What is Manifest Destiny?

Manifest Destiny: is the and to from RIGHT Manifest Destiny: is the and to from DUTY expand Coast to Coast

Trails West Santa Fe Trail Oregon Trail California Trail Settlers eventually began traveling in long wagon trains along these trails

Oregon US & GB: shared control in 1818 Between the 1820s-1840s, trappers, missionaries, and settlers traveled on the Oregon Trail to the Oregon Territory By the mid-1840s, many Americans campaigned to own Oregon outright rather than share it with GB 54-40 or fight! Treaty in 1846 extended US boundary along 49th parallel US controls land below 49th, GB controls land above.

Texas Mexico won independence from Spain in 1821…cheap land became available for settlement…Americans encouraged to settle in Texas Between 1821 and the 1840s the Anglo (white settler) population in Texas surpassed the population of Tejanos (Mexican settlers)

Stephen Austin Was given permission from Mexico to establish a colony…the main settlement was named San Felipe de Austin By 1825, land grants had been issued to almost 300 families to settle in the colony Settlers of this colony from America had many cultural differences that caused tensions between them and their Mexican neighbors: Protestant vs. Catholic English vs. Spanish Slavery vs. abolition

Leading to Revolution Differences between Anglo and Mexicans in Texas Instability in Mexican politics Austin was imprisoned in 1833 for “inciting a revolution” after he presented petitions to Antonio Lopez de Santa Ana asking for greater self-governance for Texas Santa Ana’s government imposed higher taxes, attempted to outlaw slavery, and disarmed local militia groups Local government powers were suspended in Texas, and when Austin returned to Texas in 1835, he called on Texans to arm themselves as Santa Ana marched his army toward San Antonio

Declaring Independence On March 2, 1836 Texans declared their independence from Mexico and formally established the Republic of Texas Santa Ana sent troops to put down the rebellion A few days after declaring independence, 183 Texas rebels were killed by Santa Ana’s army at the Alamo “Remember the Alamo” became the battle cry of the Texas Revolution

The Republic of Texas In April 1836 forces led by Sam Houston won a major battle at San Jacinto Santa Ana was captured and forced to sign a treaty recognizing Texas’ independence By October, the independent government was in place with Sam Houston as president.

Annexation Initially, requests by Texan leaders to join the US were denied Might lead to war with Mexico Northerners objected to adding another slave state James Polk campaigned in favor of westward expansion, won the election of 1844, and congress voted to annex Texas in 1845 Texas becomes 28th state and 15th slave state

Effects of the Annexation of Texas Increased tensions between the US and Mexico California began verbalizing its desire to also become a state…further irritated Mexico US and Mexico could not agree on where the Texas border should be

Leading to War President Polk sent troops under General Zachary Taylor to the disputed land with Mexico To Mexico, troops were an army of occupation and a violation of Mexican sovereignty Fighting breaks out between US troops and Mexican army Congress declares war on Mexico in May 1846