MANIFEST DESTINY WESTWARD EXPANSION

San Francisco The Nueces River Santa Fe The Rio Grande San Antonio President Polk's claim that “American blood had been shed on American soil” referred to news of an armed clash between Mexican and American troops near San Francisco The Nueces River Santa Fe The Rio Grande San Antonio Response Grid Countdown 10

Some people in Britain hoped for a British alliance with Texas because the alliance would help to support the Monroe Doctrine. this area would provide an excellent base from which to attack the United States. Mexican efforts to attack the United States would be stopped. the alliance would give abolitionists the opportunity to free slaves in TX. Response Grid Countdown 10

Arrange in chronological order the United States' acquisition of Oregon (OR), Texas (TX), and California (CA). OR, TX, CA CA, TX, OR TX, OR, CA TX, CA, OR OR, CA, TX Response Grid Countdown 10

The Wilmot Proviso, introduced into Congress during the Mexican War, declared that slavery would be banned from all territories Mexico ceded to the U.S. the United States should annex all of Mexico. slavery in the territories would be determined by popular sovereignty. Mexican territory would not be annexed to the U.S. Response Grid Countdown 10

The Aroostook War was the result of a short-lived insurrection in British Canada. the offer of asylum to the crew of the Creole. a fishing dispute between Britain and the U. S. a dispute over the northern boundary of Maine. Response Grid Countdown 10

In the presidential election of 1844, the Whig candidate, Henry Clay, opposed the annexation of Texas. ignored the issue of the annexation of Texas. called for the immediate annexation of Texas favored both the annexation of Texas and the postponement of that annexation. Response Grid Countdown 10

Those people most opposed to President Polk's expansionist program were the western Democrats. antislavery forces. Senate Democrats. supporters of Nicholas P. Trist. proslavery Whigs. Response Grid Countdown 10

Texans won their independence as a result of the victory over Mexican armies at the Battle of Santa Anna Goliad the Alamo the Rio Grande San Jacinto Response Grid Countdown 10

The government of Mexico & the Americans who settled in Mexican-controlled Texas clashed over all of the following issues except allegiance to Spain slavery immigration local rights Santa Anna raising an army to use against Texas Response Grid Countdown 10

Most Americans who migrated to the Oregon Country were attracted by the expectation of fighting British troops. rich and fertile soil of the area. Potential profits in the fur trade Discovery of gold in the Cascade Mountains Response Grid Countdown 10

“Our claims are based on the right of our manifest destiny to overspread and to possess the whole continent which Providence has given us for the development of the great experiment in liberty….” John L. O’Sullivan Manifest Destiny = The belief that the U.S. had a God-given right to extend its boundaries westward to the Pacific Ocean and spread democracy to the less fortunate.

Spirit of the Frontier/American Progress, 1872 by John Gast How does this painting explain the attitude of Americans in the mid-1800s? Spirit of the Frontier/American Progress, 1872 by John Gast

“Go West, Young Man!” Horace Greeley, New York Tribune – 1845 Why did early settlers flood across the country during the mid-1800s? The California Gold Rush began in 1848 with the discovery of gold at Sutter’s Mill on the California River. Settlers flocked to the Oregon Country in search of fertile land for farming. "Go West, young man" is a popular saying about Manifest Destiny popularized by Horace Greeley. Greeley favored westward expansion. He saw the fertile farmland of the west as an ideal place for people willing to work hard for the opportunity to succeed. The phrase came to symbolize the idea that agriculture could solve many of the nation's problems of poverty and unemployment characteristic of the big cities of the East. It is one of the most commonly quoted sayings from the nineteenth century and may have had some influence on the course of American history. Some sources have claimed the phrase is derived from the following advice in Greeley's July 13, 1865 editorial in the New York Tribune, but this text does not appear in that issue of the newspaper. The actual editorial instead encourages Civil War veterans to take advantage of the Homestead Act and colonize the public lands. “Washington is not a place to live in. The rents are high, the food is bad, the dust is disgusting and the morals are deplorable. Go West, young man, go West and grow up with the country.” Ranchers moved into areas that buffalo previously inhabited and began raising cattle descended from Spanish herds. CICERO © 2010 14

RISKS OF MANIFEST DESTINY: In the Great Plains? INDIANS but … U.S. more technologically advanced inter-tribal conflicts In Texas? MEXICO but … politically unstable lack of settlement On the Pacific coast? BRITISH but … lack of desire to really fight

Webster- Ashburton Treaty Aroostook “War” 12,000 miles in dispute (since Treaty of Paris, 1783) Resolved by Lord Ashburton & Sec. of State Webster, 1842 in Webster-Ashburton Treaty: U.S. retains 7,000 miles of disputed territory BR get route from Halifax to Quebec U.S. gets bonus … BR surrendered area further west (MN) that contained Mesabi iron ore deposits Who is P in 1842? JOHN TYLER!

