1. America establishes its boundaries
Westward Expansion
America establishes its boundaries
Between 1801 and 1861, exploration was encouraged as America underwent vast territorial expansion and settlement.
Westward migration was influenced by geography and economic opportunity.

2. Manifest Destiny
Manifest destiny refers to the widely held belief that
the United States system is better than any other
Therefore, the United States had both a right and a duty to spread out across the entire continent.
American expansion was inevitable, necessary, and had been ordained by God!
Used to justify American westward expansion into areas such as Texas, Oregon, and California.

3. “Go West Young Man!” Horace Greeley-1845
To encourage settlement, Congress passed the Homestead Act (1862)
Any adult citizen – including freed slaves – who had never taken up arms against the Union could claim160 acres of “public” land, but in order to get the title, they had to
Make “improvements” (build a house and cultivate the land)
Live there for five years

4. The Oregon Trail
Between 1840 and 1860, the Oregon Trail was the main pathway for American’s heading for new lands and opportunity on the frontier.
More than 400,000 pioneers traveled the 2,000 mile trail that started in Missouri and ended in Oregon or California.
It was a dangerous and difficult journey - travelers braved everything from disease outbreaks and wagon accidents to arid deserts, rushing river crossings, and bad weather.

5. Donner Party
took a split off a well traveled path thinking it was a shortcut
got trapped in the mountains with little food
survivors resorted to cannibalism to survive
shows hardships pioneers faced on their way out west

6. Santa Fe Trail
After Mexico gained independence from Spain in 1821, the Santa Fe Trail was born.
Trader William Becknell set out from Franklin, Mo., on a 900 mile route to Santa Fe where he found great trade opportunities
The Santa Fe Trail had its own unique dangers for travelers. It passed through Apache and Comanche lands. (These NA Tribes were warlike and weren't happy about Americans in their lands),
Water was scarce, the wide, flat landscape offered few places to take shelter from sudden, fierce windstorms or rainstorms, and rattlesnake bites were deadly.

7. Texas TEXAS was part of Mexico
Mexico had won independence from Spain in 1821
Mexico’s government was unstable and neglected the sparsly populated northern territories
Mexico began to encourage settlement in Texas if settlers met 3 conditions:
became Mexican citizens
adopted Catholicism
followed Mexican constitution… NO SLAVERY!

8. Texas By 1835, 30,000 white settlers lived in TX
outnumbered Tejanos (Hispanic population) 6 to 1
Began to ask for more autonomy (self-government)
Steven Austin (founder of Austin, TX) went to Mexico City to talk to the Mexican president Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna and was arrested
This led to more cries for independence

9. The Alamo----Feb 23-Mar
Old missionary where Texans fought for independence from Mexico
Americans held out for 13 days before being overrun
200 Texans v Mexicans
Santa Anna wanted everyone slaughtered
Texas lost the battle in 1836
All the Texans were killed except for one woman and a few children

10. Goliad Massacre-March 27 1836 “The Other Alamo”
Leader James Fannin
Texan prisoners captured and executed
28 men escaped

11. Texas Independance March 1836 - Texas declared its independence
REMEMBER THE ALAMO becomes the rallying cry
April 1836: Battle of San Jacinto - Mexico defeated
Lone Star Republic created (Texas)

12. Battle of San Jacinto – April 21, 1836
Led by Sam Houston (will become the first President of Texas) and his military
Mexico defeated
Santa Anna captured

13. Election of 1844 James K. Polk ran for president with 3 goals:
Gain conrol of Oregon
Annex Texas
Acquire California

14. Fighting for Oregon Russia, England, and USA claimed it
England and USA almost went to war over it!!!!!
Slogan: “54, 40 or Fight”
applies to the disputed boundary of Oregon
Outcome
Compromise with GB at 49* latitude
North outraged wanted all land

15. Westward Expansion Texas Annexation
In December 1845 Texas entered the Union as a slave state but we had constant issues with Mexico over the border
USA claimed border was Rio Grande river

16. Mexican-American War Mexican – American War (1846-1847)
Polk was President
we already had Texas; it was NOT gained in the war
Fought to get more land
Mexico saw this as an invasion (it was!)
The U.S. defeated the Mexico easily… they were not prepared for war
Mexico City was invaded; war over

17. Mexican-American War Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo – 1848
Ended the Mexican – American War
Set the boundary of Mexico and Texas at the Rio Grande River
Mexico lost about 1\3 of their land
We paid $15 million to them
The land gained from the
treaty was called the
Mexican Cession

18. Mexican-American War
Before the treaty was passed a major issue was slavery expansion
David Wilmot introduced the Wilmot Proviso that stated any land taken from Mexico would not have slaves
It passed in the House but was defeated in the Senate

19. Westward Expansion California Gold Rush
1848: Gold is found in Sutter’s Mill CA
once the news spreads, thousands of people “rush” to California in the hopes of getting rich
the gold rushers were called Forty-Niners (1849)
Outcome:
In 1849 California applies for statehood
15 free and 15 slave states in the Senate
what to do????

20. Westward Expansion Gadsden Purchase - 1853
More land purchased from Mexico - $10 million
Bought for the purpose of building transcontinental railroad
Finalized the border of the south

21. New territories added to the United States after 1801
Florida
Spain gave Florida to the United States through a treaty.
Texas
Texas was added after it became an independent republic.
Oregon
The Oregon Territory was divided by the United States and Great Britain.
California
War with Mexico resulted in California and the southwest territory becoming part of the United States.

22. Manifest Destiny – Done!!!