1. Manifest Destiny

2. Define
Americans’ “God-given” right to expand West – east coast to west coast
John Gast, “American Progress”

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

13. 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.

14. 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

15. 1848
The Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo gives all the Mexican lands north of the Rio Grande to the U.S.

16. 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

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

19. 1821 Mexico gains independence from Spain (1821)
Mexico invites Americans to settle in Texas

20. 1823
Stephen Austin established successful American colony in Texas

21. 1830
Mexico closed its borders to American settlers. Why?

22. 1833
Austin asks Santa Anna (Mexican leader) for more self-gov’t

23. 1835
Battle at the Alamo
All Americans killed; including Davy Crockett, Jim Bowie, and Colonel William B. Travis

24. 1836
Battle of San Jacinto
Led by Sam Houston, Americans attack Santa Anna – “Remember the Alamo!”

25. 1836 Treaty of Valasco Ends war & Texas gets independence
Signed by Santa Anna but rejected by Mexican Gov’t
“Lone Star Republic” formed (breakaway province?)

26. 1838 Sam Houston (Pres of Texas) asks U.S. to annex (add) Texas
Van Buren refuses due to sectional tensions

27. 1845
Polk annexes Texas after sending Slidell to negogiate for California
Texas becomes the 28th state in the USA

28. Mexican-American War

29. 1845
US asks to buy California & New Mexico from Mexico for $25 million – Mexico upset by Slidell’s appt and non-negotiation of Texas

30. 1845/1846
U.S. President Polk sends American troops to Southern Texas to protect disputed territory – 16 Americans die… under Zachary Taylor’s command

31. 1846 Congress declares war on Mexico
8,000 men in armed forces… preparation?

32. 1846
California declares independence from Mexico & becomes the “Bear Flag Republic”

33. 1847
U.S. troops capture the capital of Mexico – Mexico City

34. 1848 Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo http://youtu.be/gn2FzuPyFlY
Ends Mexican-American War
Mexico gives up claims to territories of Utah & New Mexico (for $15 million)
Southern border of U.S. set at the Rio Grande River

35. Government Policies

36. Northwest Ordinance
1787
Established how new states could enter the Union (U.S.)

37. Missouri Compromise Compromise of 1820
Divided Louisiana into slave & free

38. Wilmot Proviso 1846 Any territory gained from Mexico would be free
Failed to pass but started national debate on slavery

39. Compromise of 1850
Way to settle slavery dispute with land gained from Mexico
*California is free state
*No slave trade in DC
*Strong Fugitive Slave Act
*NM & Utah vote to decide slavery