1. A brief “Note” on your notes…
Anything in the brown bar at the top goes on the LEFT hand side of your notes, along with ANY questions that pop into your head as we go.
Anything in BOLD RED in the white bottom part goes on the RIGHT hand side of your notes, abbreviated!!

2. Manifest Destiny: United States Westward Expansion
Chapter 12 Notes
2014

3. The Big Picture…why expand?
The US extended its political borders and grew economically, and people moved further West.
The US grew in size and wealth, setting the stage for the nation’s rise to great power.
Immigrant: to come to a country of which one is not a native, usually for permanent residence.

4. Manifest Destiny Review
DEFINITION: The belief that the US was clearly set apart for a special purpose to grow all the way to the Pacific Ocean.
Became popular in the 1840s by O’Sullivan

5. Expanding West…Louisiana Territory
Thomas Jefferson acquired the Louisiana Territory from France in 1803.
It doubled the size of US
Jefferson sent an expedition to explore the new territory-Lewis and Clark
Acquire = to get something

7. Oregon Territory People heard Oregon was great, so they set out West.
Pioneers followed the Oregon Trail. The journey lasted 5 months, went across difficult terrain, and was dangerous.
About 10% of those who took the trip died on the trail from disease, overwork, hunger, or accidents.
Other Americans began to hear about how great it was out West, so tens of thousands of people migrated out West to Oregon. They followed the Oregon Trail. The journey lasted 5 months, went across difficult terrain, and was dangerous. About 10% of those who took the trip died on the trail, from disease, overwork, hunger, or accidents.

8. “Fifty-Four Forty or Fight!”
James K. Polk’s campaign slogan…wanted to acquire Oregon from Britain
Polk wins the election, and compromises with Britain at the 49th parallel (49 N).

10. New Mexico Was a part of (Spanish) Mexico.
Because of Manifest Destiny the Americans wanted to acquire New Mexico, and then push even farther west into California
Was a part of Mexico. In 1821, the first American settler, William Becknell, set up a trading post in Santa Fe, NM. His route eventually led to the creation of the Santa Fe Trail, because settlers wanted to go to Santa Fe for trading and land. Because of Manifest Destiny, the Americans wanted to acquire New Mexico, and then push even farther west into California.

11. Texas Territory Originally part of Mexico & controlled by Spain
Only a few Tejanos, or Mexicans who claimed Texas as their home, lived in Texas in the early 1800s.
Spain offered land to anyone who agreed to bring their families to settle.
By 1830, Americans in Texas outnumbered Mexicans. They also didn’t follow Mexican laws, so the Mexican government put immigration restrictions and taxes on the Americans. This made the Texans angry!
The Texas territory was originally part of Mexico and controlled by Spain. There were only a few Tejanos, or Mexicans who claimed Texas as their home in the early 1800s. Spain wanted to promote the growth of Texas, so they decided to offer land to anyone who agreed to bring their families to settle. Stephen F. Austin recruited 300 American families to settle in Texas. In exchange for cheap land, the settlers had to learn Spanish, become Mexican citizens, convert to Catholicism, and obey Mexican law. By 1830, Americans in Texas outnumbered Mexicans. They also didn’t follow Mexican laws, so the Mexican government put immigration restrictions and taxes on the Americans. This made the Texans angry!

12. War for Texan Independence
On March 2, 1836, Texas declared its independence from Mexico.
After the Battle of San Jacinto, Santa Anna was captured, and the Texans won their independence.

13. Lone Star Republic
Samuel Houston, the commander in chief of the Texan army and new President of the Lone Star Republic (Texas), asked President Andrew Jackson to annex, or take control of, Texas.
Jackson said no… not until 1845 when James K. Polk was president that Texas became a state of the US.

14. California First settled by Spanish explorers and missionaries
Missions built in the 1760s to convert Native Americans to Christianity
Many of those Native Americans were nearly enslaved, forced to work in the missions farming and tending animals.
1840s: Americans came for shipping, trading, and selling goods.
Reasons for annexing California:
location on the Pacific Ocean
mild climate
natural resources
The first Europeans to settle in California were Spanish explorers and missionaries from Mexico. In the 1760s the first missions were constructed in order to convert Native Americans to Christianity. Many of those Native Americans were nearly enslaved, forced to work in the missions farming and tending animals. At first Mexican authorities welcomed Americans who wanted to settle in California. Americans came for shipping, trading, and selling goods. In the 1840s families began arriving in the area. Because of California’s location on the Pacific Ocean, its mild climate, beauty, and natural resources, Americans began talking about adding it to the US.

15. Manifest Destiny…achieved
The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo was signed in February 1848 between Mexico and the United States, after the US-Mexican War.
The US got Texas, New Mexico, and California from Mexico in the Mexican Cession
Also got the Gadsden Purchase
Mexico got $15 million for the territories from us.

16. From Sea to Shining Sea?
We’ve achieved Manifest Destiny! Our country extends all the way to the Pacific Ocean!
But…not everyone’s happy with the results…
SPOLIER ALERT: PEOPLE DIED BECAUSE WE WANTED LAND!
…..to be continued….