TEXAS - INDEPENDENCE FROM MEXICO STEPHEN AUSTIN got a grant from Mexico to bring 300 American settlers to Texas in 1823 …. with conditions: they had to become Roman Catholic they had to obey Mexican laws .. why a problem? NO SLAVERY!

By 1830, Americans outnumbered Mexicans in Texas by 10 to 1 Americans failed to become Catholic & broke Mexican law by bringing in slaves By 1830, Americans outnumbered Mexicans in Texas by 10 to 1 MX cuts off any further immigration GTT! Typical Texan? GENERAL SANTA ANNA MX Dictator by 1833; plans crackdown Typical Texan: hardy pioneer; individualist; GTT (Gone to Texas) – many just one step ahead of the law after them; Americans at heart; most law-biding and God-fearing; adventurers like Davy Crockett – famed rifleman, Jim Bowie – the “Arkansas toothpick”, Sam Houston – ex-Gov. of TN whose new bride left him & he goes on drunk & then cleans up & goes to TX; Santa Anna abolished the Mexican Constitution of 1824. He established a constitution that established him as a dictator.

Texans Seek Independence! 1833 - Austin tries to negotiate; thrown in jail for 8 mos. for treason (letter urging TX to organize its own gov’t) 1835 – Santa Anna removes all local rights & begins raising army to suppress Texans Battle of Gonzales – 1835 Mexicans come to retrieve cannon given to Texas settlers to protect themselves from Indians Texans refuse & adopt “Come & Take It!” motto & are actually the attackers Texas declares independence, 1836 Elect Sam Houston as President proclaimed the Texans were defending their legal possession of the cannon and fighting to reinstate the Constitution of 1824. Original “Come and Take It” flag sewn from a wedding gown The original cannon from Gonzales was found in 1936 after a rainstorm uncovered it a century after it was buried in a creek bed. Mexico does NOT see TX as independent --- just a territory in revolt

REMEMBER THE ALAMO!

Takes Santa Anna 2 weeks to win - loses 1,500 men 13 day siege 188 Americans at the ALAMO, a mission in San Antonio – trying to hold off Santa Anna & buy time for Houston to build forces Feb. 1836, Santa Anna’s 2,000 troops attacked – no reinforcements available Takes Santa Anna 2 weeks to win - loses 1,500 men 13 day siege Near end, Santa Anna has Alamo surrounded Travis draws “line in the sand…” Mexicans kill all 187 Texans, including William Travis, Davy Crockett, Jim Bowie Hyperlink to line in the sand video on the pics In the waning days of the Battle (somewhere between March 3–5, 1836), with Mexican General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna having the Alamo completely surrounded, Santa Anna sent a messenger to Travis demanding surrender, or else everyone in the compound would be killed. According to the legend, Travis called the Alamo defenders together, explained that defeat was almost certain, and read the letter of surrender; Travis then (having chosen to die instead of surrender) reportedly pulled his battle sword, drew a line in the sand of the Alamo, and asked for volunteers to cross over the line and join him, understanding their decision would be irreversible. The legend states that all but one of the defenders (including Jim Bowie and Davy Crockett) joined Travis on his side of the line; Moses Rose being the only holdout. Travis then responded to Santa Anna's letter with cannon fire, whereupon Santa Anna replied by playing El Degüello. El Degüello is a bugle call notable in its use by the Mexican Army during the 1836 Battle of the Alamo. According to James A. Michener's novel Texas, the original meaning of the Degüello call was an appeal to an enemy to surrender or else they would die by the sword. General Antonio López de Santa Anna of the Mexican Army used it to signify that no quarter would be given to the enemy.

Siege of the Alamo Battle only lasts 2 hours at the end Some historians believe about 7 Texans were taken alive (maybe Davy Crockett?) and then later executed Women and children were spared but were ordered to warn other Texans that the Mexican army could not be beaten.

