8Y 10-05-2016 Wednesday Ch11Sec1 and 2 Review OBJ: Describe American western expansion during the first half of the 19th century. Agenda: Prayer Do Now: Explain two reasons why the United States initially refused to annex Texas. (page 353 “An Independent Nation”) Go over homework and Do Now Review for quiz on Friday Section 1 and 2 practice quizzes (handouts) Homework: Study for Friday’s Quiz

Explain two reasons why the United States initially refused to annex Texas. (page 353 “An Independent Nation”) One reason why the U.S did not want to annex Texas was because they did not want to upset the delicate balance between the slave states and the free states. Texas would have been admitted as a slave state and the slave states would have far outnumbered the free states. Another reason the U.S. did not annex Texas was because President Jackson did not want to have a war with Mexico. Mexico still claimed Texas, even though Santa Anna was defeated at the battle of San Jacinto and was forced to sign a treaty giving Texas its independence. Mexico did not recognize Texas independence.

11 a. The different groups of people who travelled West were American families looking for new opportunities, mountain men looking for wealth by collecting beaver fur, and Mormons who were escaping religious persecution. Later on, miners, like the 49ers, also moved west because of the gold that was discovered in California. 11b. Brigham Young moved the Mormons west into Utah because they were being persecuted in the eastern United States. The Mormon founder Joseph Smith was murdered and the communities they tried to start failed. Utah seemed to provide a safe and beautiful place to start a Mormon community and practice their religion freely. 11c. Some possible problems that might result from Americans moving west is that they might run out of resources and eastern cities might suffer from losing people. Another problem would be that the Native Americans would not be happy with American settlers taking their land. This will cause conflict and war. There could also be conflict with other nations already claiming lands in the west (Mexico and Britain).

Stephen Austin – an American empresario (real estate agents – got people to settle into Texas, paid by the Mexican government) who settled the first three hundred families into Texas. (mexico gave them free land in exchange for 1) they had to convert to Catholicism 2) they had to pledge loyalty to Mexico)Their successful settlement attracted many others into Texas. Later, he fought for Texas independence and eventually became secretary of state for the republic of Texas. Santa Anna – dictator of Mexico. As soon as he became president, he suspended the constitution of Mexico. Then he sent troops to Texas to take away their weapons. This is what officially started the Texas Revolution.