1. Manifest Destiny

2. Define
Americans’ “God-given” right to expand West – east coast to west coast
In the 1840s, America realized its “manifest destiny” by acquiring all lands to the Pacific Ocean:
In 1845, the USA annexed the independent nation of Texas
In 1846, the U.S. settled a dispute with England to gain Oregon
In 1848, the USA gained new lands in the SW by winning the Mexican-American War

3. Why did people move west?
Land
Running from debt
Gold – make $$$
Start over
Freedom (of religion etc)

4. Notes on the West
( )

5.
Lewis & Clark Expedition explore the Louisiana Territory

6. 1811
The Nat’l Road connects Cumberland, Maryland with Columbus, Ohio and continues west!

7. 1825 The Erie Canal connects the Atlantic Ocean & the Great Lakes
Called the “Big Ditch,” it greatly improved shipping

8. 1835
American farmers in Texas begin a war of rebellion against Mexico

9. 1837
John Deere produces the steel plow, which now allows farmers to burst through the touch prairie soil, known as sod

10. 1837
Cyrus McCormick produces the mechanical reaper, allowing farmers to greatly reduce the amount of labor needed to harvest grain crops

11. 1842
The Oregon territory opens for settlement; many would be settlers travel along a 2,000 mile pathway across the Great Plains & the Rocky Mountains known as the Oregon Trail

12. 1844
James K. Polk used the slogan “54º40’ or fight!” to push for the connection of the Oregon territory, setting the U.S. Northern border at the latitude line.

13. 1847
Led by Brigham Young, the Mormons end their journey, along the Mormon trail at the shores of the Great Salt Lake in the Utah territory

14. 1848
The Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo gives all the Mexican lands north of the Rio Grande to the U.S.

15. 1850
Bavarian-born Levi Strauss patents and sells a new style of work trousers made from a French fabric known as denim or genes cloth to many of the gold miners arriving in California

17. War for Texas Independence 1835-1836
Texas fights for freedom from Mexico!

18. 1821 Mexico gains independence from Spain
Mexico invites Americans to settle in Texas by offering cheap land.
New immigrants received exemptions from paying taxes for 10 years but they had to convert to Roman Catholicism.

19. 1825
Stephen Austin established successful American colony (Washington-on-the-Brazos) in Texas
Helped persuade 1,500 families to settle in his colony.

20. 1830
Mexico closed its borders to American settlers and tax goods traded to discourage trade with the US.
Why? Americans refused to accept Mexican laws & religion.
They would not: convert to Catholicism, ban slavery, and wanted a voice in government

21. 1833 Austin asks Santa Anna (Mexican leader) for more self-gov’t
By 1834, Mexican president Santa Anna began to view Anglos as a threat & had Austin arrested and imprisoned for treason.
In 1835, Texans were in open rebellion against the Mexican government

22. 1835
Austin Released from prison and saw negotiation was pointless and encouraged Texans to organize army.
Texans declare independence and draft there constitution
Sam Houston takes leadership of the army

23. 1836 Battle at the Alamo All Americans slaughtered
Texans lost at the Alamo, but the battle created inspiration: “Remember the Alamo!”
Battle of San Jacinto
Led by Sam Houston, Americans attack Mexico – “Remember the Alamo!” “ Remember Goliad”
Hundreds killed and 700 captured from Ana’s army which included Santa Anna himself.

24. 1836
Texans, led by Sam Houston, captured Santa Anna & won their independence in 1836
( Forced Santa Anna to sign treaty and order his army out of Texas)
Treaty of Valasco
Ends war & Texas gets independence
“Lone Star Republic”
Mexico refused to acknowledge treaty

25. 1838 From 1836 to 1845, Texas was an independent nation;
Sam Houston (Pres of Texas) asks U.S. to annex (add) Texas, but the debate over slavery kept America from adding Texas as a state

26. 1845
Texas becomes the 28th state in the USA

27. Why did Texans did declare independence in 1836?
Hypotheses

28. Why did Texans did declare independence in 1836?
With your table, read documents A-D and complete graphic organizer.

29. Why did Texans did declare independence in 1836?
A- Why did Texans declare independence? Were Texans justified in declaring independence?
H- Were these honorable men, fighting for freedom, or greedy slaveholders? What evidence from the documents supports your position?

30. Why did Texans did declare independence in 1836?
A- Which of these pieces of evidence do you find more/less trustworthy? Why? Why do historians still debate this question?
H- Once Texas declares and wins its independence, is the U.S. free to annex it? Why would Mexico object to the American annexation of Texas?