SAM HOUSTON follows up with victory at San Jacinto Then, 400 Texans butchered at Goliad by firing squad after having thrown down their weapons SAM HOUSTON follows up with victory at San Jacinto Surprise attack while Mexicans taking a “siesta” Battle lasted only 20 minutes but killing goes on for hours Captured Santa Anna & forced him to sign a treaty at sword point recognizing the independence of Texas Texas thus became the “LONE STAR REPUBLIC” in l836 & sought admission to the U.S. U.S. kept putting it off – for 9 years! Why? TX begins establishing ties with the BR – why? What reasons fueled BR interest in TX? Days after the battle of San Jacinto, Texas militia were still rounding up Mexican soldiers who had fled from the field. One Mexican wearing a private’s uniform stood out to many of his fellow soldiers who fingered him as none other than General Santa Anna himself. Santa Anna was immediately brought before a wounded Sam Houston who offered him his life in return for independence for Texas. Santa Anna quickly signed the Treaty of Velasco granting Texas its independence. MX Congress refused to accept the treaty recognizing TX independence. Continues to see it as a province in revolt to be reconquered in the future Before leaving office, Jackson actually recognized the Lone Star Republic Put off admission since it would likely mean war with Mexico & the problem of slavery TX & BR TX has to maintain military to defend itself against Mexicans – very costly by 1840, had treaties with FR, Holland & Belgium Have strong ties with BR over cotton Euro powers think strong ties with TX will help with fragmentation of US BR abolitionists would also like to get to work in TX BR merchants would like to see TX as free-trade area…no tariffs like rest of U.S.

JOHN TYLER – “THE PRESIDENT WITHOUT A PARTY” Log Campaign of 1840 – Tippecanoe & Tyler Too!” Harrison died one month into office & Tyler succeeds to presidency Tyler is NOT a Clay/Webster puppet as Harrison was expected to be Vetoes Clay’s bank bill; Cabinet resigns High protective tariff Webster-Ashburton Treaty with BR Calls for annexation of TX but Senate rejects treaty Finally, 1844, annexes it by joint resolution – officially admitted in 1845 Only cabinet member not to resign was Webster --- involved in BR negotiations (ME) Treaty ratification requires 2/3 vote of Senate; joint resolution of CONGRESS only requires simple majority

The Legacy The San Jacinto monument stands even higher than the Washington monument. Texas was prohibited from making the obelisk higher than the monument in D.C., so they added a star that made it bigger.

OREGON FEVER! BEAVER TRADE FERTILE SOIL Jointly occupied –BR & US Also claimed over time by Russia – retreated in 1824/5 - And Spain - lost it in Adams-Onis Treaty, 1819 Extended from Pacific to Rockies and from AK to CA Two primary reasons for OR fever: BEAVER TRADE “Mountain Men” opened passageways west but also weakened and corrupted Indians – how? FERTILE SOIL

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Conestoga Wagon “Prairie Schooner” The wagons were named for the Pennsylvania town where many were built. Oxen or mules usually pulled these wagons in traveling groups called wagon trains. They got the nickname “prairie schooner” because of their ship-like appearance moving across the grassy plains.

Reports from Christian missionaries sent back east praising the fertile soil! OREGON TRAIL Expensive, $600/family of 4 2000 miles Left from MO May to November Traveled only 2 mi. in an hour 5,000 Americans in OR by 1846 “Overlanders” The Donner Party Donner Party – 1846, 87 “overlanders” – those who followed guidebooks, not mountain men – Got trapped in snow, 41 dead, many resorted to cannibalism

By 1846--Oregon divided between Great Britain and U. S By 1846--Oregon divided between Great Britain and U.S. at the 49th parallel Why was President Polk willing to negotiate this boundary with Britain?

A Timeline of American Expansion Revolutionary War (1776) Proclamation of 1763 Louisiana Purchase (1803) from France — $15 million War of 1812 – designs on Canada and Florida Monroe Doctrine (1823) Hands off the Western Hemisphere Indian Removal Act (1830) Trail of Tears, 1838 Texas Revolution (1836) Annexation of Texas, 1847 Mexican War (1846) Polk used a border dispute to justify expansion Mexican Cession (1848) California, Nevada, New Mexico, Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, and Arizona, Gadsden Purchase (1853) from Mexico — $10 million Purchase of Alaska (1867) from Russia — $7.2 million Hawaii Annexation, 1898 CICERO © 2010 31

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