Manifest Destiny "It is America's right to stretch from sea to shining sea. Not only do we have a responsibility to our citizens to gain valuable natural resources we also have a responsibility to civilize this beautiful land."

Oregon Originally claimed by: United States, Great Britain, Spain, Russia Adams-Onis Treaty Mountain Men Missionaries Oregon Trail 54º40’ v. 49º James Polk

Texas Texas was officially a part of Mexico Tejanos given semi-autonomy General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna became dictator…seen as oppressive The Alamo The Republic of Texas Annexation

Mexican War Polk Provokes 3 Part Plan Gadsden Purchase Rio Grande Bear Flag Republic Mexico City Gadsden Purchase

California Sutter’s Mill 49ers Californios Boom Town – Ghost Town Levi Strauss Bear Flag

The Californios The Californios are citizens of the United States but are Mexican Californians. The Land Law of 1851 set up a group of people to review the Californio's land rights. The Californios had to prove what land they owned

Life in California As people looked for a new area to look for gold, they built new communities called boomtowns, almost overnight. The boomtowns were given colorful names such as Shinbone Peak and You Bet. San Francisco grew from a tiny town to a huge city with about 20,000 people in it. Most of the 49’ers washed or panned the gold from the river looking for gold dust or nuggets. Although the miners didn’t make a lot of money in the rush, merchants at the boomtowns and mining settlements charged very high prices for everything because the miners couldn’t go anywhere else.

Utah Joseph Smith Brigham Young Great Salt Lake

In 1844, a mob in Illinois killed Joseph Smith who had founded the Mormon members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter – Day Saints in 1830 located in New York. Brigham Young took over as head of the Mormon. Young decided the Mormons should move again, this time near the Great Salt Lake in present day Utah. The Mormon Migration to the Salt Lake area began in 1846. About 12,000 Mormons made the trek. This was the largest single migration in American History. In 1848, the US aquirred the Salt Lake area as part of the settlement of the war with Mexico. In 1850, Congress made the Utah territory and President Millard Fillmore made Brigham Young the governor. In 1857 and 1858, war almost broke out between the Mormons and the US army. Utah became a state in 1896.

Utah cont. The Mormon Migration to the Salt Lake area began in 1846. About 12,000 Mormons made the trek. This was the largest single migration in American History. Mormons planned their towns carefully and build irrigation canals to water their farms. They also founded industries so they be self sufficient. Mormon merchants sold supplies to the 49’ers who passed through Utah on their way to California. In 1848, the US aquired the Salt Lake area as part of the settment of the war with Mexico. In 1850, Congress made the Utah territory and President Millard Fillmore made Brigham Young the governor. In 1857 and 1858, war almost broke out between the Mormons and the US army. Utah became a state in 1896.