The Oregon Country and Texas Independence Chapter 12 Section 1 & 2 Pp. 358-371
Oregon Country Located between the Pacific Ocean and the Rocky Mountains north of California Present-day Oregon, Washington, Idaho and parts of Montana and Wyoming By 1818, U.S. and Britain had joint occupation of the area People from both countries could settle there
Mountain Men Tough, indepedent men who spent most of their time in the Rocky Mountains Fur Traders Many had Native American wives and adopted Native American ways Buffalo skin lodges, buckskin pants, moccasins, and beads Would later serve as guides for people moving west
The Oregon Trail Early 1840s “Oregon Fever” The Panic of 1837 caused many people to migrate westward Tens of thousands made the trip Emigrants: A person who leaves a country or region to live elsewhere
Oregon Trail
The Oregon Trail 2,000 mile journey Prairie Schooners: Canvas-covered wagons Trail began in Independence, Missouri Ended in Champoeg, Oregon
Manifest Destiny John O’ Sullivan (New York newspaper editor) coined the term Beliefs of Manifest Destiny: America is special America should serve as a model of freedom and democracy America should spread freedom by occupying the entire continent America’s destiny to overspread and to possess the whole continent J.Q. Adams: It is inevitable that America will spread to the Pacific
Manifest Destiny
Land Grants Texas belonged to Mexico Few people lived in Texas (about 3,000 people) Spain offered vast tracts of land to people who agreed to bring their families In return, settlers agreed to learn Spanish, become Mexican citizens, convert to Catholicism, and obey Mexican law
Growing Tension 1830 Americans outnumber Mexicans Did not adopt Mexican ways Mexican government orders a stop to immigration from the U.S. Tariffs were also used to stop trade between Texas and U.S.
The Struggle for Independence 1835 Unrest in Texas over their lack of rights Santa Anna (Dictator of Mexico) sent an army to punish the rebels
The Battle of the Alamo San Antonio- 1836 Small Texan force barricaded inside a mission (church) 180 Texan soldiers vs several thousand Mexican troops Texans held off for 12 days before Mexican soldiers killed all of the defenders Including: Davy Crockett, William Travis, and Jim Bowie
The Alamo
Texas Declares Independence March 2, 1836- Texas Declaration of Independence May 14, 1836 Santa Anna recognizes Texas independence September, 1836 Andrew Jackson refused to annex, take control of, Texas Upset the balance of free and slave states
The Road to Statehood Texas Mounting debt Congress and Presidents avoided annexing Texas in order to keep the balance between the North and the South This changed with Manifest Destiny and the Oregon Territory James K. Polk annexed Texas in 1845 Oregon would balance out the North and the South
Quiz 1. Who were the Mountain Men? 2. What caused tens of thousands of people to journey on the Oregon Trail? 3. Who coined the term “Manifest Destiny?” What was his job? 4. What are the basic beliefs of Manifest Destiny? 5. What happened at the Alamo? 6. Why did so many presidents hesitate to annex Texas?