Ch 13 Manifest Destiny, 1810–1853

Manifest Destiny, 1810–1853 Westward expansion has political, economic, and social effects on the development of the United States.

Mountain Men Open the West Mountain men explore the West while searching for furs They provide knowledge of West that helps later pioneers move west Jedediah Smith finds South Pass that was later used by pioneers as wagon trail

The Lure of the West Many use the West to make money and take land from Native Americans Land speculators buy huge areas of land, hope value will increase If value goes up, speculators divide land into smaller sections

The Lure of the West Make great profits selling sections to thousands of settlers Manufacturers and merchants soon follow the settlers west They hope to earn money, making, and selling items farmers need

Oregon Country

The Trail to Santa Fe Mexico gains independence (1821) and opens its borders to American traders William Becknell goes to Santa Fe, New Mexico, opens Santa Fe Trail  He makes profit trading, news spreads, traders can get rich in New Mexico

The Trail to Santa Fe Becknell makes another trip to Santa Fe, uses a shortcut Soon hundreds of traders use same route from Missouri to New Mexico

Oregon Fever Hundreds of settlers begin migrating west on the Oregon Trail   First whites to cross to Oregon are missionaries U.S. and Britain argue over ownership of Oregon

Oregon Fever Missionaries report about Oregon’s rich land, attract many settlers In 1843, nearly 1,000 people travel from Missouri to Oregon

The Mormon Trail Mormons—members of Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints Many people do not like Mormons because: practice of polygamy object to their holding of property in common

The Mormon Trail Mob kills Mormon leader Joseph Smith, Mormons decide to leave U.S. Next leader, Brigham Young, leads 1,600 Mormons to Utah (1847) Build settlement by the Great Salt Lake

Americans Support Manifest Destiny West occupied by Native Americans and Mexicans Americans view West as unoccupied, many want to settle in region Manifest Destiny—U.S. expansion from Atlantic to the Pacific is sure to happen

Americans Support Manifest Destiny Manifest destiny becomes U.S. policy under President James K. Polk U.S. and Britain divide Oregon territory at 49th parallel (1846)

Mexican – American War

Troubles with Mexico U.S. Congress admits Texas as slave state (1846) this angers Mexico Texas and Mexico do not agree on official border, U.S. diplomacy fails General Zachary Taylor stations U.S. troops in disputed region

Troubles with Mexico Action viewed by Mexico as an act of war, Mexico attacks U.S. patrol Congress declares war on Mexico, some Americans are against war Southerners want to extend slavery into Texas, Northerners do not

The Invasion of Mexico General Zachary Taylor leads U.S. troops into Mexico from Texas Fights Santa Anna and Mexican troops at Buena Vista, the Mexican troops retreat

The Invasion of Mexico General Winfield Scott and U.S. troops land in Veracruz, Mexico They head inland to Mexico City, fight Mexican troops, and capture Mexico City

The Mexican Cession War ends with the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo (1848) Mexico recognizes Texas as a part of the U.S. and the Rio Grande as Mexican/U.S. border

The Mexican Cession Mexico gives up vast region known as the Mexican Cession: amounts to almost one-half of Mexico U.S. pays Mexico $15 million for region

The Mexican Cession Mexicans in U.S. become a minority and contribute to American culture

“From Sea to Shining Sea” Mexico sells land to U.S., the Gadsden Purchase (1853): costs U.S. $10 million includes southern New Mexico and Arizona

“From Sea to Shining Sea” In 1848, the U.S. extends from the Atlantic to the Pacific President Polk learns gold was found in California

California Gold Rush

California Before the Rush Before gold rush, California is populated by Native Americans and Californios Californios—California settlers of Spanish or Mexican descent Most live on huge cattle ranches

Rush for Gold News of gold discovery spreads rapidly and starts California gold rush Gold rush occurs when many people move to where gold has been found

Rush for Gold Thousands of gold seekers set out to California using one of 3 routes: sail around South America and up Pacific coast sail to Isthmus of Panama, crossover, then sail to California travel overland across North America

Life in the Mining Camps Forty-niners—people who go to California to find gold, starting 1849 Often live in camps with colorful names like Coyote Diggings, or Hangtown

Life in the Mining Camps Camp life is dangerous and the mining is hard work, few find much gold Miners pay high prices for supplies and con artists swindle miners

Miners from Around the World Two-thirds of miners are Americans, mostly white men Miners also include Native Americans, free blacks, and enslaved African Americans Many miners come from Mexico, Europe, South America, Australia, and China

Miners from Around the World Chinese miners are mostly peasant farmers who flee region when crops fail Chinese are patient miners and make “played-out” sites yield profits American miners resent successful Chinese miners

Conflicts Among Miners Some American miners force Native American and foreign miners to leave California becomes U.S. state and passes Foreign Miners Tax (1850): imposes  $20 monthly tax on foreign miners causes miners from other countries to leave their mines

Conflicts Among Miners Chinese open shops, restaurants, laundries, and settle in San Francisco

The Impact of the Gold Rush During gold rush 250,000 people flood into California and it is over by 1852 San Francisco becomes center for banking, shipping, and trade Gold rush ruins many Californios, Americans seize their property

The Impact of the Gold Rush Thousands of Native Americans die from diseases brought by miners Anglo-Americans kill thousands of Native Americans Due to gold rush, California has enough people to apply for statehood California is admitted as free state in 1850

The Impact of the Gold Rush Outlaws slavery but does not grant African Americans right to vote Southerners fear California will upset the balance between slave and free states Conflict over issue threatens survival of the Union