas to protect disputed territory – 16 Americans die… under Zachary Taylor’s command

1846 Congress declares war on Mexico 8,000 men in armed forces… preparation?

1846 California declares independence from Mexico & becomes the “Bear Flag Republic”

1847 U.S. troops capture the capital of Mexico – Mexico City

1848 Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo http://youtu.be/gn2FzuPyFlY Ends Mexican-American War Mexico gives up claims to territories of Utah & New Mexico (for $15 million) Southern border of U.S. set at the Rio Grande River

Government Policies

Northwest Ordinance 1787 Established how new states could enter the Union (U.S.)

Missouri Compromise Compromise of 1820 Divided Louisiana into slave & free

Wilmot Proviso 1846 Any territory gained from Mexico would be free Failed to pass but started national debate on slavery

Compromise of 1850 Way to settle slavery dispute with land gained from Mexico *California is free state *No slave trade in DC *Strong Fugitive Slave Act *NM & Utah vote to decide slavery