 Large area of land between the Pacific Ocean and the Rocky Mountains north of California  Many different countries had claims to the land  Americans wanted control of the Oregon Country

 Secretary of State John Q. Adams negotiated the Adams-Onis Treaty with Spain  Russia soon gave up their claim to the Oregon country as well  Britain and the United States now had joint occupation of the territory

 The first settlers in the territory were Mountain Men who would live in the wilderness trapping beavers and other animals.  Soon many people were coming to the new area and most used the famous Oregon trail

 Many Americans believed it was the country’s mission to spread to the Pacific Ocean  In the 1840s a Newspaper Editor John O’Sullivan came up with the idea of Manifest Destiny: it was the destiny of the U.S. to expand its territory from the Atlantic to Pacific Oceans Complete the Handout about Manifest Destiny

 Democrat James K. Polk vs Whig Henry Clay  Polk campaigned on the slogan “Fifty-Four Forty or Fight”  Polk was elected as the 11 th President of the United States  By 1846 Great Britain gave the United States the territory but at the latitude of 49 degrees

 The Adams-Onis Treaty gave the area of current day Texas to Spain  The territory had a very low population so the Spanish Government sold cheap land to get settlers to come  Americans, not Mexicans, bought the land and settled the territory

 To stop the growing American population the Spanish stopped American immigration and put taxes on trade with the United States  Soon General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna became the leader of Mexico. His dictatorship resulted in war with the American Texans

 The War started off well for the Texans but soon they were met with fierce defeats at the Alamo and Goliad  Still, in April 1836, the Texans, lead by Sam Houston won a decisive battle at San Jacinto  On May 14 th, 1836 Santa Anna recognized the Independence of Texas

 Texas remained an independent Lone Star Republic for 10 years as President Jackson and Van Buren didn’t want to annex, or make into a state, the region  President Tyler wanted to annex Texas but he didn’t have the support of Congress.  Situation changed in 1844 election. On December 29 th, 1845, president James K. Polk and Congress made Texas a state

 A large territory known as the New Mexico Territory was under Mexican control, however they governed themselves  William Becknell was the first American to reach Santa Fe in the New Mexico Territory  He began a trade route known as the Santa Fe trail which lead to Americans settling in the region

 California had a large Native American population that was soon populated with Spanish Missionaries  When Mexico gained independence California became a state, they outlawed the Missionaries  They sold large plots of land to Mexicans who created ranchos where Native Americans worked as slaves

 Americans soon wanted to make add California to the nation  President Polk offered to purchase it from Mexico, but the Mexican government refused, so the United States decided to go to war for the territory

 America wanted California for a clear passage to the Pacific Ocean  After Texas had been made a state there was a border dispute in the Rio Grande  Polk sent in General Zachary Taylor to the disputed territory  On May 11 th 1846 Mexican forces attacked the troops and war began

 The feelings about the War were split  Some thought it was unjust and cruel while others believed it was our right as apart of Manifest Destiny

 1. American troops would drive Mexicans out of the disputed Texas territory  2. The United States would seize New Mexico and California  3. American forces would take the Mexican Capital at Mexico City

 Zachary Taylor accomplished he first goal and secured the Texas border  A small group of Americans seized California on their own and set up the Bear Flag Republic  In the final part of his plan General Winfield Scott captured Mexico City by August 1847after a 300 mile trek and many battles

 After Mexico City fell the Mexicans surrendered and ended the war with the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo  Mexico gave up the disputed Texas Border and California and New Mexico for 15 million  The United States also took a strip of land containing Arizona and New Mexico through the Gasden Purchase for 15 Million  The United States lost 1,712 men in fighting and 11,000 via disease. The War cost 100 million and Mexico lost half its territory.

 Gold was discovered in California in 1849, 80,000 Americans known as forty-niners flocked to the area

 Many Mexicans, now known as Californios lost their land to new settlers  Communities and towns known as boomtowns formed overnight  Most of the new cities had no government or law enforcement and vigilantes took laws into their own hands

 Joseph Smith founded the Mormon religion in 1830  Smith met steep opposition in the United States and was killed by a mob in Illinois  His successor Brigham Young decided to move the religion and its followers to Utah and present day Salt Lake City  Because of opposition over their beliefs Utah didn’t become a state till 1896

 Complete the California Handout, if you do not finish in class, finish for Homework. We will go over it tomorrow.