1. Manifest Destiny Chapter 9
What role did Mountain Men play in Westward Expansion?
2. What difficulties and opportunities awaited migrants to the west?

2. Spanish Colonies Fail
Texas, New Mexico, & California were all part of the Spanish Empire
There were few Spanish colonists in these territories.
Indian raids brought fear to the citizens and poverty
In 1821 revolution ended Spain’s strong hold
Mexico became its own nation. (Texas, New Mexico, and California became part of Mexico)

3. Manifest Destiny
Expansionist saw the 3 territories rich with resources
Many argued that the Mexican government was weak and did not deserve to keep the lands
“The American claim is by the right of our manifest destiny to spread and possess the whole of the continent which providence has given us for the development of the great experiment of liberty and ….self-government entrusted to us.”
John L. O’Sullivan
New York Morning News December 27, 1845

4. Santa Fe Trail
After the Spanish Empire failed in North America Mexico opened its borders to trade with America
Missouri started Trading across the Great Plains with Santa Fe, NM
Horses, mules, furs, and silver in exchange for manufactured goods
Sailors also began sailing around South America to California for Trade
Mountain Men Explored the Mountain passes in pursuit of Furs and trade

5. Oregon Trail
1836 Marcus and Narcissa Whitman went west and founded an Indian Mission called Walla Walla.
Wagon trains of wagons went west
Most were farmers looking for bigger farms on the West Coast
The Whitman’s were killed in 1847, but by then the flood of emigrants could not be stopped
Between ,000 people went West

6. Indian Restrictions
The Government wanted to protect emigrants that were moving west from Indian attacks
In 1851 the Treaty of Fort Laramie was passed
This bounded Natives to lands away from the major trails crossing the Continent
Most Natives did not follow the treaty, insisting to follow their traditional nomadic lifestyle (following the buffalo herds)