Unit Question of the Day What tensions developed between Mexico and the USA as the US expanded westward?

C. Oregon & Texas Democrat James Polk won the election of 1844 & became the “Manifest Destiny” President. He urged Congress to make Texas the 28th US state in 1845 He wanted to end British claims to Oregon

Oregon vs. Columbia Trails

2. Oregon When Texas was admitted into the Union in 1845, it came in as a Slave state To make the Northerners happy, President Polk wanted to Oregon as free state, but….Oregon was jointly occupied by the USA & Britain. Oregon residents & Polk demanded the entire territory: “Fifty-Four, Forty or Fight!” But, the U.S. and Britain compromised dividing Oregon along the 49th parallel.

D. Mexican-American War Reasons for the Mexican-American War When Texas won its independence from Mexico, the 2 sides disagreed over the territorial boundaries This dispute lead to the Mexican-American War from 1846-1848. In 1846, President Polk sent Gen. Zachary Taylor across the Rio Grande River which provoked Mexico into the Mexican War The USA quickly won the Mexican War

2. The Mexican-American War ended with the Treaty of Guadalupe Hildalgo in 1848 The USA gained “all” of Mexico north of the Rio Grande River Mexico gave up (ceded) territory in the Southwest, called the Mexican Cession 5 years later, the US bought the Gadson Purchase for $10 million to build a southern railroad

Mexican Cession

E. California The Acquisition of California In the 1830s, Mexico offered citizenship to American ranchers & farmers to move to California When the Mexican War broke out in 1846, Californians rebelled from Mexican rule & created an independent republic. The Californian Republic was annexed (added) to the USA as a part of the Mexican Cession in 1848.

The Bear Flag Revolt (California)