Manifest Destiny Hey, flying white chicks!

Mexico Declares Independence Mexico Welcomes Americans A Weak Spain is unable to keep control of Mexico Mexico is freed in 1824 Mexico is having trouble with Comanche and Apache Indian Attacks Decide to invite Americans so that more European people will be in area Bad move!

Stephen Austin Texas Revolution Creates a colony of Americans in Mexico By 1834, 20,000 Americans live there Americans ignore Spanish laws, instead following US rules Outnumber Mexicans in the area Mexicans put Austin in jail for a year because he asks for a separate state government Upon his release, Texans (Americans) attack Mexico

General Santa Anna The Alamo (1836) Sam Houston Ruthless leader of Mexico Wants to end Texan Rebellion quickly Former mission (church) 1800 Mexican Army vs. 189 Texan volunteers Mexicans easily take over fort Leads Texans in capturing Santa Anna at San Jacinto Texas becomes independent (1837) and wants to be annexed (added to US)

The Far West Mountain Men Oregon Trail Hunters, trappers, and traders of the Rocky Mountains and Pacific Northwest Similar to Coureurs de Bois 2000 mile dangerous journey across the Great Plains to get to fertile farmland in Oregon Territory By 1845, 5000 people lived in Oregon

Not Important but a good campfire story: The Donner Party A group of families were headed to California through the Sierra Nevada Mountains They got lost in Spring of 1846 and were trapped in mountains by heavy snows Found in February, 1847 less than half of the 87 were still alive The people who were left ate the dead people!

The Mexican War Manifest Destiny Annexation of Texas War with Mexico Belief that the US should stretch from ocean to ocean Congress votes to annex Texas in 1845 Mexico is upset, claim we are stealing Texas US gets 200,000 troops to enlist Mexico has no chance and is quickly defeated when US troops capture Mexico City on 9/14/1847

Results of the War Treaty of Guadalupe Hildago Gadsden Purchase Mexican Cession - US Gets –California –Nevada –Utah –Most of Arizona/New Mexico –Parts of Colorado/Wyoming US pays $15 million US buys southern Arizona and New Mexico for $10 million Continental border are now fixed

Land Acquired from treaty of Guadalupe Hildago

Gold Rush California Gold Rush ( ) Gold discovered at Sutter’s Mill, CA in Jan, ers - 80,000 people move to CA looking to strike it rich with gold Very few find anything, and most who went had no idea what they were doing Little law and order - mining town were usually out of control 95% were single men Prices for everything were very high (supply and demand) - bread in east was 5 cents, but in CA it was 50 to 75 cents

Effects of the Gold Rush Immigration Many decide to stay in CA Environmental damage Others strike it rich in unexpected ways People from all over world head to CA, especially Chinese California becomes a state in 1850 Mining spoiled creeks and streams as miners force erosion to blast away soil to get to gold Levi Strauss - creates jeans for miners Excellent farming soil discovered

Mormons Chased out of east for strange religious beliefs Polygamy - okay to have more than one wife Settled in Salt Lake City, Utah in order to practice religion in peace Brigham Young is leader 40,000 Mormons live in Utah by 1860 Now known as the Church of Jesus Christ Latter Day Saints - no polygamy