California and the Southwest New Mexico Territory Included most of New Mexico and Arizona and parts of Nevada, Utah and Colorado Santa Fe- the capital of New Mexico Territory William Becknell First American to travel to Santa Fe His route was call the Santa Fe Trail because it ended in Santa Fe *Americans were attracted to Santa Fe because it provided good opportunities for trade

California’s Missions and Ranches Father Junipero Serra Spanish missionary built his first mission in San Diego built over 20 missions along the California coast Native Americans on Missions and Ranches Were forced to work on mission land herded sheep and cattle raised crops Vaqueros, Indian and Mexican cowhands who worked on the ranches did most of the work on Ranches

Manifest Destiny America wanted to purchase California from Mexico wanted to gain control of the ports in San Francisco and San Diego Americans also believed in Manifest Destiny, the idea that the U.S. should expand across the continent to the Pacific Ocean *this idea caused problems between the U.S. and Mexico

Election of 1844 James K. Polk (Democrat) Won the election of 1844 against Henry Clay because he favored expansion Wanted to add Texas and Oregon to the United States Polk demanded the whole region as far North as latitude 54 °40’ N. “Fifty four forty or Fight!” became his campaign slogan