Trends in Antebellum America: New intellectual and religious movements. 2.Social reforms. 3.Beginnings of the Industrial Revolution in America. 4.Re-emergence of a second party system and more political democratization. 5.Increase in federal power  Marshall Ct. decisions. 6.Increase in American nationalism. 7.Further westward expansion. 1.New intellectual and religious movements. 2.Social reforms. 3.Beginnings of the Industrial Revolution in America. 4.Re-emergence of a second party system and more political democratization. 5.Increase in federal power  Marshall Ct. decisions. 6.Increase in American nationalism. 7.Further westward expansion.

The Agriculture Frontier The crowded East – By the early 1800s, land was scarce in the East, especially New England. Land was more productive and expensive in the Middle Atlantic states. In the South, planters controlled the best lands. – the young and poor in the rural East had strong reasons to move west where land was cheap and fertile. – Native Americans had been pushed west of the Mississippi River

The Agriculture Frontier, cont’d. The Old Southwest – Skyrocketing cotton prices and the defeat of the Indian confederacies stimulated a land boom in the Old Southwest. – In less than 30 years, six new slave states entered the Union: Mississippi, Alabama, Missouri, Arkansas, Florida, and Texas. – The southwestern frontier attracted planters and independent farmers. – The Southwest Ordinance of 1790 opened all territories south of the Ohio River to slavery.

The Frontier of the Plains Indians Tribal lands – In the 1830s, the United States set aside land west of the Mississippi River for displaced Native Americans. – The Sioux were the dominant power on the northern and central Great Plains. – Trade in buffalo hides increased in the early 1800s. – Epidemic diseases helped Sioux expansion since the nomadic Sioux were less susceptible to the disease than the sedentary, agricultural peoples.

The Frontier of the Plains Indians, cont’d. The fur traders – Mountain men acted as trappers for fur companies. lived in brutal, harsh conditions mortality rates among trappers ran as high as 80 percent a year. – The rendezvous system brought trappers, Native Americans, and traders together in an annual fair to trade furs for various goods. – In the 1830s, the fur trade decimated the animal population and disease ravaged Native American tribes.

The Frontier of the Plains Indians, cont’d. The Oregon Trail – Between the 1840s and early 1850s, about 150,000 Americans made the overland trip from Missouri to Oregon, Utah, and California. Mormon Trail – Mormons flocked to Utah California Trail – Gold Rush: 1849 Overall: – The overland trip was long and difficult, requiring cooperation among families traveling in the wagon trains.

“American Progress” by John Gast, 1872

Overland Immigration to the West *mountain men trapped in the Rockies *missionaries were next to travel west to Oregon  Between 1840 and 1860, more than 250,000 people made the trek westward.

Trails Westward

The Mexican Borderlands The peoples of the Southwest – Diverse peoples lived in the Southwest. Full-blooded Native Americans, who retained their traditional languages and customs, were the largest group. Mestizos were of mixed Native American-Spanish ancestry, while criollos were American-born whites of Spanish ancestry. The smallest group were Spaniards. – The three centers of white settlement were Texas, New Mexico, and Alta California.

Politics, Expansion, and War Manifest Destiny – Manifest Destiny assumed the white Americans had a special mission to spread civilization and democracy. – It fueled and justified expansion of the United States across the continent and was closely associated with the Democratic Party.

The Americanization of Texas Tough for Mexico to control Texas. The Mexican government encouraged American settlement by offering large land grants to empresarios Americans had to: – accept Mexican citizenship – convert to Catholicism, – obey the Mexican government. American settlers poured into the region, many bringing slaves. Steven Austin- empresario ( )

Texas Declaration of Independence Texas declares independence on March 2, 1836 Leader of Mexico: Santa Anna Leader of the Texans: Sam Houston

The Fight The Alamo – Texas rebels fight Santa Anna – Texans lose, more than 180 of 200 dead – Including: Davy Crockett, William Travis, James Bowie Battle of San Jacinto – Sam Houston and troops defeat Santa Anna, win the revolution

Republic of Texas Texas becomes independent republic Sam Houston is President Slavery is legal 6 Flags of Texas – Spain – France – Mexico – Republic of Texas – Confederate States of America – U.S.

The Americanization of Texas, cont’d. The push into California and the Southwest – Mexican administration of California was always weak. Gold Rush in 1849 brought thousands to Cali – American merchants opened up the Santa Fe trail. – Utah was settled by the Mormons.

Politics, Expansion, and War The Mexican War – President James K. Polk was an expansionist. He compromised with Britain, signing a treaty to resolve issues over Oregon. – The annexation of Texas (1845) prompted Mexico to sever diplomatic ties with the United States. – A border dispute led to the Mexican War, which ended in military victory. – In the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, Mexico ceded its claim to the current southwestern states of the United States. In return, U.S. paid $15 million 54’40 or Fight!!

The Mexican Cession

The West & the NW: